Japan claims damage to national interests from anti-Russian sanctions

The sanctions imposed under former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida against Russia have become a "negative legacy" and have harmed Japan's national interests. This was announced on May 5 by the deputy of the upper house of the Japanese parliament Muneo Suzuki.

"Under Prime Minister [Fumio] To Kishida, he completely followed (former US President Joe). — Ed.) by Biden, and this has remained a negative legacy. I think it was bad and damaged national interests," he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

As Suzuki pointed out, another former prime Minister Shinzo Abe, during his term in office, rejected former US President Barack Obama's call to impose sanctions on Russia over the events in Crimea in 2014. He added that Abe understood that Japan could not proceed from "values invented by America."

Thoughts on the past: Japanese business is ready to return to Russia

Entrepreneurs are interested in unfreezing projects in agriculture, medicine, and smart cities.

The day before, Suzuki noted in an interview with Izvestia that it was important for Japan to maintain cooperation with Russia, including in the energy sector, and restore mutual trust. He drew attention to the fact that since 2022, Japan has imported about 10% of natural gas from Russia annually.