Kuril Islands

A Japanese researcher came to the conclusion after looking at satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies of disputed islands.

In August 2021, Russia was "quite seriously preparing for a localized military conflict with Japan," an FSB agent wrote in an email shared with Newsweek.

The deployment comes as speculation continues about a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Following the quake, tsunami warnings were issued but these were subsequently retracted.

The two countries have been locked in a territorial dispute over a remote island chain since the end of the conflict.

The calendars, which feature photographs of Putin doing a range of activities, have been flying off the shelves of the popular Japanese store Loft.

Moscow has ignored Japan's qualms about warplanes on an island Tokyo claims, promising to keep it informed about "everything that happens on the territory of Russia."

Both Russia and Japan claim the so-called Kuril Islands, in a dispute stretching back to World War Two.

Russia is launching a 2,000-strong drill on and around one of the disputed islands.

Moscow repeatedly called for the U.S. to step back from its military reinforcement of Japan and South Korea in response to Pyongyang's nuclear tests.

Russia and Japan have argued about a stretch of islands for over 60 years, but this is not stopping Moscow from raising military compounds on it.

When Putin meets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this week, the two leaders will discuss an island dispute that spans decades.

The Japanese PM's approval rating fell by 6 percent in a month.

Vladimir Putin made his first presidential visit to Japan.

This is why Russia and Japan still have no World War II peace deal.

The Russian leader hailed Tokyo and Moscow as "natural partners in the world."

Japan and Russia have still not signed a World War II peace accords due to the dispute.

Russia and Japan have pursued a diplomatic solution, but Moscow is shoring up defenses.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said all four disputed islands belong to Japan.

Japan has made territorial claims on the islands since the 19th century.