Of all major countries, Japan has been the only one to pursue relations with Russia on a generally positive trajectory since the 2014 Ukraine crisis. Recently, the pace of exchanges has accelerated, and the scope and depth of Russo-Japanese discussions have been growing quickly. From May 2016, Moscow and Tokyo have entered a period of intense diplomacy aimed at achieving a breakthrough in their relations, which continue to suffer from a dearth of economic links, weak societal ties, and the lingering territorial dispute dating back to World War II. Whether Japan and Russia can manage to resolve their outstanding issues and put their relationship on a solid economic foundation secured with a modicum of trust is still a question to be answered, possibly within the next two years.

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