Kuril Islands: tensions between Japan and Russia

In a Telegram post republished by Echo, Japan expert Vasily Golovnin outlines the possible consequences of Putin’s visit:

“President Vladimir Putin’s visit today to the South Kuril island of Iturup immediately triggered a sharp reaction in Japan, which was expressed in extremely harsh terms. … Some experts in Tokyo are already suggesting that the Japanese government might even recall its ambassador from Moscow in response. I personally, however, do not believe it will come to that. The Japanese ambassador was recalled from Moscow in response to Medvedev’s visit to the Southern Kuril Islands [back in 2010, when he was Russian President] – but afterwards there was a long struggle over how to send him back to Russia.”