Basic Information
Organization name
Northern Territories Issue Association (also known as "Hokutaikyo" in Japan)
Organization chart
Corporate overview
Purpose
The Association aims to promote the resolution of the Northern Territories issue and other issues relating to the Northern Regions (referring to the Habomai Islands, Shikotan Island, Kunashiri Island and Etorofu Island) by raising public awareness, conducting research and studies on these issues, and helping those who lived in the Northern Regions.
In addition, it aims to ensure the stability of business management and the lives of former Northern Regions fishing rights holders (referring to the former Northern Regions fishing rights holders specified in Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the Act on Special Measures for Persons Who Held Fishing Rights in the Northern Regions) and others concerned by providing them with funding necessary for their businesses and lives based on the Act on Special Measures for Persons Who Held Fishing Rights in the Northern Regions (Act No. 162 of 1961), (Article 3 of the Act on the Northern Territories Issue Association, Incorporated Administrative Agency (Act No. 132 of 2002).
Business description
The following operations are performed to achieve the purpose of the Act on the Northern Territories Issue Association.
- Raising public awareness on the Northern Territories issue and other issues related to the Northern Regions
- The four-island exchange program
- Research and studies on the Northern Territories issue and other issues related to the Northern Regions
- Necessary support for former islanders
- The provision of financing to former Northern Regions fishing right holders
Number of staff
26 (full-time staff as of April,2024)
History
Based on the Act on General Rules for Incorporated Administrative Agencies (Act No. 103 of 1999) and the Act on the Northern Territories Issue Association, on October 1, 2003, the Association was established as a corporation, taking over the Northern Territories Issues Association (special corporation, former association), which was abolished as part of the reform of special corporations.
The former association, which took over all operations of the Northern Areas Association 1 and part of the operations of the Relief Committee for Southern Territories Compatriots 2 , was established in October 1969, based on the Act on the Northern Territories Issue Association (Act No. 34 of 1969), as an organization to raise public awareness on a nationwide scale and promote the resolution of the Northern Territories issue.
1 The Northern Areas Association:
This association was established in December 1961 to provide low-interest funding for fisheries and other businesses run by former Northern Regions fishing rights holders and for their lives, thereby stabilizing their fisheries and other businesses, as well as their lives.
2 The Relief Committee for Southern Territories Compatriots:
This committee was established to conduct research and studies on southern areas, such as Okinawa and Ogasawara, to enlighten the public, and to help residents in said areas. It was, however, decided to conduct the same kinds of operations for the Northern Regions by a law revision in 1959.