Pyotr Podalko: “Japan isn't interested in sanctions to Russia!”

Events in Ukraine became an important subject of world politics, but reaction to them, by no means was not identical. At our request the professor of Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo Pyotr Podalko teaching at faculty of international policy, economy and discipline communications told what think of it in Japan.

— What was the first reaction in Japan on the events which have ended with reunion of the Crimea and Russia?

- Silence was the very first reaction. Many appeared in perplexity … Here the matter is the following. In 2013 the number of contacts of the top officials of Russia and Japan was observed unknown to this day. Vladimir Putin and Shinzo Abe met five times; and Barack Obama didn’t find time to meet the Japanese prime minister at least…

Positive publications, comments began to appear. It is necessary to tell that Russia here consider as a counterbalance in the relations Japan — China and Japan — Korea. And not incidentally the prime minister Abe was the only of leaders of the countries of «eight» who was at Olympic Games opening in Sochi on a tribune. He specially arrived though was dissuaded from it in every possible way. There is a spicy moment: the opening day of the Sochi Olympic Games is on February 7 — it is just Day of fight widely celebrated in the country for return of northern territories.

That is, Abe has to if not to act, so to be at home instead of to welcome the athletes on a tribune near Vladimir Putin …

— What followed further?

- And further started doing that all does still. Japanese tell about events occurring in Ukraine very accurately. They, as a rule, not state the point of view, but reprint the materials from the western mass media. And the position of Russia is given too. The fragments of the BBC, ABC, French, Spanish television transfer in television news show. Russia is also presented. Generally, here try to avoid sharp formulations and give more pictures.

- That is, there is the range of different opinions in Japan?

- There is the range. But the problem is that generally everything becomes on retelling of the western mass media. Simply the translation and almost without Japanese comments. But it should be noted that there is a mass of materials of educational character. Simply the vast majority of Japanese had no idea where this Ukraine is prior to events … And now there were materials on history; explain what the Western Ukraine differs from East. It is clear that it is not the pro-Russian position, but sharp condemnation of policy of Russia isn’t present too.

— Really there were no any radical actions as in days of old?

- In this regard everything is very quiet. Nobody comes to embassy, there are no meetings and demonstrations too. There was one episode, but it is from the category of funny things. In Japan many Ukrainian women live who married the sons of the country of the Rising sun. And so, they say that some Japanese husbands took the Ukrainian problems very much to heart. Such impression that it is they are the Ukrainians, instead of their wives… And here these husbands consulted how to give the help to the Ukrainian government! There is such line at Japanese: to imitate someone more in defined situation, than he imitates himself.

— Somehow it is even strange! Especially if to compare to other European countries …

- Japan objectively less of all is interested in any sanctions against Russia. And the problem of the Crimea and the events occurring in Ukraine, excite it much less, than the American program of the Pacific partnership. Here understand that this program is unprofitable for Japanese economy and as a whole is very undesirable. But America actively unscrews hands — it just writes much here about. Quite recently there was a visit of the president Obama: externally everything was arranged as it was necessary. But actually it was signed nothing, no agreements are concluded.

Japanese really expect that the USA will support them in territorial disputes with China and Korea, but Americans step aside from it. So, the position of Japan in relation to Russia is the most moderate of all countries of «eight» — in connection with events in Ukraine is quite explainable.