After the Treaty of Shimoda officially transferred the southern Kuril Islands to Japan in 1855 , the settlement was placed under joint Russian - Japanese administration under the name Honto .
The region was the site of a struggle for control between the Russians and Japanese .
After the Treaty of Shimoda officially transferred the southern Kuril Islands to Japanese in 1855 , the settlement was placed under joint Russian - Japanese administration under the name Honto .
The region was the site of a struggle for control between the Russians and Japanese .