Japan and the war in Ukraine

[thomas]

China is supporting Russia.

On the other hand, China was one of the first countries to recognise Ukraine's independence. I guess NATO has just become an easily identifiable target, a conspicuous acronym to blame and attack. That's a standard narrative in China, too. In the past week, I have talked to two Chinese living in Japan, and, discussing recent world events, both independently raised the issue of NATO having tricked Putin. Anyhow, as mentioned above, the Chinese stance might change depending on their economic interests.

On a side-note, here are the countries (in green) that supported a UN resolution against Russia (many of which are not NATO members). Blue nations have abstained, and the red ones opposed it.

Meanwhile, in another unprecedented step, Japan is sending bullet-proof vests and other defence supplies to Ukraine:

The goods to be delivered by the SDF and through other channels also include helmets, tents, winter clothing, food items, hygiene products, cameras and power generators, the Japanese government said, as Russia escalates its attack on Ukraine despite international condemnation. The provision of the nonlethal items comes at the request of Ukraine and falls within the scope of the war-renouncing Constitution, said Japan's top government spokesman, Hirokazu Matsuno. The timing for delivery has not been worked out, and Japan does not plan to provide Ukraine with weapons, he added.

In rare move, Japan to send bulletproof vests and helmets to Ukraine

The goods to be delivered by the SDF and through other channels also include tents, winter clothing, food items, hygiene products, cameras and power generators, the government said.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan moving to supply Ukraine with defense equipment | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[thomas]

Hundreds of people gathered in Tokyo and Osaka to protest Russia's invasion.

Hundreds in Tokyo protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Hundreds gather in Osaka to protest war in Ukraine, call for peace - The Mainichi

OSAKA -- Hundreds of people including Ukrainians living in west Japan's Kansai region gathered in front of JR Osaka Station on March 5 for a peace ral

mainichi.jp

 

[Lothor]

Hundreds of people gathered in Tokyo and Osaka to protest Russia's invasion.

View attachment 85718

Hundreds in Tokyo protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Hundreds gather in Osaka to protest war in Ukraine, call for peace - The Mainichi

OSAKA -- Hundreds of people including Ukrainians living in west Japan's Kansai region gathered in front of JR Osaka Station on March 5 for a peace ral

mainichi.jp

I was at the march in Shibuya/Omotesando today. You can see me at 0:33 on this report (near the bottom of the screen with a blue baseball cap with a T on it).

 

[thomas]

I was at the march in Shibuya/Omotesando today. You can see me at 0:33 on this report (near the bottom of the screen with a blue baseball cap with a T on it).

Nice one, I wish I could have joined! Who is organising these events?

 

[Lothor]

Nice one, I wish I could have joined! Who is organising these events?

I hear about them on a Facebook group for expats in Tokyo. I'll publicise the next one I hear about here.

 

[thomas]

Today, Japan announced more sanctions on Russia and Belarus.

On Tuesday, Japan announced a fresh package of sanctions, freezing the assets of an additional 32 Russian and Beralusian officials and oligarchs as well as 12 organizations from the two countries. The latest list of names includes Alexey Gromov and Sergei Kiriyenko - both first deputy chiefs of staff in Russian President Vladimir Putin's administration - as well as deputy chairmen of the state parliament. The government will also ban exports to Russia of equipment that can be used to refine oil, along with items to Belarus that can be used for military purposes. Tokyo also designated the Belarusian Defense Ministry and a Minsk-based military semiconductor-maker as subject to sanctions, banning the receipt of payments from them by Japanese exporters from March 15. "We cannot overlook the clear involvement of Belarus," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a news conference Tuesday.

Japan hits Russia and Belarus with more sanctions over Ukraine invasion

Relations between Japan and Russia — from diplomacy to business — are quickly growing fragile as Tokyo joins Western countries in putting pressure on Moscow.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Meanwhile, Japan has been placed on a Russian list of "unfriendly countries".

Amid its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government on March 7 designated Japan as among 48 countries and regions "engaging in unfriendly activities toward Russia," according to Russian government news agency Tass. The move by Moscow, which comes in response to sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, will make it possible to repay creditors in designated countries and regions in rubles. Russia will also tighten restrictions on transactions with companies and other organizations from the listed nations and areas.

Russia adds Japan to 'unfriendly' countries, regions list in sanctions countermeasure - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Amid its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government on March 7 designated Japan as among 48 countries and regions

mainichi.jp

While many international companies, including corporate Japan, pull their staff out of Russia, Uniqlo has decided to stay: "Clothing is a necessity of life. The people of Russia have the same right to live as we do," Chief Executive Officer Tadashi Yanai said. Last year, Uniqlo announced not withdrawing from Xinjiang, claiming its cotton was not produced under forced labour.

Uniqlo owner pledges to stay in Russia as wave of companies exit

Fast Retailing Co., Asia’s largest retailer and parent of Uniqlo, will continue to operate in Russia.

www.japantimes.co.jp

And the new polar route between Japan and the UK adds about four hours to flights: the former 11-hour fast track from London to Tokyo, mainly flying over Russia, is now taking over 15 hours via Scotland's Outer Hebrides, Iceland, Greenland, Arctic Canada and Alaska. The flight path goes within 1,500 kilometres of the North Pole.

Polar route to Japan is back as Japan Airlines avoids Russian airspace

Passengers cross the International Date Line, ‘losing’ a day en route to the Japanese capital

www.independent.co.uk

 

[musicisgood]

Uniqlo's owner lives in Ube , Yamaguchi. His house has a very high wall. Maybe I should pay a visit with a spray can at night.
Russia is taking down the internet on March 11 for the Russians.

 

[thomas]

Uniqlo faced a lot of flak since they announced to continue operating in Russia. Although the company said last week it is donating clothes and other items to Ukrainians who've fled and $10 million to the U.N.'s refugee agency it is facing mounting pressure.

Uniqlo pressured to halt Russia sales after CEO vows to stay

Comments defending the decision by CEO Tadashi Yanai have drawn criticism, with some social media users pushing the hashtag #BoycottUniqlo.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Meanwhile, support for Ukrainian refugees in Japan seems to be growing.

Yokohama — Japan's second most populous city — said it is ready to support people fleeing from the Eastern European country, with 79 rooms in public housing already secured. The city will also raise relief donations for the war-torn country. [...] Also Tuesday, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura told the prefectural assembly that the prefectural government is planning to provide Ukrainian evacuees with free accommodation using vacant prefecture-run housing, while also setting up a venue for employment and educational support. The eight Ukrainians won't be able to work under the current short-term residential status. But if they stay on and switch to a "designated activities" residential status in the future, they will be allowed to work in Japan. Mie and Kanagawa prefectures are also preparing to offer accommodation to those fleeing Ukraine.

From housing to jobs to education, support grows for Ukrainians fleeing to Japan

Yokohama and Osaka Prefecture are among the local governments looking to help evacuees by providing housing and other services.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Sometimes, even Russian businesses in Japan get into the crossfire. A Russian food shop called Aka-no-hiroba (Red Square) in the Ginza district was vandalized last week.

‘Russia bashing’ in Japan hits even expats who oppose invasion | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[mdchachi]

Sometimes, even Russian businesses in Japan get into the crossfire. A Russian food shop called Aka-no-hiroba (Red Square) in the Ginza district was vandalized last week.

In the U.S. we took early decisive action by banning all "Russian" vodka from the shelves. (Despite the fact that all the Russian vodka we have are just brand names and not actually produced by Russian companies.) Yes, we have a lot of dumb dumbs here.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

I wonder if Hitler had nukes back in WWII , would we have been too afraid to stop him? It seems at some point we may need to call his bluff of using nukes. If he faced getting his country nuked by every non-communist country with nuke capability his own people may take him out rather than see their country destroyed. When it comes to using nuke weapons , I don't think anyone in the world would do it except in retaliation unless they were crazy. I find it hard to believe Putin would be stupid enough , even if NATO kicked his *** out of Ukraine. Sure is no easy answer in this mess.

 

[thomas]

Uniqlo has given in to the pressure and decided to close their stores in Russia.

The operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain said Thursday it will temporarily close all 50 of its stores in Russia, joining other global companies in suspending business operations there as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine continues. Fast Retailing Co.'s decision comes after the firm was met with a barrage of criticism on social media for its policy to keep its Russian stores open at a time when rivals were scaling back business there. Earlier in the month, Inditex SA, the operator of the Zara brand clothing stores, and Hennes & Mauritz AB, which runs H&M stores, decided to stop operations in Russia.

Uniqlo operator to close all stores in Russia as war continues - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain said Thursday it will temporarily close all 50 of its stores in Russia, joining othe

mainichi.jp

Hitachi, Sony, and Shiseido already announced to suspend their Russian operations.

Sony, Hitachi, Shiseido, Fast Retailing suspend Russia operations | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

More Japanese firms are suspending operations in Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. They are joining a wave of companies that are taking action, amid heavy Western sanctions.

www3.nhk.or.jp

Meanwhile, the Japanese government is struggling to define whether Ukrainian refugees are 'refugees' or 'evacuees' (避難民 hinanmin).

That's because, from the government's perspective, Ukrainians don't fit the definition outlined in the Refugee Convention. Tokyo grants refugee status to those who meet each of the criteria of the treaty, which describes refugees as people who are:

• Unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.
• Outside the country of their nationality
• Unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of their country

This definition, which critics say is too narrow in scope, limits the number of people granted refugee status in Japan, triggering criticism from the international community that the country is not accepting enough refugees. In 2020, Tokyo only granted refugee status to 47 people out of 3,936 applicants, according to the Justice Ministry. It also granted residential status out of "humanitarian considerations" to 44 others who don't fit the above criteria.

Are Ukrainians who flee ‘refugees’ or ‘evacuees’? For Japan, it’s complicated.

Many governments and organizations describe Ukrainians escaping Russia’s invasion as refugees, but Tokyo is using a term that more closely translates to ‘people who have been evacuated.’

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[mdchachi]

Now Russia is threatening to nationalize all these foreign company assets.

A host of foreign companies including McDonald's, Audo, VW and KFC could have their assets seized if the Russian begins to take action against them for violating the terms of agreement with their local partners.

The list is reported to include about 60 companies that have announced the termination of work in the territory of the Russian Federation without providing guarantees to consumers. Among them: Volkswagen, Apple, IKEA, Microsoft, IBM, Shell, McDonald's, Porsche, Toyota, H&M.

 

[thomas]

Now Russia is threatening to nationalize all these foreign company assets.

The perfect solution to keep foreign investors away for the next few decades.

 

[Petaris]

Now Russia is threatening to nationalize all these foreign company assets.

I'm not surprised with it. I was kind of expecting that to happen honestly and would have been a bit surprised if it didn't.

 

[日本語 Class]

The perfect solution to keep foreign investors away for the next few decades.

Yes, it seems Russia is being a little too dumb, in many many ways, like they are so desperate in just expanding their current goal that they dont care about tomorrow. Russia is acting like there is no tomorrow for them actually.

Unless... they have something in their sleeve. But besides China partnership (if they even are partners), it doesnt seem Russia can be fine in the very end of it all. Like they could conquer the whole world territory (arguably of course) in a good scenario for them, but then having no money, no business, people starving AGAIN, also possibly no crops..... is it just about pride？Or plain stupidness？Really I dont know what could make up for all this

 

[Lothor]

Yes, it seems Russia is being a little too dumb, in many many ways, like they are so desperate in just expanding their current goal that they dont care about tomorrow. Russia is acting like there is no tomorrow for them actually.

Unless... they have something in their sleeve. But besides China partnership (if they even are partners), it doesnt seem Russia can be fine in the very end of it all. Like they could conquer the whole world territory (arguably of course) in a good scenario for them, but then having no money, no business, people starving AGAIN, also possibly no crops..... is it just about pride？Or plain stupidness？Really I dont know what could make up for all this

I think there's no plan, and this is similar in some ways to pre-1945 Japan, where the leadership has lost the plot thanks to there being a mediocre and heartless autocrat in power surrounded by yes men for too long. In both cases the top priority of the leader was to perpetuate some wrong-headed idea of empire, resulting in decisions that were disastrous for the country.

 

[日本語 Class]

Makes sense, but as far as I know in Japan's case (correct me if Im wrong) it didnt have the whole world sanctioning it, and it had Germany as ally making that party next door, so in a good scenario FOR THEM, it could be worth it if they happened to win.

But Russia nowadays just seemed to start the war while still too dependent of the world logistically and economically, and it has only 1 country to really help it (while at the same this same country seems it couldnt care less about Russia), its just a recipe for disaster since day 1, even if it wins the wars, it 'd eventually collapse again (like AGAIN........)

 

[musicisgood]

My concern is much closer to home.
What if China decides to take over Taiwan? Will the world come together and boycott China ? My answer to is a big NO.

 

[Lothor]

Makes sense, but as far as I know in Japan's case (correct me if Im wrong) it didnt have the whole world sanctioning it, and it had Germany as ally making that party next door, so in a good scenario FOR THEM, it could be worth it if they happened to win.

But Russia nowadays just seemed to start the war while still too dependent of the world logistically and economically, and it has only 1 country to really help it (while at the same this same country seems it couldnt care less about Russia), its just a recipe for disaster since day 1, even if it wins the wars, it 'd eventually collapse again (like AGAIN........)

There are definitely differences, but I'm making the general point of how authoritarian countries with poor leadership tend to decay, one of the mechanisms being that leaders lose touch with reality through being told only what they want to hear having sacked any well-meaning critics. It's happening in Britain now, Japan was heading the same way until Abe's dodgy tummy saved us, and I can only thank God that Trump is no longer in power.

 

[日本語 Class]

There are definitely differences, but I'm making the general point of how authoritarian countries with poor leadership tend to decay, one of the mechanisms being that leaders lose touch with reality through being told only what they want to hear having sacked any well-meaning critics. It's happening in Britain now, Japan was heading the same way until Abe's dodgy tummy saved us, and I can only thank God that Trump is no longer in power.

So true, I feel China may be the next in the future, their plans may be too ambitious and they may lose ground because of it (by the way North Korea is already senseless I suppose, my fear is if they happen to team up. Asia (including East Asia) is in such a sensitive spot)

 

[Petaris]

My concern is much closer to home.
What if China decides to take over Taiwan? Will the world come together and boycott China ? My answer to is a big NO.

My hope would be yes, there would be allies coming to the rescue, but in reality I doubt it. It would be nice if the regional neighbors (Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines) and some Western/European allies would come to their aide but it seems that we are not good with drawing a line in the sand and sticking to it instead of just drawing another line further back.

 

[thomas]

I would assume that China is watching the war in Ukraine very closely, finding out that invading a country with a hostile population is no cakewalk. On top of that, Taiwan is a mountainous island armed to its teeth and well-prepared, which necessitates an amphibious landing force of unprecedented size, airborne troops, air superiority, etc. China is heavily dependent on exports and the import of fossil fuel, so global sanctions of Russian proportions would hurt. All that for a relatively small island without resources (apart from a thriving chip industry)? And for strategic access to the Pacific? They would think twice.

This was reported two months ago, before Russia's invasion:

US and Japan draw up joint military plan in case of Taiwan emergency – report

US would set up bases from a Japanese island to Taiwan and deploy troops, with Japan providing logistical support, Kyodo reports

www.theguardian.com

And in Japan, former PM Abe has been pushing this issue for weeks.

Japan's former PM warns China invading Taiwan would be an 'emergency' for Tokyo

 

[thomas]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will deliver a virtual address to the Diet, Japan's parliament, on Wednesday, 23 March, as he continues to rally global support against Russia's invasion.

Zelenskyy's speech, slated to begin at 6 p.m., is expected to last around 10 minutes, the sources said, with the president intending to speak live if the situation in Ukraine allows him to do so. Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky met with the chairs of both the Upper and Lower houses of parliament on Thursday to formally request that the broadcast be realized. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had also asked the Diet to actively consider hosting his address amid growing calls among both ruling and opposition lawmakers for the Ukrainian proposal to come to fruition. His address is expected to be heard in a meeting room of one of the House of Representatives' office buildings. The event will be hosted by both houses of the Diet. An idea had been proposed to organize his address in one of the chambers within the Diet building by setting up a huge screen, but the idea was scrapped as there is no precedent, according to the sources. The two houses of the Diet had proposed Tuesday for the address, but it was set for Wednesday at the request of Ukraine, the sources added. Zelenskyy has already made virtual addresses to parliaments in Europe and Canada, as well as to the U.S. Congress.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address Japan's parliament next week

Zelenskyy's speech, slated to begin at 6 p.m., is expected to last around 10 minutes, with the president intending to speak live if the situation in Ukraine allows him to do so.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[Lothor]

I reckon that if he finished the speech with an impassioned 'yoroshiku onegaishimasu!' like people do in a TV drama, then it would melt a lot of Japanese hearts!

 

[thomas]

He used Churchill with the Brits, but I hope he won't borrow the samurai armour his ambassador to Japan was wearing recently.