Japan has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to a disputed Kuril island, describing the move as “absolutely unacceptable” and warning that it could further damage already strained relations between Tokyo and Moscow.
Putin visited Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, on Thursday in what was reported as his first visit to the disputed islands claimed by both countries.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticised the visit, saying it had further worsened public sentiment towards Russia.
Takaichi reiterated Japan’s claim to the four southernmost islands in the Kuril chain, which Tokyo refers to as the Northern Territories, insisting that they are Japanese territory based on history and international law.
“His trip has worsened Japanese sentiment towards Russia,” she told reporters, adding that the Japanese government considered the development deeply offensive.
The prime minister urged Moscow to understand the seriousness with which Japan views the territorial issue.
“I hope that the Russian side will take the gravity of this matter very seriously,” she said.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also lodged a strong protest, maintaining Tokyo’s longstanding position that the disputed islands belong to Japan.
The territorial disagreement dates to the final stages of World War II, when Soviet forces took control of the Kuril Islands. Around 17,000 Japanese residents were subsequently deported from the territories.
The dispute has remained unresolved for decades and has contributed to the failure of Japan and Russia to conclude a formal post-war peace treaty.
The Kuril Islands form a chain stretching from Japan’s northern Hokkaido region towards Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. Russia currently administers the four southernmost islands, while Japan continues to claim sovereignty over them.
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Russian state media reported that Putin toured facilities during his visit to Iturup, interacted with residents and sampled local fish roe.
His trip comes against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between the two countries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Japan subsequently imposed sanctions on Moscow and aligned itself with other countries opposing Russia’s actions.
Tokyo has previously protested visits to the disputed islands by senior Russian officials, including former Prime Ministers Mikhail Mishustin and Dmitry Medvedev.
The islands also carry significant strategic value for Russia, which has strengthened its military presence across the region in recent years. Iturup is home to a major Russian military air base.
Japan has repeatedly raised concerns about Russian military exercises and deployments around the disputed territories.
The strategic importance of the region was highlighted again last month when Chinese and Russian naval vessels reportedly passed through a strait in the Kuril chain during a joint patrol.
Putin’s latest visit is therefore likely to further complicate efforts to resolve the longstanding territorial dispute, as Tokyo continues to warn that Russia’s actions are damaging already fragile bilateral relations.
