Between two shores
The Kuril Islands were discovered in the 17th Century by both Russian and Japanese explorers. From the middle of the 19th Century, the southern Kuril islands – Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan and Habomai - were part of Japanese territory. After Japan’s surrender in World War II, the Kuril Islands became part of Russia. But Japan still hasn’t accepted the loss. The territorial dispute between Japan and Russia has been ongoing for more than 60 years. In this XL report you’ll meet Russian and Japanese people sharing their thoughts on the issue, and see the beauty of the Kurils.