http://en.rian.ru/world/20100707/159717619.html

Japan is concerned by the holding of Russia's Vostok-2010 military drills on Iturup Island, the largest of the disputed South Kuril Islands, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.

"This is extremely regretful. As far as we know, there have never been such drills there," Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told reporters late on Tuesday.

The Russian Armed Forces started large-scale Vostok-2010 military exercises in Siberia and the country's Far East on June 29. The drills, which involve at least 20,000 troops, up to 70 warplanes and 30 warships, will continue through Thursday.

Okada said that Japan had earlier told Russia about its objections to the drills, but to no avail.

hahaha Of course there was 'no avail'. Japan is nothing. Russia doesn't give a damn what they have to say LMAO

Japanese want Kurils? Let them try to take them from us. Let them try.

To whom does it belong, anyway?

Originally Posted by Gman88

To whom does it belong, anyway?

To Russia.
Until the early 18th century the archipelago was populated by independent tribes called Ainu. During the 18th century the islands were divided by Japan (two southermnost islands) and Russia (all others). In late 19th century Russia gave up all archipelago to Japan in exchange for the southern part of Sakhalin island which later Russia lost to Japan anyway during a war in 1905. During WWII all Kuril archipelago and Sakhalin island were overtaken by the Soviet Union. Since then nothing changed.

Originally Posted by Gman88

To whom does it belong, anyway?

Definately Russia. In 1905, Japan attacked Russia, managed to capture the islands and South Sakhalin, as Shmack said. But in 1945, we took it all back.

In any case, handing it back now would be ridiculous. There are no japanese left there, not even those indegenous people, Ainu or whatever. All the population is Slavic, with some (in the tens of thousands) native Sakhalin Koreans still living on that island. Nobody there speaks Japanese, or knows much about Japan or their history or culture. They would never integrate there. The Japanese would just try to chase them off the land. And there would be a fight. Russia may not always care about its peoples rights and such, but it does care when some outside prick tries to hurt em

Originally Posted by Shmack

To Russia.
Until the early 18th century the archipelago was populated by independent tribes called Ainu. During the 18th century the islands were divided by Japan (two southermnost islands) and Russia (all others). In late 19th century Russia gave up all archipelago to Japan in exchange for the southern part of Sakhalin island which later Russia lost to Japan anyway during a war in 1905. During WWII all Kuril archipelago and Sakhalin island were overtaken by the Soviet Union. Since then nothing changed.

Originally Posted by Prapor

Definately Russia. In 1905, Japan attacked Russia, managed to capture the islands and South Sakhalin, as Shmack said. But in 1945, we took it all back.

In any case, handing it back now would be ridiculous. There are no japanese left there, not even those indegenous people, Ainu or whatever. All the population is Slavic, with some (in the tens of thousands) native Sakhalin Koreans still living on that island. Nobody there speaks Japanese, or knows much about Japan or their history or culture. They would never integrate there. The Japanese would just try to chase them off the land. And there would be a fight. Russia may not always care about its peoples rights and such, but it does care when some outside prick tries to hurt em

Good god...

Originally Posted by Atasas

Good god...

Wut's that?

Originally Posted by Shmack

Wut's that?

attitude...
Found little hope in having intelligent conversation

Originally Posted by Atasas

attitude...
Found little hope in having intelligent conversation

Can i ask what so unintelligent you could find in my words? You highlited words Russia and Soviet Union.. Are these swear-words in English?

Originally Posted by Atasas

attitude...
Found little hope in having intelligent conversation

What did I say that was not intelligent? Just listed the history of the place. And explained why it would not be possible to give it back to Japan now.

I really wouldn't. It would be like... USA giving Alaska back to Russia. Would never work.

Since Russia had lost Alaska- territory is bigger prerogative, than common sense?
Never mind that islands where occupied with help all in USSR (not Russia), since no more of USSR sensible thing would be for the territory to have been returned to Japan, as the ones and most important to me residents Aina natives are closely related to Japanese and Korean nations- the rest is empty assumptions as "fight" etc by Slavic residents, that are no more or any less - occupants and should stay if they willing to integrate in to Japanese way of living
My $5C