Abe says he plans to push for peace treaty with Russia

This will not go down well with the black van nutjobs.  Give us back our Hoppo Ryodo.

Peace Treaty, 2 islands back, plus full access to and negotiations over remaining 2. Great new year resolution, and will be a Legacy of PM Abes rule.

"Putin may be open to a deal now, expecting that better ties will act as a counter-balance to China"

So Putin and Xi are not getting on as well as we thought?

The legacy of Abe will be a trillion depth, falsifications and secret law to hide everything under a rock.

And... isnt it too early to sell the golden PR milk already ? Mr. Putin wasnt too happy about how Mr. Abe is (high-)handling the Okinawa or generally the US Bases problem.

We will see; legally Russia hasn’t got a leg to stand on, but in Realpolitik Japan hasn’t got a leg to stand on.

Hoping for the best, but really not expecting much because Japan can never give Russia what it wants in terms of removing Aegis etc, because Japan has other concerns beyond Russia which ensures it, or other systems like it, must remain in place.

Japan caught between a rock and a hard place on that one so I don't expect much.

If Russia did return 2 of the 4 islands it would signify some significant good will on Russia's part. That, along with some improved economic ties is probably about the best that can be expected.

Is there an election or something in the near future? This is the 20th time he's vowed he'll do this. And so long as the wingers are demanding all islands back or nothing, they'll get nothing.

Plus a peace treaty would be a welcome development.

Why are Japanese obsessing over a third rate world power like Russia?

This has been going on for more than 70 years because neither will compromise. What makes Abe think he can change it? Just more hot air from the king of lip service.

If you don’t think it can be accomplished, Don’t fault the individual attempting to accomplish it. Abe may very well secede where all others have failed in the past. Stranger things have happened on his watch !

What on earth has Abe got in his pockets?

Why are Japanese obsessing over a third rate world power like Russia?

Really? Shown the U.S a thing or two lately have they not?

@1Glenn

Look at a map of the world. Russian beast with a similar population as Japan has swallowed so much land you can fit 5 Chinas inside of it. They've never developed many regions of Russia because it's so big and they don't care about the environment either.

If you have a pie and 3/4 belong to white people, not much left for the rest of the world population. Unbalanced in every sense of the word.

Russia third rate? Economically yes, militarily no, and the nearest Russian territory is about 38 miles away from the northern tip of Japan, so a modicum of foreign policy consideration is called for.

So basically clamour for a peace treaty while rushing to fulfill gramp's grand vision of a remilitarized japan huh? K

Japan should not sign a peace treaty with Russia if Russian Government refused to return all 4 Japanese Islands to Japan.

Russian Government must return all 4 Japanese Islands to Japan if the Russian Government wants to sign peace treaty with Japan.

Russian Government was worried about the United State access back door to Russia via Hokkaido.

Japan can give guarantee the Japan will not allow the United State building military base in Hokkaido if the Russian Government agreed to return all 4 Islands to Japan.

So basically clamour for a peace treaty while rushing to fulfill gramp's grand vision of a remilitarized japan huh? K

Why, the Russians who invaded and robbed us of the islands after we were a-bombed will definitely respect us in a perpetually meek and docile state. Heck, if we disbanded the JSDF tomorrow they might even give us back half of Karafuto.

Putin has already stated a week ago that Russia has no confidence in Japan,s ability to refuse any potential request from the US in the future re. stationing miltary assets on the islands. Japan,s govt. will never go against its US master on security issues, hence Japan can never give the guarantee you mention.

Darn right, US presence is what prevented the Russians from seizing Hokkaido shortly after Japan's surrender. They should pray that Japan will not repeal article 9 and be a thorn at their side like coordinating with NATO or become home to US land based nukes.

Abe already won a deal to travel to Russia.

Among three neighbours, Russia is the most traveled destination for Abe. In that sense, Russia is the closest friend of Japan. In fact, Russia president is the only master of a Japanese dog, among all world leaders.

Has Abe ask US government what they think of his idea?