Historical Memory And The Russo-Japanese Territorial Disputes

The territorial dispute between the countries has been the focus in international relations. Whether in the past or now, territorial issues usually profoundly affect the relations between the countries. At the same time the territorial issue will cause the people’s attention in any country. But for the territorial disputes location people, a variety of impact and reaction will be more profound and intense. The one hand, people in the public opinion will largely influence the government’s policies and measures, at the same time the government should guide the public opinion through the relevant countermeasures and participation. This process is not only a kind of local knowledge, but a collective memory of the people reshaping process.This article focuses on the territorial dispute between Japan and Russia-the northern territories issue. By using the way of field investigation in Hokkaido on the Northern Territories problems through questionnaire surveys, and inspecting the public participation on the "four northern islands" issue of the local festival activities, we can conclude that the local people’s attitude towards the territorial issue is a collective memory, some of which are indirectly obtained.On the one hand discuss Hokkaido region’s people’s attitude and position towards the Northern Territories issue, and then discuss the Northern Territory official and non-governmental organizations in Hokkaido area, analysis of the government and the society that how to guide people to look at and participate the problem. Japan’s government interacts with people on the Northern Territories issue is the construction of o local knowledge and molding process.