Abe says upcoming talks with Putin will be extremely important

I do not see a point in continuing dialogue if Russia refuses to return the Northern Four Islands.

The Soviet Union and now Russia admit there is a dispute to settle, and agreed to return the islands.

Somehow I don't think that, that old chestnut of having a meeting, then leaving the meeting saying "they agreed" when the other party had made no agreement at all, works as well these days.

Isn't there an old Japanese saying "silience is golden".

As far as the Soviet Union is concerned, there is no dispiute to settle.

The Soviet Union and now Russia admit there is a dispute to settle, and agreed to return the islands.

Put-in more Yen

....as he seeks to settle a long-standing territorial dispute with the country over a group of islets and sign a postwar peace treaty.

As far as the Soviet Union is concerned, there is no dispiute to settle.

Russian President Putin or the Russian Government is not sincerely negotiation or discussion with Japanese Government about disputed Islands.

The Russian Government will never give back to the Japan even the Russian has new President and Government.

Russia is in it for as much as they can get---Japan will get the crumbs off the table.

Give us back Hoppo Ryodo.

nope it wont... Abe will achieve nothing except agreeing to pay more for gaz and oil and fishing in Russian islands.

Good luck with negotiating with Putin, just as likely to die from radiation or poison then walk away with anything of substance.

True, but need to set lower expectations. It might be important but I don't expect much to change.

Abe is changing his anti-neighbours policy, a good sign and he growns up a lot. Japan will be only stronger if the relationship with neighbours are stronger and the neighbours are stronger.