Amid chilled relations between Japan and Russia, the Japanese government is considering implementing additional sanctions against Russia in the near future, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Oct. 2.

Citing multiple Japanese government officials, Yomiuri reported that the prospective sanctions are expected to target the so-called shadow fleet used to transport crude oil while evading sanctions.

The move is seen as an attempt to strike at oil trade, Russia's main source of revenue, by sanctioning the shadow fleet that exports Russian crude oil to countries such as China and India while bypassing Western sanctions.

The Japanese government is also reportedly considering expanding items subject to export controls against Russia and strengthening export restriction measures.

Friction between the two countries intensified last August when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands (known in Japan as the Northern Territories), a disputed territory claimed by both nations.

At the time, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticized the visit, saying it "hurt the feelings of the Japanese people and made the recovery of mid-to-long-term bilateral relations difficult," while hinting at additional sanctions.

However, as no counter-measures emerged for over a month, Japanese media analyzed that the Japanese government may be hesitating due to concerns that additional sanctions could prompt Russia to retaliate by reducing liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Japan.

Against this backdrop, attention has focused on remarks made by President Putin that seemed to express hope for improving bilateral relations.

According to NHK, President Putin attended an international affairs forum in Moscow the previous day. When asked about "how Russia views Japan-Russia relations after overcoming current difficulties," he placed the blame for the deterioration of ties on Japan, but also stated, "We believe it will be mutually beneficial and that we can be good neighbors. Areas of mutual interest do exist between us."

He added, "I expect that an attitude of cooperating for our mutual interests will also prevail among the political leadership on the Japanese side."

This is interpreted as a remark that expresses the view that Japan-Russia relations will improve once the war in Ukraine ends, while simultaneously demanding concessions from the Japanese side.

Regarding President Putin's remarks, Abiru Daisuke, a senior research fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation who asked a question at the forum, evaluated that "it holds a certain significance that President Putin mentioned future-oriented Japan-Russia relations."

He explained, "Viewed from a mid-to-long-term perspective, this can be received as a message that Russia also hopes for sound and stable Japan-Russia relations."

Analyzing the "areas of mutual interest" mentioned by President Putin, he noted, "Energy relations with Russia hold strategic significance from Japan's standpoint," while adding, "For Russia, maintaining and developing Japan-Russia energy relations also means avoiding excessive dependence on China."

In response to President Putin's remarks, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, the Japanese government's spokesperson, pushed back, stating, "It is unacceptable to claim that our country's sanctions and protests against Russia are the cause of the poor state of Japan-Russia relations."

He added, "I would like to remind once again that the currently severe state of Japan-Russia relations stems from Russia's invasion of Ukraine."

However, he emphasized, "We are paying attention to President Putin's remarks regarding the importance and future prospects of Japan-Russia relations," while noting that "although the gap in positions between the two countries remains wide across various issues, it is important to continue communicating with the Russian side."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)