At the edge of the Pacific, where the Southern Kurils extend from Hokkaido to Kamchatka, Russia is making a new claim through symbolic means. On July 28, the Sakhalin branch of the Russian Geographical Society announced a plan to rename an uninhabited island in the Lesser Kurils after Richard Sorge, a celebrated Soviet intelligence officer. The move includes the installation of a plaque, a gesture that adds another layer to the ongoing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. The island, part of the Southern Kurils—Japan’s Northern Territories—has long been a flashpoint in the region.
Sorge's intelligence and legacy
During World War II, Sorge operated under the guise of a German journalist, gathering intelligence for the Soviet Union in Tokyo until his arrest in 1941. His network, backed by access through the German ambassador and a close Japanese journalist, gave him an inside view of Japan’s wartime plans. Though some of his reports contained unverified details, the majority proved accurate, playing a crucial role in helping Soviet forces avoid an invasion. His intelligence allowed the Red Army to shift troops from Siberia toward Moscow’s defense during a critical period.
In Japan, Sorge’s actions are remembered as a painful intelligence failure. His reports influenced a decision in 1941 to focus military operations in the Pacific rather than against the Soviet Union. This choice helped shield Moscow from a two-front war, a strategic advantage the Soviets capitalized on. On the other hand, Russia honors Sorge as a hero, a status officially recognized in 1964 when he was posthumously named a Hero of the Soviet Union. This honor followed renewed public interest during a time of de-Stalinization and cultural shift.
Symbolic moves in a symbolic dispute
The recent Russian move to name an island after Sorge is more than a tribute to a historical figure. It is a calculated step in a territorial conflict that has lingered for decades. The Southern Kurils—Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and Habomai—remain at the heart of diplomatic tensions. Japan argues that the Soviet Union’s 1945 occupation of these islands was an illegal act, violating the existing Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact. Although the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty allowed Japan to renounce claims to the broader Kuril Islands, Tokyo insists the disputed islands are not part of this group.
Russia, however, rejects this interpretation. It views the islands as part of its permanent territory. Over the past decade, Russian authorities have increasingly used symbolic actions—such as renaming islands and erecting memorials—to reinforce their territorial claims. These acts serve as a way to anchor historical narratives to current political goals, making them more palatable and defensible.
The island and the plaque
The specific island chosen for renaming is in the disputed Southern Kurils, which Russia occupied in 1945. The decision to honor Sorge is deliberate and symbolic. Earlier this year, in January 2022, Russia had proposed relocating his remains to the islands, a proposal that was met with strong opposition from Japan. Now, the plan is to install a plaque and rename the island in his memory. This move follows a trend in which Russian officials have used historical figures tied to Soviet-era operations to legitimize their current control.
Sorge’s name will join others on the Kuril islands, including those of Soviet intelligence figures, military leaders, and officials who played roles in the 1945 occupation. These names serve as a historical anchor, reinforcing a narrative that frames Russian control as a continuation of past actions. For instance, the 2012 and 2017 renaming efforts included figures like Pavel Fitin, Kuzma Derevyanko, and Alexei Gnechko, each with direct ties to the events that led to the Soviet take-over of the islands.
Japan has consistently rejected these symbolic moves, calling them unilateral and illegitimate. Past Russian efforts, such as monument building and renaming ceremonies, have drawn protests from Tokyo. The Sorge initiative is unlikely to change this stance, but it underscores how Russia continues to use historical memory to justify and strengthen its territorial claims. Through these actions, Russia not only reclaims the past but redefines it in its favor.
By placing a plaque and renaming an island after Sorge, Moscow is making a clear statement. It is inserting another marker into a contested landscape, one that remains unresolved. With each symbolic gesture, Russia is reinforcing its position while challenging Japan to acknowledge what it views as an enduring fact of geography and history. The dispute continues, shaped by the interplay of memory, strategy, and national identity.