Former residents of islands off the coast of Hokkaido, driven off by a Soviet invasion at the end of World War II, want the government to convince Russia to allow them to visit their ancestral grave sites on the islands. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/22/japan/northern-territories-grave/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #hokkaido #russia #russiajapanrelations #sovietunion #wwii #kunashiri #etorofu #shikotan #habomai #northernterritories

Former residents of Russian-held islands claimed by Japan have held a memorial service at sea for their ancestors for the fourth straight year because they remain unable to land on the northwestern Pacific islands. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/21/japan/northern-territories-ex-residents-memorial/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #northernterritories #disputedislands #russiajapanrelations #russia #hokkaido

While many candidates in Sunday's Upper House election are heading to major cities for speeches and turning to social media, one candidate from Hokkaido is giving politics one last go-through a grassroots campaign. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/16/japan/politics/muneo-suzuki-election-hokkaido/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #muneosuzuki #hokkaido #ldp #nipponishinnokai #2025upperhouseelection #okinawa #russia

Relatives of passengers who died or went missing when a tour boat sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido in April 2022 paid tribute to their loved ones at sea on Sunday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/13/japan/shiretoko-tour-boat-sinking-victims-remembered/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #hokkaido #shiretokopeninsula #kazui #marineaccidents

Matt Noyes
Matt Noyes boosted

In Hokkaido, Indigenous land rights have added another layer to the division of opinions in Suttsu and Kamoenai over whether to host a permanent underground repository for Japan’s nuclear waste. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/07/06/energy/hokkaido-ainu-nuclear-waste-storage/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #energy #nuclearenergy #energy #renewables #hokkaido #nuclearwaste #ainu #indigenouspeople