Yukio Hatoyama, Japan’s ex-Prime Minister and the head of the “Japan-Russia Society”, was strongly advised to postpone his scheduled visit to Moscow and Crimea. The decision by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was made because the visit contradicts the official position that Japan has taken towards Crimea.
Mr. Hatoyama does not agree with Japan’s official decision to support Western sanctions against Russia, and believes that relations between Tokyo and Moscow have to be restored as soon as possible. The politician has been promoting Japanese-Russian cultural exchange and is one of the organizers of the annual festival of Japanese culture in Moscow.
Japan joined in with the anti-Russian sanctions March, 2014, postponing talks on international investment, collaboration in space research programs and relaxing the visa regime. In addition, 40 Russian citizens and two Russian companies were put on a black list. Japan has still not recognized the results of the Crimean referendum.
