Lauge Risom Koch 
Russian state media criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after Tokyo issued a formal protest over Vladimir Putin’s visit to the disputed Kuril Islands.
Russian state media criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following her formal diplomatic protests. The dispute centers on a visit by President Vladimir Putin to the contested Kuril Islands. The resulting diplomatic fallout highlights strained relations between Moscow and Tokyo regarding unresolved historical claims.
Rejecting diplomatic protests
Russian news outlet Strategic Culture criticized the Japanese leadership over their territorial complaints. According to a report by TASS, the publication argued that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has no right to criticize Putin’s travels. The article claimed that Tokyo has the blood of Russian civilians on its hands due to its support for Kyiv.
This media backlash followed a formal protest issued by the Japanese government earlier in the week. As detailed by AP News, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned the Russian ambassador to denounce the visit to Iturup. Tokyo emphasized that the southern Kuril Islands remain historically and legally Japanese territory.
Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev dismissed these complaints during his summons at the foreign ministry. The ambassador characterized the Japanese reaction as an unfounded diplomatic move. He reminded the Japanese diplomat that the islands represent an integral part of Russia.
A historic and provocative visit
The diplomatic crisis erupted after Vladimir Putin traveled to Iturup on August 13. During his trip, the Russian president toured a fish plant, a hospital, and a school. According to TASS, the journey became the most discussed topic across Japanese social media platforms.
While this marks Putin’s first personal visit, other Russian officials have previously traveled to the archipelago. Former President Dmitry Medvedev visited the Kuril Islands as head of state in 2010. He returned to the disputed islands several times during his tenure as prime minister.
Prime Minister Takaichi stated that Putin’s visit hurt the feelings of the Japanese people. As reported by AP News, Japan asserts that the presidential appearance remains unacceptable. She warned that the action complicates any future normalization of relations between Japan and Russia.
An unresolved territorial dispute
The underlying territorial dispute has prevented Moscow and Tokyo from signing a World War II peace treaty. Soviet forces seized the Kuril archipelago during the final days of the global conflict. Since then, the unresolved status of the islands has remained an obstacle to closer relations.
Japan disputes Russian ownership of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and several smaller uninhabited landmasses. The Japanese government officially refers to these southern islands as their Northern Territories. Meanwhile, Russia maintains military and civilian infrastructure across the island chain.
The Russian foreign ministry has stressed that its sovereignty over these territories rests on a firm legal foundation. Moscow considers the current status of the islands to be an unchangeable reality. Consequently, both nations remain deadlocked over this territorial disagreement without a clear resolution in sight.
