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Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori visited to the north of Japan to view the Northern Territories; four island groupings that lie off the northern tip of Hokkaido. After taking in a view of the Northern Territories from aboard a Ground Self Defense Force helicopter, the Prime Minister visited the Northern Museum at Cape Nosappu, where he had an opportunity to learn more about them in depth. There he visited the Cape Nosappu Monument, which commands a view of the Northern Territories.
The Prime Minister visited the Hokkaido Prefectural Four Northern Islands Exchange Center in the Nihoro Complex, where he met and conversed with local residents. The Prime Minister took this opportunity to explain to the local people what transpired between him and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation during the recent Japan-Russia Summit Meeting in Irkutsk and outlined the Government's efforts toward realizing a return of the Northern Territories. The Prime Minister thanked all those involved for their efforts toward resolution of Northern Territories Problems and encouraged them to carry on.