Tamaki, a prominent political figure, has recently criticized the government's handling of the disputes surrounding the Northern Territories. The criticism is focused on the government's approach to negotiations and its handling of territorial disputes overall. No specific date or event triggered this criticism, but it indicates rising political tensions and disagreements on Japan's foreign policy with Russia.

The Northern Territories, an archipelago off Hokkaido's northeastern coast currently administered by Russia, is a contentious issue in Japan. Most Japanese are passionate about these islands' return because they represent a lingering wound from WWII. This issue often becomes a focus during political rallies, with politicians promising to negotiate the islands' return, testing public sentiment towards Russia and the government's foreign policy.

Similar to the Northern Territories issue in Japan, there have been historical territorial disputes in the U.S. and EU, such as the ongoing conflict over Gibraltar between the UK and Spain, or the U.S. land disputes with Native American nations. These affairs often become political weapons, utilized by politicians to rally support or criticize opposing parties.