Well, practically speaking, how are Japan going to get the islands back? Through force?

If I know my facts correctly, then Japan had to give up claims on the islands - so obviously, as Russia is currently administrating the islands and has been for basically a lifetime, I'm on Russia's side on that issue.

Also to the person saying that Japan should invade - come on. Japan isn't nearly the military force it was during WW2, its army is a quarter of the size of the Russian army. Plus the fact that the invasion wouldn't be looked at favourably by the UN, which could lead to sanctions. Why would you risk the economy for a few small islands?

So I take it you don't actually care about the details of the subject, i.e. the topic of the thead. Just curious, why you even clicked on the thread, since it doesn't overtly indicate it even involves Russia, or mention Vladimir Putin by name?

If necessary? Well taking the islands back isn't necessary, as I said Japan hasn't had control of them for over 70 years.

You can say the exact same thing about Crimea though? "It's close enough that it should be part of Russia." And when has Putin/Russia ever used nukes on civilians? Never.

So what? If a squatter forcefully takes my home am I not allowed to take it back because it's 70 years later? It's still my home.

Intriguing, but I believe the question was HOW, not it's necessity or political beauty. The dispute also has nothing to do with "Putin's aggression" or any hypothetical standing up to that, it is result of WWII and Soviet Union's part in Allies defeat of the fascist Axis. I don't believe Vladimir Putin was even alive at the time, as somebody said, the status quo has been in effect for over 3 generations.

Interesting. Are homophobic slurs VGChartz approved now? Still, you don't answer my question why you associated this thead with Vladimir Putin in the first place? Perhaps you were aware of subject (which precedes Putin's first election) and thus knew it involved Russia, and from there made association with Vladimir Putin? (I take it you haven't had personal relations with him that justify personal animosity) 

Shikotan and Habomai should definitely be Japanese as agreed upon. Russia just uses it as a buffer for negotiations. Similar situation with Cyprus, all of Cyprus should definitely be theirs and not Turkish. It doesn't matter how many people they get to move there so its "more Turkish" when it should be Cyprus.

Japan agreed to the Potsdam Declaration which specified that only the 4 main islands were to remain part of Japan, with the smaller islands being at the discretion of the Allies. So Japan agreed to relinquish control.

What are you taking about? Crimea belonged to Russia.