Professor of Political Science, Temple University Japan. Currently working on: “Spy Paradise: Russian Espionage against Japan, from the Cold War to Cyber Warfare.” This book is the sequel to “Cracking the Crab”.
James D.J. Brown
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Japan is set to receive an extension of the exemption from US sanctions that permits it to continue importing energy from Russia’s Sakhalin-2. The exemption was due to expire on 18 June. In 2025, Japan imported 8.9% of its LNG from Russia. www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/1323...
With visa-free visits to the Russian-held N Territories still suspended, Hokkaido will organise this year both boat trips and flights to allow Japanese former residents to offer prayers to ancestral graves from water and airspace close to the islands. www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/1321...
Putin has signed a decree approving the purchase by Russia of the 10% stake held by France’s Total in Arctic LNG-2.
Japan’s JOGMEC & Mitsui still hold a 10% stake in the LNG project. www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/1320...
Japan and the EU held their first working-level meeting on countermeasures against disinformation in Tokyo on 3 June. They agreed to close cooperation with a view to countering influence operations by China and Russia.
www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/1320...
An interview with me in the Asahi about Japan’s recent METI-led delegation to Russia.
www.asahi.com/articles/ASV...
My article for The Moscow Times
Japan must stop its embarrassing embrace of Kremlin cultural projects
“While ordinary Russians should continue to be welcome, Japan should stop giving the Putin regime a public platform for its propaganda.”
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/06/05/j...
My latest for The Straits Times:
How real is the threat of a ‘neo-militarist’ Japan?
Defence spending and demographics tell a different story from the bogeyman created by China and Russia.
www.straitstimes.com/opinion/how-...
A useful programme on TBS News that simply explains Japan’s proposed intelligence reforms, including discussion of an anti-spy law, foreign agent registration law, and external intelligence agency. newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/2...
On 5 June, events were held on the Russian-held Southern Kurils to mark the 80th anniversary of the formal incorporation of the Japanese-claimed islands into the Soviet Union on 5 June 1946. www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/1321...
James D.J. Brown
On the fourth episode of The Observing Japan Podcast, Temple University Japan’s @jamesdjbrown.bsky.social joins me to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of Japan’s relationship with Russia.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Defence spending and demographics tell a different story from the bogeyman created by China and Russia. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Opinion | On May 11, Mikhail Shvydkoy, President Vladimir Putin’s special representative for international cultural cooperation, took to the stage at Tokyo’s Ginza Blossom Hall to preside over the ope...
