7 February is the first Day of “Northern territories”, which will be held after the Russian-Japanese summit in December last year. Then the parties agreed, among other things, on joint economic activities on the four Northern Islands. A descendant of the inhabitants of Kunashir in the second generation, the fashion designer Toru Kato (Kato Toru), who organized a fashion show on Kunashir and Iturup, calls start with simple exchanges.
The father of Mr. Kato was born on Kunashir. He grew up in the city of Nemuro, which is located on the island of Hokkaido. After high school, Mr. Kato went to the capital, where he studied fashion design. He created the Zin Kato brand. The activity is carried out both in Japan and abroad.
When Mr. Kato was a kid and lived in Nemuro, there were some incidents in which the Soviet side had apprehended a fishing vessel that engaged in fishing in close proximity to the four Northern Islands. The ship of his father, who was the head of a fishing organization, has also suffered. There was even a case when it is fired from a firearm. “I thought that the devil lives” — says Mr. Kato.
Starting to work, he was so busy that he didn’t even have time to go home. Mr. Kato was practically no interest in the territorial issue. The turning point was the death of his father, who was a member of the movement for the return of the Islands. Mr. Kato decided to scatter dad’s ashes in the homeland and in 2009, he first visited the island of Kunashir in the program of a visa-free exchange.
Then he had the idea of a fashion show with the participation of Russian girls. Mr. Kato has constructed an impromptu catwalk in the local house of culture. More than ten girls selected as models presented clothes created by Mr. Kato. On the island, where there is no theater, this show was a great success. Seeing well-dressed girls and some inhabitants even cried from happiness.
During the next visit, which came a year later, to the casting it is a huge number of girls wishing to try themselves as models. A fashion show was also held and Iturup. Thanks to the deepening of relations has changed and the impression of Mr. Kato about the Russians: “They are not devils, and nice people. They had their own circumstances”.
In March will start intergovernmental consultations. The parties will also discuss the increase in the number of visa-free travel. “If the citizens of Russia and Japan will deepen the relationship and strengthen trust relationships, the policy must also find points of contact,” says Mr. Kato. This year he plans to hold the third show. Then Mr Kato hopes to organize a fashion show in Tokyo, inviting models from Russia.
