Abe, Putin hold talks on Japan-Russia territorial dispute

another slap to Abe's face. Abe has no self respect.

Moderator: Abe's self-respect has nothing to do with Putin's late arrival. Your hatred of Abe is becoming irrational and obsessive. Obsessions have no place on our discussion board.

For someone 50 years behind the times, that's not much of a delay.

Maybe Putin is telling Abe something. Like "Sorry, I have something more important to do than meeting you".

Panic stations!

Slavs have always been lazy and shown poor time management, so this is expected even for their dear leader

Abe must be standing there at the airport, hands clutched together against his heart, tears in his eyes...Putin! Putin! Where art thou Putin??

To be fair to the bloke, he must be too busy to turn round, what with upcoming elections in France, Holland, Germany, Iran, Hong Kong and Singapore among others.

They won't arrange themselves without considerable help from outside....

The guy is most important person of the year again, according to Forbes mag. A bath Abe who? Putin should just send a new year card..."we are not scared of america and you ain't gonna get any islands. Oh and we have the worlds biggest oil reserves."

Putin was too busy playing catch with his dog, that's why he ended up behind schedule!

Abe: Welcome to Japan. Since you've arrived late, let's just go to the onsen where our women will pamper you in style.

Putin: Before that I'd like to ride on of your horses shirtless to get them in the right mood.

Abe: Of course.

The weather conditions have been extremely bad in Moscow these days with heavy snowfalls and winds. I presume, the flight was delayed due to these reasons.

Putin will be late for his own funeral.

It sounds like Ganryujima fight of Miyamato Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro. Putin seems Musashi and Abe seems Kojiro. Kojiro was sitting waiting long and very irritating about Musashi being very late to come and did not fight good. Who won the game of fight? Musashi won. His plan made it. Abe san must be very very tired irritating about Putin coming late.

Maybe, Abe should give him a Japan-made watch so that he does not need to rely on Russian one.

klausdorth,"Just watched the news: lots of "black vans", too!

And has Putin gained some weight (I mean body mass!!) lately?

At least it looked like this when got off the plane."

Yes, I thought the same when I watched.Abe was not at the airport which surprised me.

During two days of talks

That's a long time for two people just to sit and talk. If they become tired they might consider wrestling naked in front of a roaring log fire.

It is funny. World War 2 ended long ago. Now both sides should compromise. Both sides can make these 4 island a special zone. Both nations can live there and 2 countries should use this zone like Free Trade zone

Right time to build strong and durable friendship between Japan and Russia for promoting peace and stability in Asia.

Japan says the Soviet Union took the islands illegally at the end of World War II, expelling 17,000 Japanese to nearby Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands.

Spoils of War? I deign to think what the outcome would have been if the shoe was on the other foot. Get over it!!

The perpetual dance continues, as it has for ages. Round and round they go, waiting for the music to stop, but never does. Draging on and on, until one finally relenquishes, which won't materialize as stubbornness rules the ego of both.

Well, well, while democratic nations around the world rightfully blame Russia for its insanly brutal military action in Syria, the prime minister of Japan did not find anything else to do than to be Putin's yes-man in an onsen. This is so shameful for Japan.

Given that Abe also offered a $3800 gold club to Trump with the hope to gain his sympathie, Japanese don't fail to show the world that they will lie down and be cowards when it's about to protect their interests.

Russian President Putin talked together with Shinzo Abe of the Japanese prime minister today in Yamaguchi. They will talk about a territorial problem. The problem that stopped for 70 years thinks today to begin to move the northern territories at a turning point.However, this problem lasted 70 years and is a considerably big problem. It will be difficult for each other to easily compromise. But I think that you must talk minutely slowly.So, as for me, today's meeting asks me for the meeting where the issue of northern territories goes to the solution being held eagerly.So I hope that Japan and Russia summit meeting is held more

The man who arrests, tortures, and murders those who displease him within Russia, not to mention assassinating those who displease him outside of Russia, is having a nice, pleasant, sit-down with the Japanese PM. What could go wrong?

"That's a long time for two people just to sit and talk. If they become tired they might consider wrestling naked in front of a roaring log fire."

Given what's been going on in world politics this year, that sounds quite classy.

Spoils of War? I deign to think what the outcome would have been if the shoe was on the other foot. Get over it!!

No. Just spoils of aggression, unilaterally broken non-aggression pact and invaded after seeing weakened Japan with 1st atomic bomb. Coward Sneak attack. No need diegn to think IF in history

Putin spending two whole day in Japan and it not for Nagate onsens being renown for magical quilities. There is something big building here. Japan has a big problem with energy since taking Nuclear power off line and this is an issue which the Japanese are very concern about. The last time putin spent more then a day in one region was when he sign china to a massive gas deal. Putin needs to move more oil and a pipe line directly to Japan would be a huge benefit to Russia. There is little if no green movement in Japan to opposite a change over to oil or gas power.

the picture reminds me of a movie with Jim Carrey...Dumb and Dumber

I don't know how ordinary Japanese people feel when they see Mr.Abe appeasing Mr.Putin in front of TV, the arrangement seems to be over generous.