# Japan to raise youth awareness about Northern Territories

> Japan's new minister plans school trips and social media campaigns to boost youth understanding of disputed Northern Territories islands with Russia.
- Title: Japan to raise youth awareness about Northern Territories
- Summary: Japan's new minister plans school trips and social media campaigns to boost youth understanding of disputed Northern Territories islands with Russia. Japan…
- Keywords: northern territories, russia-japan relations, disputed islands, okinawa, russia, hokkaido, news, politics, world, Japan, raise, youth
- Source: The Japan Times — https://japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/10/17/japan/northern-territories-youth-awareness
- Author: No Author
- Published: 2026-10-17T07:17:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: northern territories, russia-japan relations, disputed islands, okinawa, russia, hokkaido, news, politics, world
## New minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs
Yasuhiro Hanashi, the new minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, speaks during an interview on Thursday.
## Focus on youth awareness
Japan will focus on efforts to raise young people’s awareness about the territorial issue involving the four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.
## School trips and social media
Such efforts will include attracting school trips to areas close to the islands and sharing related information on social media.
## Promote information abroad
We’ll also promote the dissemination of information about the issue abroad, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry.
## Territorial dispute as biggest pending issue
Hanashi described the territorial dispute as the biggest pending issue between Japan and Russia.
## Resolve dispute with peace treaty
Japan is determined to resolve the issue and conclude a peace treaty with Russia.
## Okinawa development priorities
Addressing the burden of hosting U.S. bases is an important policy task for Okinawa’s development.
## Key takeaway

Japan will increase youth awareness of the Northern Territories dispute through school trips and social media to resolve the territorial issue with Russia.