TOKYO: About a third of people in Japan are not aware that Russia illegally occupies four northwestern Pacific islands at the center of a territorial dispute between Tokyo and Moscow, a Japanese government survey showed Friday.

The survey by the Cabinet Office found that 35 percent of respondents are unaware of the illegal occupation of the islands located off the eastern coast of Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido.

Nearly 50 percent of respondents aged 39 or younger are not aware of the situation, the survey showed. “Young generations have a low level of awareness,” a government official said, underscoring the need to step up social media campaigns to raise awareness among them.

The survey found that 10 percent of respondents said they are familiar with the situation involving the islands known as Northern Territories in Japan and that 54.1 percent said they know about it to some extent.

According to the survey, 0.6 percent said they do not know the term Northern Territories.

The share of respondents aged between 18 and 29 who did not know the situation came to 47 percent. Among respondents of the same age group, 2 percent did not know what the meaning of Northern Territories.

The survey showed that 49.1 percent of respondents in their 30s did not know about the situation.

Over 60 percent of respondents said they do not want to participate in activities for Japan to regain full control of the islands. Asked why, with multiple answers allowed, 45.7 percent , or the largest group, said they believe the return of the islands would be unlikely even if they take part in such activities.

A survey in 2018 showed that 31.3 percent said they had heard of the Northern Territories but had been unfamiliar with the situation and that 1 percent said they had never heard of the islands.

The latest survey was conducted between Oct. 5 and Nov. 12 last year nationwide via mail, covering 3,000 people aged 18 or older. Valid answers were received from 54.1 percent of them.

JIJI Press