TOKYO Jiji Press - A 1986 Tokyo-Moscow agreement allowing visa-free trips to the northern territories by former Japanese residents for visits to their relatives' graves remains effective, the Russian Foreign Ministry has indicated.
The ministry has revealed this on its website.
The Japanese side has not shown any intention of requesting the resumption of the program, according to the ministry.
Hirokazu Matsuno, Chief Cabinet Secretary, said at a news conference in Tokyo that re-starting the program is one of the top priorities for Japan's relationship with Russia going forward.
The situation will turn around as soon as possible to allow the restart, the top government spokesman said.
The former Soviet Union seized the northern territories from Japan at the end of World War II. A territorial row over the islands has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from finalizing a peace treaty to end their wartime hostilities.