2. After Japan’s defeat in World War 2, Russia invaded the Kuril Islands (red
cross on the map). That’s the reason the two countries never singed the end
of the war. After the nuclear accident of Fukushima in 2011, Japan became
the largest importer of expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG). Note that the
Japanese economy is quite “thirsty”, since it is the third largest economy
after the US and China.
The Japanese and the Russians are discussing the possibility of jointly
construction an undersea pipeline, in order for Japan to by cheaper Russian
gas. In that case the Russians would be willing to return to Japan some of the
Kuril Islands.
Besides the obvious benefits for the Japanese economy, the Japanese would
also see the Russians being neutral in the Japanese-Chinese struggle over the
Senkaku Islands. There would be of course the problem that the Japanese
would find it harder to support her main ally i.e. the US, in the American-
Russian confrontations.
3. “Japanese Lawmakers to Lobby Abe for Russian Gas Pipeline”, May 2014
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-05-27/japanese-lawmakers-
to-push-abe-on-russia-natural-gas-pipeline
“Japan's Abe to try and resolve World War II row with Russia”, January
2016
http://www.dw.com/en/japans-abe-to-try-and-resolve-world-war-ii-row-
with-russia/a-18956623?maca=en-newsletter_asia_taeglich-5132-html-
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