In September August 2015, Japan protested Russia’s decision to send an official into
mutually disputed territory.
They alleged that Russia must seek permission from Japan to visit the contested islands,
while Russia says they have no obligation to do so.
The two countries have been in dispute over the Kuril Islands since World War Two.
So, why are Russia and Japan still at war?
Well, the territory in question is a string of small islands running from northern Japan
to eastern Russia.
Portions of the islands had been claimed by both countries since the 18th century, but
by World War II, Japan was effectively in control of the islands.
In the last few days of World War 2, the Soviets began a massive invasion of Japanese territory,
seizing North Korea and the Kuril Islands.
When the war ended, the question of how to allocate Japan’s former territory became
a problematic topic.
The 1945 Yalta Agreement between the US, the UK, and the USSR, decided that the Soviet
Union would receive the Kuril islands if they went to war against Japan.
However, just a few months later, the Potsdam Declaration laid out the terms of Japan’s
surrender to Allied forces.
These terms granted Japan sovereignty over a number of relevant islands in the Kuril
island chain.
Although most of the islands are not mentioned by name, Japan and the US have maintained
that the phrase “minor islands” includes the disputed territory.
Finally, a third document, the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco, created the most confusion.
While the agreement was intended to be a final peace treaty between Japan and the Allies,
the Kuril dispute stood in the way.
The treaty stated that Japan would renounce its claim over the islands, but it did not
grant the Soviet Union any control over them.
As a result, the USSR refused to sign the document, which led to the US revoking Russia’s
rights to the islands.
The Allies agreed that non-signatories to the peace treaty would not be granted any
territorial claims.
In 1956, the two countries signed a joint declaration, effectively postponing the question,
along with any peace treaty agreements.
Today, the islands are controlled by Russia, and are generally acknowledged to be Russian
territory.
Most of the 20,000 inhabitants are of Slavic descent.
In recent years, Russia has taken a particularly aggressive stance on territory control, leaving
little room for Japan to ever reclaim the islands.
Unfortunately, considering the scope of both country’s territorial disputes, it seems
unlikely that either one will back down and make peace.
While Russia and Japan don’t have the warmest relationship, South Korea has some serious
grudges against Japan.
To find out more about why one hates the other, watch our video.
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