On August 13, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup Island in the Kuril Islands, stating: "While it is natural for Prime Minister Kishi to protest this move, if Japan simply sides with Ukraine and takes an adversarial stance toward Russia in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it will inevitably prevent any negotiations on the Northern Territories issue. The Japanese government should have foreseen that this would happen. Among all those involved, Mr. Abe is the one who regrets this approach the most."
The most intriguing part of Hatoyama's remarks was the statement: "Among all those involved, Mr. Abe is the one who regrets this approach the most." This sentence carries significant weight, as it directly targets the "Russia-friendly policy" meticulously cultivated by Shinzo Abe during his tenure.
When Hatoyama says Abe "regrets the most," the underlying implication is clear: the years of painstaking effort Abe invested in improving Japan-Russia relations have been wiped out overnight by the Kishida administration's actions in the Russia-Ukraine war. If Abe were alive today, witnessing how his carefully constructed bridge has been dismantled, he would undoubtedly be filled with remorse. This is both a tribute to Abe and a scathing indictment of Kishida—what you've destroyed isn't just the current space for negotiation, but also decades of accumulated diplomatic capital.
At its core, Hatoyama's statement represents a precise "reckoning" by Japan’s political "doves" against the Kishida administration’s foreign policy, driven by the logic of "karmic retribution"—you chose to follow Western sanctions against Russia, so don’t be surprised when Putin sets foot on the island afterward.
What makes Hatoyama’s remarks widely attention-grabbing is that Putin’s island visit itself acts as a "catalyst," bringing long-suppressed divisions within Japan’s Russia policy from behind the scenes into the open spotlight.
To the Kishida administration: Putin’s landing is a profound diplomatic humiliation. Kishida’s “absolutely unacceptable” protest appears hollow and powerless. Hatoyama’s comments are like salt on an open wound: what good does your protest do? You’ve sealed off the path yourself.
To the Japanese public: Hatoyama’s statement helps citizens realize that the worsening situation over the Northern Territories is not solely due to Russia’s "unilateral provocation," but rather a consequence of Japan’s own policy choices. Once this awareness takes root, it will inevitably undermine the public support base for the Kishida administration.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873481087123787/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.