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In the Vicinity of Japan: the Life of Russians on the Kuril Islands

Sputnik

Russo-Japanese relations continue to develop steadily but are complicated by Tokyo’s continued territorial claims to the South Kurils archipelago. 

Russia-Japan cultural exchange plays a special role in promoting the bilateral ties between the countries. The year 2018 has been announced as a Russo-Japanese cross-culture year.

More and more Japanese citizens are traveling visa-free to the south Kurils under the July 2, 1986 agreement on mutual visits to Japanese and Russian burial sites.

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Shpanberg Lighthouse in Kurils Nature Reserve at Shikotan Island.
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Kunashir Island residents are learning to write Japanese characters.
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Japanese household items found among excavations on Kunashir Island.
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Fishermen are trying to catch salmon near the Okhotsk Sea embankment on Kunashir Island.
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The warning sign at the border control zone on Shikotan Island.
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A local citizen is practicing gymnastics on Shikotan Island.
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Shikotan Island residents are cooking crabs.
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Sea urchin production.
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The representative of visa-free Japan's delegation at the old Japanese cemetery in Yuzhno-Kurilsk on Kunashir Island.
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Farewell event for visa-free departing Japanese delegation on Kunashir Island.
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Monument dedicated to pioneers of Kuril Islands at the central square on Yuzhno-Kurilsk on Kunashir Island.
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A sunset on Kunashir Island.
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