Japan has sent officials to Russia to maintain contacts

Japan has sent a delegation of high-ranking officials to Russia to maintain channels of communication between the two countries. The purpose of the visit is to maintain working relationships and protect the interests and assets of Japanese companies that continue to operate in the Russian market despite current international restrictions.

This was reported by Bloomberg.

Japanese Minister of Trade Ryosei Akazawa stated that Masayoshi Arai, Director-General of the Trade Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, and Masaki Ishikawa, Deputy Director-General for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are currently in Russia and are scheduled to meet with representatives of the Russian government and other stakeholders.

Akazawa downplayed the significance of these talks, which are taking place against the backdrop of G7 sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine and at a time when Japan is seeking alternative energy sources due to restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz resulting from the conflict between the U.S. and Israel with Iran.

“The purpose of this visit is to facilitate communication with the Russian side regarding the protection of assets of Japanese companies operating in Russia. As for further details, since this concerns diplomatic contacts and is related to the individual business activities of companies, I must refrain from commenting,” Akazawa said.

He noted that this visit is not intended to intensify economic cooperation with Russia and is not unprecedented. He added that Japan sent representatives to Russia several times a year in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

“We send representatives of the Japanese government to Russia to maintain contacts, and this trip is part of those ongoing efforts,” said Akazawa.

According to monitoring by the Yale School of Management, dozens of Japanese companies, including Mitsui & Co. and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, continue to operate in Russia.

According to RIA Novosti, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated prior to the visit that the ministry had not proposed meetings to Japan to resume dialogue and had not received such proposals from Tokyo, particularly regarding the protection of assets of companies operating in Russia.

In April and May, Kyodo News reported that the Japanese government planned to send a delegation of companies to Russia to discuss economic issues in connection with the expected end of the war in Ukraine. The government denied these reports, stating that Japan would continue to coordinate sanctions against Russia with the G7 countries.