"President Putin's term is until 2008" lol! actually its until his death!

Kuril Islands are Ainu land , not Japanese or Russian

"Tokyo has made clear it wants them back", get used to Japan, there is no way you can ever get them back.

putin offered to give two of them back if japan agreed to drop claim on the remaining two. japan did not want to do it. they should have taken them, waited a generation of two, then restarted claims on the last two. now they have nothing.

its russians teritory so japan forget it you screwed up with agresive war in ww2 now you eat what you cook

Why are the Japanese complaining about being affected by a war which THEY STARTED!!!!!!!

Unusualy selfish: while crying what russians did to them (japanese attacked, not russians), Japans fails to be face to face with it's war crimes, many times denying it. This country is not partner for discusion.

Some Russian politics say, that they can give the islands to Japan - when there would be no American bases, and not much of American influence there. While the USA cannot afford more close alliance between Russia and Japan, and, having big influence on the Japanese government, they push Japanese away from peace treaty, push them to demand the islands, so that USA could build bases there.

Do not start something you can't finish.

The post-war fate of Kuril Islands was sealed during the Yalta Conference in 1945, where in exchange for Soviet entry into the war against Japan after battles in the European theater ended, the Soviet Union was designated the Kuril Islands and southern Sakhalin, parts of which had been lost in the Russian-Japanese war in 1905.Days after the Soviet-Japanese War of 1945 started on August 9, Joseph Stalin sent a personal message to then-US President Henry Truman, reminding him that after the Japanese surrender “all the Kurile Islands which according to the three-Power decision taken in the Crimea, are to pass into the possession of the Soviet Union.” The US was at first reluctant to grant Soviet forces sovereignty over all of the Kurils, wanting to keep one of the islands “preferably in the central group” for themselves for a permanent military base. Stalin, however, reminded Truman that “demands of this kind are usually laid either before a vanquished country or before an allied country that is unable to defend a particular part of its territory.”

As long as Japan is closely allied with the US and have many US military bases Russia will never hand over these islands because that could create US military bases close to Russian territory. If Japan can guarantee no US expansion then Russia could come up with a compromise.

Did Japan declared war on Russia? Did they followed rules when they invade Russia or China?

(1) Kuril islands were Russian untilll the 7th of February 1855, after the first peace treat between Russia and Japan was signed. (2) yes, agree, but...! 7th May 1875 Russia gave Kuril island to Japan in return that Japaneese will never pretend on Sahalin. BUT in 1905 Japan started the war agains Russia, and they took the southern part of Sahalin, thus violated the agreement. Japaneese said at that days: "The war cuts all agreements, you have lost and lets now base on the current situation..."

If people are to look at history,not only did Japan once control all of the Kuril Islands,but the Sakhalin Island as well. Japan droped it's claim to Sakhalin in favor of taking the Kurils back. But if we were to look even father back,all this was once claimed by China...

damn these places are just really far and remote. like on the edge of the earth....

@osslv Don't you EVER compare Russia with America! We never had anything in common. Thank God.

Japan lost their territory when they lost the war..which they started? Its rules of war.. the residents of the island have no hope to get it back

I hope for excellent relations between Japan and Russia, among other things.

Kiril islands is Russia. If anyone have something to argue, against this fact: read video discription ww2 not finish yet.

There are loads of great Russian people out there but it seems as if half of Russia think the USSR was actually a good thing

didnt know the islands around hokkaido or around hokkaido were part of japan a couple of hundred years ago.

What for? Germany can't even take it's land from Poland.

We will take it back soon. Just be ready Japan you will have it again. It’s your own soo close to your mainland.

What's your point? Losing a war doesn't automatically mean you lose your capital.

Very informative.

The UK took Gibraltar almost 300 years ago and they have not returned it back to Spain....and anyway, we are both in the European Union and NATO, part of the same economic and political alliances. So Japan and Russia can have a Common Market and even a Defense Treaty even if the Southern Kuriles are not returned.

Lol.You can't even take back Taiwan and dare to talk about Russia's land?

Russians, remember unit 731....

Not true. It was Hruschev. And Japan may be wanted to accept, but one of the condition was neutral status of Japan ( without military bases of USA). USA have ordered to Japan to reject and Japan just didn't have a choice. Now we don't worry about bases of USA in Japan and it's not an option anymore. Islands will be ours forever.

Free Tibet!!!

(5) September 8, 1951 in San Francisco, Japan signed peace treaty with USA and GB, where they refuse their souverinity over Kuril island. Unfortunately, USSR refused to join this treaty. (6) Where is your, Japanese, right for Kuril island? Why?

I want to go there. OMG it is beautiful

If we don't sell islands in 90's, when we were in such a mess, why we'll want to sell it now or in future. If we lost them it will cut us from free movement in that area.

Надеюсь Россия еще заберет у Японии остров Хоккайдо,чтоб Охотское море стало внутренним морем России.Америке не раслабляться,Аляска ждет Россию!!!😅

Oops, Japan agreed ti cede sovreignity over the islands to the Soviet Union, which were then inherited by Russian Federation. Seriously Japan has no choice but to accept it. There is nothing Japan can do about Kurils, economically Russia does not need Japan, militarily Japan is no threat to Russia, and politically Russia does not need Japan. The people living on the island are Russian, not Japanese It's over, quite simply

In Ainu ‘kur ‘ {Kuru Guru } means person ,actually the Kuriles Ainu called themselves Ru-ru-tom ( appear /by the sea people )un kur . And Sakhalin Ainu called the Kurile Ainu ( Ko-ushi ) ko = distant ush = bay distant bay And the word ‘Ainu ‘means human or bowman. the ( kur ) part of the word ‘ Kur-il ‘ is possible but -il does not exist in Ainu language ,it also could be a ‘ r ‘ replacing ‘ L ‘ there is no ‘ ir ‘ ., ‘ i-ri = relations or of the same family in the Ainu language , so it could be misheard kur + i-ri, try saying Kur+ iri fast ! people related they were very few so they were all related people !? because of the ..r + i-ri , in Ainu and Japanese the R and L are indistinguishable pronounced ‘ kurir ‘not kur - i-ri like soft ‘curl ‘

The ecology of the Islands has been preserved. Thank you Russia!

Russia , and it's capital , has not invested new money on these islands. The locals of inhabitable few islands, some 19,500 strong , population in few villages are mostly ethnic Russians, some of whom have some blood / ethnicity from the baltic kingdoms / Baltic states. Russians from big cities of mainland Russia over the centuries have mixed DNA / blood with Lithuanians and Latvians and Estonians. One reason may be because some Baltic soldiers and officers of the Imperial Russian military during the Romanov dynasty were from these Baltic kingdoms, a large number of whom retired from the Moscow military and settled in urban Russian towns to ensure timely pension from St. Petersburg, the capital of the Romanovs. . Centuries old pictures and ancestors from frontiersmen from Russia settling in those islands fro the last three centuries show that the locals were not Japanese. Old pictures of some scattered remote islanders from about 1850 were of some ethnicity who look more like Indians of some caste. Only two or so of these mostly rocky islands are somewhat far up north , have no trees for the most part

Japaneses need to be grateful that Russia did not occupied the whole Japan because they could and may even now.

One russian submarin can destroy England tree times. Think about it.

citing the GDP growth rate is misleading after commenting on high number of millionaires. High GDP growth rate isn't hard when the country is starting at a low level in the first place and is improving its economic infrastructure. Secondly, you linked a city's millionaire's to the country's GDP growth rate. I think you're confused with some numbers, moscow has most billionaires. But Russian money is focused mostly in Moscow while in US it is spread throughout. 2 Billionaire cities in the top 10.

i never said their GDP isn't rising... i said it was a superficial to try to link amount of millionaires in Moscow to Russia's GDP as you were saying.

I tried. Putin declared Yukos trial = Madoff case. Similarity #1?

This question is closed.Forever.

IF i was russia i would make japan pay a HUGE ridiculous fine for the islands

You took a bet by declaring war on nations you could not possibly defeat, and you paid the price by losing miserably. You took a risk, and by doing so, you failed. PS: you grammar is horrible.

By the Russians giving up these islands, these Russians living on the islands will benefit the most. Right now, they live below poverty, endure hardship, conscription and live in ruins; and yet they gain nothing in return? If Japan is willing to help these people, and bring it up par to levelled Japanese standards, wouldn't it be in the best interests of the people if Russia gives them back? It's not like Russia doesn't have enough land as it is.

The mayor of Nemuro is being very optimistic.... I don't know if Japan would treat the Kurils any better then Russians... They would just come there and fish there.. That's the reason they want it back... And if Japanese came to the islands, will there b ethnic conflict with the Russians or would they intermarry?

We let the Ainu´s choose if they are Japanese or Russian

☭★ CCCP ★☭

The Bust of Vladimir Lenin in Yuzhno-Kurilsk, the largest settlement on Russian-held Kunashir Island, has been erected in 1989 as a sign of control by Moscow over the archipelago. And with the Japanese claim to four of the Kuril Islands closest to Hokkaido, Kunashir could be the perfect island hideout for members of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) had it been illegalized by Tokyo.

Finland? You were just one of province of Russian Empire. You have only land we have allowed you to have. Not an inch more.

@Merle1987 well it's a good thing for countries to have history after all. they have traditions.

you are fucking wrong. Ming Dynasty was getting tribute in Sakhalin. and Manchurian were under Ming Dynasty.

7:09 - 7:43 USSR and Japan may use the same brass instruments, but the patriotic musical style is different.

realy want to go there

Russia owned the kurils before then the russians gave the islands to Japan and when ww 2 happened Russia wanted them back

Yes, that was a price you have to pay then u coused death and destruction then u invade other country. And Japan was the agressor who though that he could defeat Russia.

Laziness? If you do know the history of WW2, you should remember that Russian economics was more efficient than all the European economics under Nazi control. Soviet people worked for 16 hours a day, producing all the military stuff in great numbers. Huge problems in economics started after the Soviet Union collapse. People were embarrassed and stupefied. It's the same as Japan would be separated on 4 islands after WW2. This situation will change after creating EAU.

China growth is a problem, of course, but not too big. Yes, they have more conventional weapon and much bigger army, but Russia overpower China in Nukes. Islands DO HAVE strategic importance. It's only way from Japan sea to Pacific Ocean that never froze. They have also economic significance.

This was 9 years ago,

Another good Jounrneyman vid. Cheers!

@ProphetLuong Siberia doesn't generally refer to the Russian Far East, it refers to the central area of Russia. The thing your refering to are a few small islands along the rivers that make the border of China's Heilongjiang province. These weren't stolen, they were handed over in a deal.

@zorahk270 The problem about giving these lands back is that it will make russia look weak and if they give it back, the japanese will try to reclaim sakhalin island as well, and germany might want kaliningrad back. Russia is a huge country with many borders and many countries have territorial claims.

Take a read about life in Russia before the revolution 1917. Living standards were almost the same as in Europe and according to some forecasts should become even higher in the next few years. Btw we were exporting bread and a lot of other stuff.

What is your source for that statement? Do u know history or u just assuming? Then why USSR did not take China or whole Germany. If SU jast took the islands, then why the whole word recognize those sland as Russian territory?

Again, not stolen, but taken as compensation for stupid mistake

Based on this video, I believe that these Islands should be given back to the Japanese. Ok, all of the people living there are Russian. So what? More than half of them live below the poverty line and Russia turns a blind eye towards them. BUT, it is hard to tell if the Japanese will keep their word about planning to improve the islands.

FAR EAST SIBERIA IS NOT RUSSIA

I think when Americans remove their military bases from Japanese soil (74.9% of Okinawa is under US military bases, remember?) and Japan will become sovereign country, it would be easier for Russia and Japan to find some solution to the territorial conflict. After all, Russia does not want American military installations on these islands that would make submarine detection very easy.

Dreams, sweet dreams. If that anytime will happen - Romania by that moment surely will not be existing anymore.

America return OKINAAWWWA and IWO , Will JAPAN attack again ?

The Japanese don't want to return the Diaoyu to China or Dokdo to Korea, but they expect Russia to hand them back the Kurils? GTFO of here Japan.

Because Russia is still a developing country. All the developed countries' economy grow slowly because they are already developed.

Why, we just offer Italy to China. It will be much simpler take.

Um, no. The per capita income is also rising. In the USSR GDP per capita was $9000, now it is around $14000. Russia also has a growing HDI, 0.755 which is ahead of many other Eastern European countries and the world average. It is obvious that in a developing country the tops income will grow first since they are the only ones with money to grow the economy. However under Putin for instance the wages of the average Russian tripled.

if you're going to link anything to the most billionaires city, link to the BRIC nations, Brazil, Russia, India, China they have the most billionaire growth from economic growth of the countries. But the money is concentrated in individuals, meaning while the country is getting rich, it is going to the top earners. While cost of living goes up because of this, the poor still receive diddly squat and suffer in term. You wait and see, the rich and poor gap is already huge, and will only increase.

Вы извините, мы Родину не продаём.

千島列島日本の係争諸島 ... Курильские острова Японские острова Спорные ... One alternative solution is to compromise with a loss and gain for both sides, so each side gets a win. Russia always wanted a warm water port, so Japan can give up one of its isles near Okinawa to Russia. Then Russia gives some of it one of its Arctic Isles in the East Siberian Sea. Thus, Japan will join the Arctic Community that includes the USA, Canada, Noway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. Finally, Russia gives back some to most of the Kuril Islands to Japan. Japan wins new land in the Arctic, Russia wins its first warm water port. Both sides save face with a loss and gain for something completely new! @t

And dont forget about Sakhalin!At least its southern part.

the russian ranger is hot.

Sakhalin and Kuril islands belong to Japan.

I ,know it is painful,but dear people you should better start an economic cooperation in the region which will allow common people from both countries to get to know each other,then it would be easier to heel these wounds.Russians and Japanese could be friends!That's the only way to be better and wiser than older generations.Freedom of traveling and of business will bring a new vision over the disputed matter.

I don't see any reason for these Islands to be given to Japan. The people living there now are not Japanese and they were not part of ancient Japan (the natives there were Ainu not Japanese) They were part of their pre-WW2 empire but the whole point of the war was to disband it wasn't it? Of all their WW2 loses they chose 4 tiny islands to whine about. You UNCONDITIONALLY SURRENDERED. You know what unconditional means don't you ? Get over it.

It was before two war and didn't have any significance.

@ProphetLuong Probably because no such thing has happened ever I would guess. China doesn't even own any Siberian territory.

The contrast between Japanese Hokkaido and the islands occupied by Russia is shocking, it shows the great difference that exists between Japan and Russia when it comes to development and living standards. The current Russian population of the Northern Territories would certainly be better off under Japanese administration, Russia's Far East is like a giant slum, a massive garbage disposal unit.

They would fish the seas empty and hack down the forests! Of course they would. Of ethnic conflict, of that too you could be certain! Russia needs to improve the lives of the people it has there and turn it into a tourist destination for its OWN people. It is a definite barrier between East and West as it were - Russia would be foolish to let the islands go IMO.

(3) In 1925 USSR refused the defeating pact of 1905, and in 1943 USA, GB, and China have signed a document, the meaning of which is that Japan must loose all islands and territories received during the first world war. (4) February 11, 1945 in Postdam, USA, GB, and USSR have agreed that USSR will enter the war against Japan on the conditions that USSR will return Sahalin, and also get control over Kuril islands.

Japanese cars are all over Russia.LOL......

Olive in the kurils for 10 years

CavalerVlah.. Cavaler.. are you jewish? so many people in Hokkaido are mixed breeds of Ainu&Japanese and Koreans&Japanese. they don't really belong to the central japan. i have to add they're mostly the radical rightest from Tokyo who insist Kurile backing to japan. most japanese are disinterested, and seeing Hokkaido as a half foreign land, 50% independent culturally.

As if Russia needs more semi-barren land...……. That said; Japan lost the war. However, Japan had gained territory after the Russo-Japanese war when Russia lost against Japan. Japan should quit whining about the northern Kuril islands. (Japan's population is decreasing anyhow. How much land does Japan need ?)

Japan was the MOST agressive and cruel war-wanting nation /yes-much more than even Germany/ that attacked ALL neighbours and far-away lands then committed indiscriminate war crimes and génocides. The loss of some barely populated islands is miniscule price, lesson or reminder to pay for all the sufferings they caused to civilians and soldiers alike. Their propaganda is correct in ONE point: We should NOT FORGET! BTW: I am not Russian and no russophile either.

Japan signed an *Unconditional* surrender. Thus they placed themselves at the complete mercy (or not) of the Soviet Union. So there's no dispute then. End of story.

Looks like Russia to me. Its land.

I will say sorry only after your apologies for 1905 year, when Japan, full of courage and economically supported by Britain/USA, assumed the offensive without war declaration. For the battle of lake Khasan and the battles of Khalkhin Gol. For commiting genocide of millions of Chinese. When you occupied Korea, Manchuria, part of China and a huge amount of islands you weren't stealers, right? Kurils - Soviet war trophies. Try to take it by force. Oh... you are forbidden to maintain army!

Beautiful Documentry 🇷🇺🇯🇵🇷🇺🇯🇵🇷🇺🇯🇵

tripled following cost of living too. inflation.

we would give you and your family to anyone such that you can flourish