(3)Koizumi departs for boat trip to view Russian-held isles

(3)Koizumi departs for boat trip to view Russian-held isles

NEMURO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi looks into binoculars to view a group of Russian-held islands claimed by Japan aboard the Japan Coast Guard's 1,200-ton patrol boat Erimo on Sept. 2. (Pool photo)

(4)Koizumi departs for boat trip to view Russian-held isles

(4)Koizumi departs for boat trip to view Russian-held isles

NEMURO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi points to the Russian-held northern islands claimed by Japan aboard the Japan Coast Guard's 1,200-ton patrol boat Erimo on Sept. 2. (Pool photo)

(2) Koizumi departs for boat trip to view Russian-held isles

(2) Koizumi departs for boat trip to view Russian-held isles

NEMURO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi goes on board the Japan Coast Guard's 1,200-ton patrol boat Erimo at Hanasaki port in Nemuro, Hokkaido, on Sept. 2 to make a boat trip to view a group of Russian-held islands claimed by Japan. Hundreds of former residents of the islands and their offspring saw him off. (Pool photo)

(1)Koizumi departs for boat trip to view Russian-held isles

(1)Koizumi departs for boat trip to view Russian-held isles

NEMURO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi goes on board the Japan Coast Guard's 1,200-ton patrol boat Erimo at Hanasaki port in Nemuro, Hokkaido, on Sept. 2 to make a boat trip to view a group of Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.

Japan's MSA ships leave for joint drills with S. Korea

Japan's MSA ships leave for joint drills with S. Korea

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - Crew members of three Japan's Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) vessels stand at salute at Moji port in the southwestern Japan city of Kitakyushu on Oct. 3 before leaving for joint drills with South Korean vessels, in which they will simulate the rescue and cleanup of a collision of two vessels. The patrol boats are the 3,200-ton Echigo, the 1,200-ton Hakata, and the 180-ton Inasa.