(2 Sep 2004)
1. Various of Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese Prime Minister, inspecting Kuril Islands, Japan's Northern Territory, on board Japan Coast Guard vessel "Erimo"
2. Wide shot of Koizumi surrounded by media
3. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese Prime Minister:
"These islands are homeland for former residents. We need to further enlighten the nation that this is an issue involving not only the residents but all Japanese people. I reiterate that it is important for me to negotiate for the peace treaty with President Putin because this is the national issue."
4. Koizumi received by the former residents
5. Various of former residents
STORYLINE:
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi boarded a coast guard patrol boat and viewed a group of Russian-held islands claimed by Japan on Thursday, brushing off protests by Moscow that the trip could harm relations.
Koizumi departed from the northern island of Hokkaido toward the Kuril islands ahead of Friday's 59th anniversary of the Soviet occupation in the weeks following Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945.
Former Japanese residents of the islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories, and other supporters of the trip waved rising sun flags as Koizumi boarded the ship.
National broadcaster NHK later showed Koizumi viewing the islands with binoculars.
Tokyo and Moscow have long wrestled diplomatically over the islands, which are sparsely inhabited but located in an area rich in natural resources.
The dispute has blocked a formal peace treaty ending World War II hostilities between them.
Koizumi had originally planned to attempt to land on one of the islands, but changed plans after Russia's Foreign Ministry criticised the trip, saying it would complicate efforts to agree on a peace treaty.
Koizumi's spokesman, Yu Kameoka, denied that the trip would harm relations with Moscow, but said that Russia has to take Japan's position on the islands seriously.
Despite his recent tough talk, Koizumi has made a point of improving ties with Japan's giant neighbour.
He has met several times with President Vladimir Putin, who is expected to visit Tokyo early next year, and both have vowed to try to realise the signing of a peace treaty while they are still in office.
Koizumi has also pushed hard for an oil pipeline from Siberia to the Russian Pacific coast.
The Soviet army began moving onto the Kurils in August 1945 and completed their occupation by September 3, weeks after Japan had formally surrendered.
Japan claims the occupation was opportunistic, and argues that the islands had been inhabited by its indigenous Ainu people for centuries.
Moscow, however, says Russians were exploring the islands as early as 1697.
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