Russia’s Changing Stance Towards Japan and the Future of Japan-Russia Relations (Mr. Taisuke Abiru, Senior Fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation)

OVERVIEW実施概要

Date & Time 14:00-15:30, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Application Deadline 12:00, Friday, October 9 Theme Russia’s Changing Stance Towards Japan and the Future of Japan-Russia Relations Briefer Mr. Taisuke Abiru, Senior Fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation 　

Brief Bio: Born in 1969. A graduate of Waseda University, with an M.A. from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). Specializes in Russian foreign policy and security strategy. Publications include A Guide to Understanding Russia Today, and supervised translations include the Japanese edition of Putin’s World. A regular participant in the annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, de facto hosted by the Kremlin, where President Vladimir Putin delivers a keynote address each year. Has directly exchanged views with President Putin on Japan-Russia relations on five occasions.

Language Japanese, with consecutive English interpretation

Russia’s Changing Stance Towards Japan and the Future of Japan-Russia Relations (Mr. Taisuke Abiru, Senior Fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation)

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Japan-Russia relations have been in an extremely difficult situation. While Japan continues to cooperate with Western nations with implementing sanctions on Russia and supporting Ukraine, Russia is further enhancing its relationship with China, leading to significant changes in the security environment of East Asia.

In these circumstances, President Vladimir Putin visited Etorofu Island in the Northern Territories and the Japanese government strongly protested this act, with tensions between the two countries over the Northern Territories once again brought to the forefront. Amid the situation in Ukraine continuing over the long term and strengthening China-Russia relations, there is greater attention on how to consider Russia’s stance towards Japan and what the future holds for Japan-Russia relations.

The FPCJ has invited Mr. Taisuke Abiru, a senior fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, to discuss future of Japan-Russia relations, including the background behind President Putin’s visit to Etorofu Island and Russia’s stance towards Japan, strengthening China-Russia relations and the situation in Ukraine, and the Northern Territories issue.

Please note that you cannot physically attend this briefing, as it will be a Zoom webinar.

Embassy representatives and FPCJ supporting members may also participate in the briefing as observers (admission free).

As in our standard press briefings, there will be a Q&A session at the end.
*In principle, questions will only be accepted from members of the foreign press.

Members of the Foreign Press:

Please send any questions for the briefer or topics you are interested in to [email protected] by 12:00 on Friday, October 9. As there will only be a limited amount of time to ask questions during the briefing, we will collect questions and provide them to the briefer in advance.

Embassy representatives and FPCJ supporting members may also watch the briefing as observers (admission free).

■How to Apply: Please refer to the email we sent.
*We will not be accepting applications by email.