Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he's keen for relations with Japan to return to normal. The countries have been in a bitter dispute for decades over the ownership of four islands off Japan's north coast, which Russia seized at the end of the Second World War.

Ahead of a two-day trip to Tokyo which begins on Thursday, Putin told Japanese media that it was high time they resolved the issue and worked out a peace treaty. Apart from the territorial dispute, the Russian president and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are also expected to touch on various economic initiatives.