‘We wanted Crimea because historically it has always been ours. Japan wants to regain the Kuril Islands’

'The visit of Abe — a good sign for us'

The meeting, though informal, of the Prime Minister of Japan Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi — an extraordinary event. The agreements, the plan of economic cooperation — a step forward. The summit of representatives of both countries didn't give such results in recent years. Of course, we can be skeptical about how it will be implemented in reality, but the fact itself is significant — before, there had not been such large-scale proposals from Japan.

It is great that Japan offers innovative projects to Russia. It is real points of growth for the Russian economy, not just investments in the oil industry — in fact, veiled bribes or poorly controlled credit lines. By the way, this may indicate that Japan started to believe in the possibility of growth of the Russian economy in the coming years and are ready to invest. A good sign for us.

'If now the Prime Minister of Japan offers large-scale economic cooperation programme, therefore, some progress in the solution of the problem of the Islands has been achieved.' Photo: fototelegraf.ru

The issue of the Kuril Islands

The stumbling block in Russian-Japanese relations is the issue of the Kuril Islands. It is the unresolved nature of this issue that does not allow businesses to develop economic relations with Russia on a larger scale. If now the Prime Minister of Japan offers large-scale economic cooperation programme, therefore, some progress in the solution of the problem of the Islands has been achieved.

The bulk of the population still hopes to regain the Kuril Islands. It is the national priority, therefore, all national propaganda is working on it. I think a certain analogy can be drawn between the Japanese attitude to the problem of 'Northern territories' with our Russian attitude to Crimea and its return. We wanted Crimea, because historically it was always ours. The Japanese want to return the Kuril Islands for the same reason. It is difficult to understand to the bulk of the population the historical nuances of the transition of the Islands under the jurisdiction of Russia after the Second World War.

'The USA determines the direction of Japanese foreign policy'

Americans not just influence, I would rather say they determine the main directions of Japanese foreign policy just because the United States and Japan signed Security Treaty according to which the USA is a guarantor of military security of Japan (as you know, Japan in accordance with article 6 of its Constitution has no right to have its own army).

However, in many particularly foreign economic directions, Japan is independent. I think the Japan Prime Minister's visit has not only economic but also political reasons. Changes are coming in the internal policy of Russia, including connected with the development of the Far East. And Japan wants to keep up with these trends. I think it is a good sign for us.

'I think the Japan Prime Minister's visit has not only economic but also political reasons. Changes are coming in the internal policy of Russia, including associated with the development of the Far East. And Japan wants to keep up with these trends.' Photo: kremlin.ru

About Japanese diplomatic etiquette

Japanese etiquette suggests the listening to the perspective of the interlocutor to the end. The Japanese do not give a definitive answer until they agree it with all members of the delegation, the stakeholders. So, often, Japanese constant 'saying ditto' in a conversation is perceived by Europeans and Americans as agreeing but, in reality, it only means 'I hear you', 'I listened to your viewpoint or have taken it into account.'

'I don't think that Japanese are afraid of Russia'

The Japanese call Russia Roshia. Today, the country's name is written in katakana, a special alphabet for foreign words, but in the past Russia was written by hieroglyphics — 露西亜, which contained a character 'rosa', phonetically transmitting the sound of the first syllable. However, the hieroglyphic writing of the name of Russia is linked historically with the Russian Empire, it is not being used in the contemporary media. Today a Japanese average person refers to contemporary Russia rather indifferent than interested. In recent years there has been a steady decline of interest in Russia and Russian language with a small upsurge during the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Unfortunately, Russia is not among the leading countries of the world to attract attention. As the closest neighbour, for Russia it is difficult to compete with the growing strength of another neighbour — China. I don't think the Japanese are afraid of Russia how they could be afraid of it during the Cold war. The military potential of North Korea and China are much more serious danger to them.

The issue of migration for the Japanese was urgent in the early twentieth century. Now, with the trend of population decline in the country, there is no issue of mass migration. On the contrary, the problem of increasing population in the next 20 years is the most important.