Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi vehemently condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, labeling the trip as ‘absolutely unacceptable’ and reiterating Japan’s claim to the territories. This visit, Putin’s first to the islands since their annexation by the Soviet Union post-WWII, escalated tensions and came shortly after Japan’s 2026 defense white paper identified Moscow as a critical threat, prompting a sharp rebuke from both Russia and North Korea.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has issued a stern rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin following his recent visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, calling the action "absolutely unacceptable" and firmly asserting Japan's long-standing claim to the territory.
In a direct statement on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Takaichi reiterated that Tokyo had "repeatedly requested the Russian side to ensure that the president does not visit the Northern Territories," a Japanese designation for the Kuril Islands. Putin's unannounced visit to the strategically significant chain of islands has further inflamed diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi on X: "Tokyo had repeatedly requested the Russian side to ensure that the president does not visit the Northern Territories. Putin's visit was absolutely unacceptable."
The Kuril Islands, a volcanic archipelago situated between Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan's Hokkaido, have been a source of contention since the end of World War II. Moscow annexed the four southernmost islands of the chain during the final days of the war, a move Japan has never recognized. Although Japan renounced its claim to the broader Kuril Islands in the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco, it did not acknowledge Soviet sovereignty over these specific territories, leading to decades of unresolved dispute that has prevented the signing of a formal peace treaty.
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responds to questions from reporters at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on May 25, 2026. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on May 25 the government will compile a $19 billion supplementary budget to support households grappling with soaring everyday costs driven by the Iran war.
(Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP via Getty Images)
During his controversial trip, President Putin visited Iturup island, home to a crucial Russian military installation. His itinerary included tours of a fish processing complex, a hospital, and a local school, culminating in a meeting with Valery Limarenko, the regional governor of Sakhalin. The Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also joined the chorus of condemnation, posting on Facebook that "Japan strongly protests this visit."
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin tastes caviar as he visits the Yasny fish processing factory on Iturup island, one of four islands in the contested chain known as the Kuril Islands in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, on August 13, 2026.
(Gavriil Grigorov | Afp | Getty Images)
Japan's Defense Stance Under Scrutiny
The timing of Putin's visit is particularly noteworthy, occurring shortly after Japan released its 2026 defense white paper. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War suggest the trip serves as a direct response from the Kremlin, aimed at undermining Prime Minister Takaichi's efforts to bolster Japan's defense capabilities.
The recently published white paper drew sharp criticism from both Moscow and its ally, North Korea, for explicitly identifying Russia as one of Tokyo's primary security threats. The document firmly stated, "Russia is continuing active military activities in the Northern Territories, which are inherent territories of Japan, under illegal occupation," underscoring Japan's escalating concerns over Russia's military presence in the disputed region.
