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Japan emperor, empress meet ex-residents of Iwoto Island

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (L) and Empress Masako (2nd from L) invite two former residents of Iwoto Island in the Pacific Ocean to an annex of an imperial villa in Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on Aug. 26, 2025. The imperial couple visited the remote Tokyo island, previously known as Iwojima, in April 2025 to commemorate the victims of the Japan-U.S. battle there during the final year of World War II. Currently residents of Nasu, the two, both in their 90s, were ordered to evacuate from the island in 1944.

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Japan emperor, empress meet ex-residents of Iwoto Island

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (L) and Empress Masako (2nd from L) invite two former residents of Iwoto Island in the Pacific Ocean to an annex of an imperial villa in Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on Aug. 26, 2025. The imperial couple visited the remote Tokyo island, previously known as Iwojima, in April 2025 to commemorate the victims of the Japan-U.S. battle there during the final year of World War II. Currently residents of Nasu, the two, both in their 90s, were ordered to evacuate from the island in 1944.

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PM Abe meets grandchildren of ex-residents in disputed isles

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) meets grandchildren and great-grandchildren of former residents in the four Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido, northern Japan, at his office in Tokyo on July 24, 2014.

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Ex-residents visit "Gunkanjima"

NAGASAKI, Japan - Women chat in front of a residential building that used to be their home on Hashima, an island popularly known as "Gunkanjima" (Battleship Island), in Nagasaki City, southwestern Japan, on July 5, 2014. All residents moved out of the island 40 years ago after the coal mine was closed.

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Ex-residents in Russian-held isles leave for visa-free visit

KUSHIRO, Japan - The first group of former Japanese residents in four Russian-held islands off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido leaves Nemuro port for a visa-free visit to one of the isles on May 24, 2014.

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Man publishes newsletter about ex-residents in Fukushima town

ASAHIKAWA, Japan - Noritada Nakazato shows copies of a newsletter called Kawabusa Tsushin which he has been publishing to deepen bonds among former residents of a district in Fukushima Prefecture, during an interview in October 2013 in Furano, Hokkaido. About 300 residents in Kawabusa had to evacuate their homes shortly after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami triggered the nuclear disaster.

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Koizumi meets with ex-residents of Russian-held islands

NEMURO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi attends dialogue Sept. 2 in Nemuro, Hokkaido Prefecture, with former residents of Russian-held islands claimed by Japan. He held the meeting after viewing some of the islands off Hokkaido and vowed to seek an early transfer of the islands.

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(2)Miyake Island ex-residents allowed to go home after 4 1/2 yrs

TOKYO, Japan - A shrine and its gate on Miyake Island remain buried under volcanic ashes in a photo taken in March 2004. Miyake village head Sukeyasu Hirano said July 20 that residents of the island will be allowed to return home in February 2005, four and a half years after an evacuation order was issued in September 2000 following volcanic eruptions there.

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(1)Miyake Island ex-residents allowed to go home after 4 1/2 yrs

TOKYO, Japan - Miyake village head Sukeyasu Hirano tells a press conference on July 20 that village residents will be allowed to return home in February 2005, four and a half years after an evacuation order was issued in September 2000 following volcanic eruptions there.

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Boat travel near Russia-held isles

Ex-residents of Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido and others pray on boat toward Kunashiri Island, one of the isles, off the town of Rausu in Hokkaido on Oct. 6, 2021, as a visa-free visit was cancelled for this fiscal year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Pool photo)

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Ex-residents in Sakhalin town chat about old days

Former residents in Minaminayoshi, which is now Shebunino on the Russian far eastern island of Sakhalin, talk about the old days over photos during the last meeting of their association at a spa resort in Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan, before its disbandment because of members' advanced age. Minaminayoshi was in the southern half of Sakhalin which was called Karafuto when it was under Japanese rule until 1945. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-residents in Sakhalin town to end annual meeting due to old age

Former residents in Minaminayoshi, which is now Shebunino on the Russian far eastern island of Sakhalin, hold the last meeting of their association at a spa resort in Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan, on Oct. 21, 2015, before its disbandment because of members' advanced age. Minaminayoshi was in the southern half of Sakhalin which was called Karafuto when it was under Japanese rule until 1945. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-residents of disputed island offer prayers on boat

Former Japanese residents on islands off Japan's Hokkaido offer prayers to their ancestors on a boat in waters off Hokkaido's Nemuro in the direction for Taraku Island of the disputed Habomai island group, claimed by Japan but administered by Russia, on Sept. 1, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-residents of islands meet press after Japan-Russia talks

Hirotoshi Kawata (R), deputy director of the League of Residents of Chishima and Habomai Islands, attend a press conference with Yasuji Tsunoka, also from the organization, in Nemuro in the northernmost Japanese prefecture on Sept. 29, 2015, in response to the bilateral talks between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The organization comprises former residents on Russian-held islands off Hokkaido which are also claimed by Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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PM Abe meets grandchildren of ex-residents in disputed isles

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) meets grandchildren and great-grandchildren of former residents in the four Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands off Hokkaido, northern Japan, at his office in Tokyo on July 24, 2014. (Kyodo)

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Ex-residents visit "Gunkanjima"

NAGASAKI, Japan - Women chat in front of a residential building that used to be their home on Hashima, an island popularly known as "Gunkanjima" (Battleship Island), in Nagasaki City, southwestern Japan, on July 5, 2014. All residents moved out of the island 40 years ago after the coal mine was closed. (Kyodo)

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Ex-residents fly over Russian-held islands

A chartered airplane carrying former residents of Russian-held islands off Hokkaido leaves Nakashibetsu airport on Oct. 21, 2020, on the northernmost Japanese main island to fly over the islands to pay respects to their ancestors. The residents took part in the flight trip as an annual visa-free visit was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ex-residents fly over Russian-held islands

Former residents of Russian-held islands off Hokkaido disembark from a chartered airplane on Oct. 21, 2020, at Nakashibetsu airport on the northernmost Japanese main island after finishing their flight over the islands to pay respects to their ancestors. The residents took part in the flight trip as an annual visa-free visit was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ex-residents fly over Russian-held islands

Former residents of Russian-held islands off Hokkaido prepare to board a chartered airplane at Nakashibetsu airport on the northernmost Japanese main island on Oct. 21, 2020, to fly over the islands to pay respects to their ancestors. The residents took part in the flight trip as an annual visa-free visit was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ex-residents trip to Russian-held islands

Former residents board a chartered airplane at Nakashibetsu airport in Hokkaido on July 22, 2018, to visit their ancestors' graves on Russian-held Kunashiri and Etorofu islands. Japan claims sovereignty over the islands as well as two others Soviet troops seized at the end of World War II. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-residents of Russian-held isles return home

A group of Japanese former residents of Russian-controlled islands off Hokkaido arrive at Nakashibetsu airport on Hokkaido, Japan, on Sept. 24, 2017, after visiting their ancestors' graves on two of the disputed isles. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-residents of Russian-held isles return home

A group of Japanese former residents of Russian-controlled islands off Hokkaido arrive at Nakashibetsu airport on Hokkaido, Japan, on Sept. 24, 2017, after visiting their ancestors' graves on two of the disputed isles. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-residents of Russian-held isles return home

A group of Japanese former residents of Russian-controlled islands off Hokkaido arrive at Nakashibetsu airport on Hokkaido, Japan, on Sept. 24, 2017, after visiting their ancestors' graves on two of the disputed isles. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-residents' trip to disputed isles canceled due to fog

Former Japanese residents of disputed isles off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido and family members listen to an announcement on June 19, 2017, in Hokkaido's Nakashibetsu that a planned trip for them to visit the islands the same day has been canceled due to fog. It would have been the first such trip by air for the former residents to the Russian-held territory known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ex-residents' trip to disputed isles canceled due to fog

Former Japanese residents of disputed isles off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido and family members listen to an announcement on June 19, 2017, in Hokkaido's Nakashibetsu that a planned trip for them to visit the islands the same day has been canceled due to fog. It would have been the first such trip by air for the former residents to the Russian-held territory known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese ex-residents' trip to disputed Russian-held isles postponed

Former Japanese residents of a group of Russian-controlled islands to the northeast of Hokkaido appear disappointed at Nakashibetsu airport in Hokkaido on June 18, 2017, after finding out their trip to the isles has been postponed due to poor weather. About 70 people were to make the first trip by air to the disputed isles. The trip has been rescheduled for June 19. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese ex-residents' trip to disputed Russian-held isles postponed

Former Japanese residents of a group of Russian-controlled islands to the northeast of Hokkaido appear disappointed at Nakashibetsu airport in Hokkaido on June 18, 2017, after finding out their trip to the isles has been postponed due to poor weather. About 70 people were to make the first trip by air to the disputed isles. The trip has been rescheduled for June 19. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese ex-residents leave for disputed isles held by Russia

Former Japanese residents of disputed islands off Hokkaido leave the northern Japanese port of Nemuro aboard a chartered ship on May 15, 2017, for Russian-held Kunashiri Island. They will visit the sites of their former family homes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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(2)Miyake Island ex-residents allowed to go home after 4 1/2 yrs

TOKYO, Japan - A shrine and its gate on Miyake Island remain buried under volcanic ashes in a photo taken in March 2004. Miyake village head Sukeyasu Hirano said July 20 that residents of the island will be allowed to return home in February 2005, four and a half years after an evacuation order was issued in September 2000 following volcanic eruptions there. (Kyodo)

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(1)Miyake Island ex-residents allowed to go home after 4 1/2 yrs

TOKYO, Japan - Miyake village head Sukeyasu Hirano tells a press conference on July 20 that village residents will be allowed to return home in February 2005, four and a half years after an evacuation order was issued in September 2000 following volcanic eruptions there. (Kyodo)