Tokyo has resumed purchasing Russian crude oil for the first time since the Strait of Hormuz closure triggered a severe energy crisis across East Asia, according to reports from The Moscow Times published Friday.
The decision marks a significant policy shift for Japan, a G7 member that has maintained strict sanctions against Russia since 2022. The move comes as global energy markets remain volatile following disruptions to Middle Eastern oil supplies through the strategically vital waterway.
Japanese energy importers have faced mounting pressure as the country depends on imports for approximately 90% of its crude oil needs. The Hormuz closure has forced Tokyo to seek alternative suppliers amid soaring prices and supply chain disruptions that threaten the world's third-largest economy.
"This represents energy security trumping political commitments," said Takeshi Yamamoto, an energy analyst at Tokyo-based research firm Energy Insights Asia. "Japan simply cannot sustain its industrial base without diversifying away from now-blocked Middle Eastern routes."
The Japanese government has not officially confirmed the purchases, but industry sources indicate that at least two tanker shipments of Russian Urals crude are en route to Japanese refineries. The transactions reportedly occurred through intermediary traders rather than direct state-to-state deals, a mechanism that may provide Tokyo with diplomatic cover.
Western diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity expressed concern about the development. "We understand Japan's energy predicament, but this sets a worrying precedent," one European Union official told reporters. "The sanctions regime against Russia depends on G7 unity. Any cracks in that facade embolden Moscow."
However, Japanese officials have privately argued that the Hormuz crisis constitutes a force majeure situation that justifies temporary deviation from sanctions protocols. The closure has already driven Brent crude prices above $120 per barrel, with Asian buyers facing additional premiums due to limited supply alternatives.
Japan's energy ministry is expected to address the matter in a press conference next week. Ministry sources suggest Tokyo will frame the purchases as an emergency measure rather than a permanent policy change, emphasizing that sanctions against Russian financial institutions and technology transfers remain in place.
The situation also highlights the complex energy interdependencies in Northeast Asia. While South Korea and Taiwan face similar supply constraints, both have thus far maintained their commitments to avoid Russian energy imports. China, which is not party to Western sanctions, has dramatically increased its purchases of Russian oil at discounted prices over the past two years.
Watch what they do, not what they say. In East Asian diplomacy, the subtext is the text. Tokyo's actions reveal that when national economic survival is at stake, even the most steadfast diplomatic commitments can bend under pressure.
