I don't know about those other parts. Russia and Japan exchanged land before WW2 (fair terms and friendly). I believe Russia was given Sachalin in exchange for Koerilen Islands. Russia took those Koerilen Islands back after Japan surrendered after the A-bombs. The waters around those islands are very rich and thus important for Japan. Motive of Russia was to protect (future) militairy harbors?Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube
There's still turmoil about that annexation.
Edit:
Got to read this myself as well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuril_Islands
Hmm, Castrictum, that name rings a bell. The period is about right too. Some Dutch sailors were captured in Japan. Funny stuff, it went so far that some dutch fake ambassador was sent to Japan to kiss up.
The Prisoners from Nambu: The Breskens affair in Historical and Historiographical Perspective by Reinier Herman Hesselink DA9312196 ISBN 90.5730.130.x mentions Castricom, Maarten Gerritsz. de Vries. Yes, that's the same mission.
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