Putin Reignited a Dispute With Japan. This Town Is Stuck in the Middle.

Nemuro, a fishing town in Japan's Hokkaido region, depends on trade with Russia while simultaneously pursuing a territorial dispute with Moscow over islands seized during World War II. Russia controls the islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories and Russia calls the Southern Kurils. The town's economy relies on Russian markets and cross-border commerce, creating a conflict between its commercial interests and Japan's official position on the disputed territory. Recent statements from Russian officials regarding the islands have renewed tensions over the dispute.

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