Japan has publicly affirmed that Russian oil remains "extremely important" for its energy security, according to Ryosei Akazawa, a senior government official, in comments that underscore Tokyo's delicate balancing act between Western alliance commitments and energy vulnerability.
The statement, reported by S&P Global, comes as Japan maintains energy imports from Russia despite coordinated Western sanctions imposed following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Akazawa's remarks represent the most explicit public acknowledgment by a Japanese official of the country's continued dependence on Russian hydrocarbons.
Japan imports approximately 90% of its energy, making it among the world's most import-dependent major economies. The 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster shuttered most of the country's nuclear fleet, increasing reliance on fossil fuel imports. While nuclear restarts have proceeded slowly, Japan remains heavily dependent on liquefied natural gas, coal, and crude oil from diverse sources including Russia.
Tokyo has participated in G7 efforts to impose price caps on Russian oil and has sanctioned some Russian banks and individuals, but has notably avoided a complete ban on energy imports. Japan holds stakes in Russian energy projects including the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 LNG facilities, which supply significant volumes to utilities.
