北方領土の日（hoppo ryodo no hi）: Northern Territories Day

On Feb. 7, 1855 the Treaty of Commerce, Navigation and Delimitation was made between Japan and Russia and the border was established between the islands of Etorofu (択捉)and Uruppu.
This area is called Northern Territories （北方領土：hoppo ryodo）which includes 4 big islands Etorofu-to(択捉島), Kunashiri-to(国後島),Shikotan-to(色丹島), Habomai-gunto(歯舞群島) and some small islands nearby.　The total area is 5,036 square kilometers.
Until the end of World War II there were 17,291 people had lived in the Northern Territories, however they were forced to evacuate the islands by 1949 and 80% of them settled in Hokkaido(北海道), which adjoins the Northern Territories.
The Four Northern Islands are currently illegally occupied by Russia. The Japanese government is trying to solve this problem through diplomatic negotiations,conclude a peace treaty between Japan and Russia, and establish stable relations based on true mutual understanding between the two countries.
To enhance people's understanding of and increase interest in the Northern Territories issue, and to promote reversion campaign the Japanese government decided in 1981 that Feb. 7 every year be Northern Territories Day.