Japanese Nationalism: an Obstacle to Better Relations with Russia?

... Day”, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left for Sochi for the opening of the Olympic Games and had a meeting with Vladimir Putin there the day after. The prospects for Russo-Japanese relations and the implications of the internal political situation in Japan are discussed in this interview with RIAC member Alexander N. Panov , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia. The 24th Olympic Games opened in Sochi last Friday, and were also the reason given by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for his visit to Russia. On the other hand, that same day, 7 February, is known in Japan as Northern Territories Day, referring to Japan’s dispute ...