"Northern Territories Day," February 7 the National Convention for Claiming the Return of the Northern Territories 2001 was held this day at Kudan Kaikan in Tokyo. RENGO is a member of the executive planning committee that organized the convention. Attendees included Prime Minister Mori and many legislators despite the fact that the Diet is in session.

Photo: Prime Minister Mori: "We will make every effort."

1600 attendants gathered from all over the country in the freezing rain promising each other to empower movements that solve the problems which have stagnated in the 20th century and "Return all Four Islands" as soon as possible.
Taking the platform, Prime Minister Mori stated, "we are making every effort for an early solution and peace treaty conclusion." Following that, Minister of State (Administrative reform, Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs) Ryutaro Hashimoto and Foreign Affairs Minister Yohei Kono each expressed their resolution for an early return.
After that, the convention adopted the following appeal: "let public and private work in unity for our goal." The convention ended with all participants appealing in Russian to "give back the four islands!"