Episode Details

In 1947, thousands of Japanese families were expelled from their island homes by Soviet troops. They were taken from the Northern Territories, also known as the Southern Kurils, after the Soviet Union took control of the islands.

Japan and Russia have failed to sign a peace agreement after World War Two because of the dispute.

Yuzo Matsumoto, who's now 81, has been speaking to Laura Jones.

(Photo: Yuzo Matsumoto with photos of his parents, standing in front of a map of Etorofu. Credit: BBC)