| For two weeks this summer Peace Boat will go back to
its Asian roots, and take over four hundred Japanese and non-Japanese
participants to the North and South Korea and to the Kuril Islands.
Exchange programmes, homestays and cultural study tours in each of
the ports will offer participants and local people the opportunity
to come together and share opinions regarding the relationship between
Japan, Korea and Russia. Despite the improved ties which cohosting
of the World Cup has forged between Japan and South Korea, Japanese
history textbook revisionism and the Japanese government's prolonged
resistance to offering an official apology or compensation to those
who suffered under the Japanese military before and during World War
II continue to tarnish relations beteen Japan and Asia, while disputed
sovereignity of the Kuril Islands remains a thawny issue with Russia.
Peace Boat hopes that this voyage will help to build a strong people-to-people
level foundation to improved relations between Japan and its closest
neighbours. |
