Former island residents fly near Northern Territories for memorial
The aerial memorial service was held mainly because the two countries have suspended exchange programs.
Sapporo – Former residents of Russian-held islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, embarked on a chartered flight on Saturday to hover near the disputed landmass in order to pay homage to their ancestors. This aerial memorial service primarily occurred due to the suspension of exchange programs between Japan and Russia, including the visitation of graves of relatives and ancestors on the islands claimed by Japan.
The aviation ban is a result of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This marks the second memorial service of its kind. The inaugural ceremony took place in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another such event is scheduled for November 7 this year.
Around 34 individuals, comprising former islanders and their families, attended the service held on Saturday. The chartered plane departed from Nemuro Nakashibetsu Airport in Hokkaido at approximately 10:45 a.m., and participants joined their hands in the sky around 11 a.m. Tomie Nishidate, an 89-year-old former resident of Kunashiri Island, expressed her sentiment upon witnessing the islands from above.
She reminisced about her hometown, feeling nostalgic. Her 90-year-old neighbor, Kuni Tabata, accompanied by her daughter Hitomi Hoshi, 66, shared memories of the school Tabata once attended. Hoshi commented on the proximity and distance between the islands, reflecting on a time when her mother lived there.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
