Characters meaning "recapture" are seen sprayed on the "Shima no Kakehashi" monument at Cape Nosappu in Nemuro, Hokkaido, on Sept. 13, 2021. (Mainichi/Hiroaki Homma)

       NEMURO, Hokkaido -- A monument in this north Japan city supporting a movement demanding the return of the Russian-held Northern Territories has been vandalized with characters in white spray paint.

       The monument and a platform for a flame next to it, located at Cape Nosappu in the city, were vandalized with two kanji characters meaning "recapture." The damage was discovered at around 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 13 by the owner of a nearby shop.

       The Nemuro Municipal Government, which is in charge of the structures, filed a damage report with Nemuro Police Station, and officers are investigating.

       The two-character word sprayed on the "Shima no Kakehashi" ("Four Islands Bridge") monument measured 2.6 meters in height and 1.1 meters in width, while the one on the flame platform was 1 meter in height and 2.2 meters in width. The shop owner apparently did not notice any damage when checking the monument the previous evening.

       The monument was erected in 1981 with donations from across the country, collected by people involved in the movement to regain control of the four islands, and was presented to the city.

       (Japanese original by Hiroaki Homma, Nemuro Bureau)

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