Former islanders and their descendants participated Saturday in an offshore memorial service near Hokkaido. Together, they honored ancestors buried on Japan’s disputed northern territories across the water. This marks the fifth such gathering since grave visits stopped in 2022.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine originally forced organizers to suspend traditional grave-visiting trips entirely. Consequently, offshore memorial services became the primary way families could honor lost relatives. Five additional services remain scheduled through September 3, continuing this yearly tradition.
On Saturday, 47 participants ranging from age 12 to 97 boarded together. Attendees included three former islanders, several second-generation descendants, and Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki himself. Everyone departed from Nemuro Port, sailing past Cape Nosappu toward Shibetsu waters nearby.
League chairperson Yuzo Matsumoto, 85, addressed participants during the departure ceremony that morning. He emphasized how visiting ancestral homelands carries deep significance for the islands’ return movement. Although disappointed such services remain necessary, he expressed hope for peaceful remembrance.
Throughout the journey, calm waters and intermittent sunshine accompanied the vessel named Etopirika. When Kunashiri Island appeared through clouds around noon, participants observed thirty seconds of silence together.
Among attendees, 97-year-old Koyata Otsuka boarded alongside his late brother’s four sons this year. His brother Seinosuke, a longtime league board member, passed away in February. Seinosuke’s eldest son Kensuke explained he wanted to understand his father’s lifelong advocacy better.
Meanwhile, twelve-year-old Tomoki Kimura became the youngest participant aboard this offshore memorial service. As a third-generation descendant from Shibotsu Island, he hopes to preserve his grandfather’s memory. His grandfather passed away in March, making this journey particularly meaningful for him.
Ultimately, this offshore memorial service reflects ongoing efforts to preserve historical ties across generations. As disputes over territorial sovereignty continue, families remain committed to remembering their ancestral roots.
