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© KYODOJapan's seafood imports from Russia hit record ¥155 bil in 2022
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Mark
It just goes to show LIFE GOES ON, people need food regardless of what politics or leaders do.
Disillusioned
While Japan did impose economic sanctions, including banning imports of vodka and lumber, on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine last year, marine products were exempted as Tokyo deemed the adverse effect on domestic businesses would be too great.
I couldn't read any further than this paragraph. The only economic sanctions Japan put on Russia are minor sanctions to look like they are doing something to the rest of the world. Japan imports most of its timber from Brazil. There are many countries producing vodka. Another fine example of smoke and mirrors politics from Japan.
JeffLee
It just goes to show that Japan's foreign policy lacks moral backbone. Japanese soldiers are training recruits of Myanmar's murderous junta as we read this.
BigP
Did not Japan in a speech to the United Nations tell its member to sanction Russia?
Did Japan lie to the U.N. or just forgot about it’s own behavior?
GarlicJoe
What does Joe say on that? Or is this just the deal for yet another US military base in Japan?
Yrral
A typical sellout with no principal
Moonraker
Quite the team player, Japan, eh?
Moonraker
Meaning Japan has fished them all out. Or they blame the whales and sea otters?
deanzaZZR
More likely climate change, Moonraker. Fish, et. al. are headed further north. Japanese do a pretty good job managing local fisheries. Of course they send boats out around the world to fish in international waters or territorial waters if they get approval.
Mr Kipling
Sanctions that do nothing but hurt your own people or economy are just plain stupid. Many in the west are waking up to this reality. Japan is buying Russian fish, Europe is buying Russian oil, grain and fertilizer. They are just paying more for it.
TaiwanIsNotChina
What the heck, Japan.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Iran and North Korea would beg to disagree.
Dave Fair
Japan will do nothing that jeopardizes it's negotiations with Russia over the return of the islands of Habomai, Shikotan, Kunashiri and Etorofu in the northern territories. Sad fact of the matter is as long as Putin is in power that is NEVER going to happen, no matter how much seafood the Japanese import!
TaiwanIsNotChina
That's pretty short sighted if true.
Blacklabel
Oh well look at that.
sanctions are working!
TaiwanIsNotChina
You have to apply the sanctions for the sanctions to be working.
TokyoLiving
Excellent, for Japan it is much better to have good trade relations with China and Russia than with the cheating west..
The childish, pathetic sanctions of western circus are not working, Lol!!..
TokyoLiving
LOL!!..
Kaowaiinekochanknaw
I didn't know that much of the snow crab came from Russian fisheries. I guess makes sense. It's a totally delicious crab. I think I will buy some for tonight's dinner.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Now let's be forced to deal in Roubles and provide all of our intellectual technology. It will be safe from honest Russians and Chinese, right?
Blacklabel
sanctions definitely don’t work when Japan doesn’t even bother to apply them.
so why do other countries have to? Zelensky has no dirt on Japan?
Chabbawanga
Sanctions dont work. Japan shoukd be allowed to trade with whoever they like whilst the US run their proxy war in Ukraine.
I dont agree with Russia, I dont agree with NATO and the US. It takes two to tango.
Peter14
No such request has ever been given. Great misinformation and typical of Russian supporter.
There are no anti Russian sanctions. All sanctions are anti invasion as Russians well know.
Russia invade a peaceful neighbor but expect everyone to continue doing business with them like the invasion is not happening and the murders of little children in their beds is not happening. Sorry but criminals must expect repercussions for their illegal actions. Anything else is fairy tale wishes.
Japan should source more seafood from Norway, Australia and other pacific nations fishing fleets and reduce reliance on Russian supply. It may mean introducing Japanese pallets to new seafood but that is a good thing. Supporting criminals is never the right thing to do.
Mr Kipling
Dave Fair...
Sad or otherwise.... that is not going to happen whoever is in power in Moscow.
TaiwanIsNotChina
They are small islands. There could be a Russian government that wants to rejoin civilization someday.
TaiwanIsNotChina
If you are fine with Japan being considered a cynical country with no respect for human rights, sure it can go down that path.
Clay
By the way, when I turn on my stove to COOK, the gas is RUSSIAN most likely, we IMPORT LOTS of LNG folks.
Let's cut HIGH HORSE Self-Serving War Agenda, bogus human rights argument as everyone's using gas to COOK FOOD in JAPAN, including Seafood - even from COLD Northern Waters, considered superior actually!
Clay
RUSSIAN LNG makes their Seafood Imports, Fishy Chump change, please enjoy both cooking and seafood!
wallace
not if you live in Japan which only imports 9% of its gas from Russia.
Clay
Lots of Russian imports continue, majority of Japanese companies continue to operate in Russia today that were there prior to Feb 2022, including well known Sakhalin Oil and Gas project that BP and Exxon exited.
FYI, busy expanding Sakhalin project RIGHT now!
Great, we all this hypocrisy, as that was my intention, because its everywhere, especially agenda driven Suppression efforts here that Destroy Democracy.
Clay
Anyone think Japanese Fisherman in DEAD of night take out their charts to determine who legally controls these waters? FISH certainly don't CARE nor do Consumers, exactly like LNG.
Clay
Record numbers starving or suffering malnutrition Globally DO NOT CARE about origin of Seafood/Food
Incredible Collateral Damage above happening NOW and amazingly Many seek to make it WORSE - Insane.
TrevorPeace
It's interesting that the US stopped harvesting snow crab in the Bering Sea because of dwindling stocks, but that Russia keeps raping the sea for it. Can't complain about the taste, though. Just the wanton decimation of the species. And Japan participates in that destruction.
Clay
Exacto! Merits matter little to those with especially Hidden Non-Transparent Agendas. Certainly, nobody will debate your excellent point, Trevor.
Cancer destroying civilization, zero-sum transactional, based upon terrible Values, Corruption & Lies especially and by getting OTHERS to destroy THEIR Values!
Clay
Trevor, suspect Russia might be MORE environmental and protect these crabs, if it was not presently engaged in US NATO led Ukraine Proxy War.
Desperate counties like Russia CHANGE their behavior, more Collateral Damage from Madness Risking Everyone
Peter14
ClayToday 03:54 pm JST
The vast majority of which is Australian LNG. Russian gas in Japan is minimal. Enjoy cooking on Australian gas mate, and heating your home with it also.
Shipments from Russia were 6.86 million tonnes in 2022 while Shipments from Australia rose to more than 31 million tonnes in 2022.
https://lngprime.com/asia/japan-was-the-worlds-largest-lng-importer-in-2022-followed-by-china/71299/
Clay
Peter14Today 06:38 pm JST
ClayToday 03:54 pm JST
Yep, all fungible, whether LNG, oil, etc. We have no idea where these energy products we're sourced, so when cooking at home, driving car, or heating our home etc.
Like fish swimming around. Japanese fishermen make no distinction, pay to gain access to Russian waters etc., strictly the catch by species.
Sakhalin's EXPANDING with New Japanese Investment, to increase oil and gas to this market in part.
World needs MORE Food and Energy, not LESS, in order to bring down starvation, malnutrition, inflation, etc., including Japan!
ian
So demand or price did not necessarily increase, just bought more from Russia to replace lost supply from US
wallace
Clay
we know from the imports when you turn on your gas only 9% will be from Russia.
wallace
Fish is labeled where it is landed not caught. If the same applied to Russian gas, then there is no Russian gas.
Clay
It really boils down to this, let's not pursue destabilizing others, tying to impose our will by FORCE but rather let's build bridges, find win:win solutions.
Humanity has many big problems, for example Food & Energy REALLY needed now due to global inflation, but the list endless, climate, covid, demographics, etc.
If anyone thinks Global Military Escalation will solve these MANY problems & improve humanity - think again!
A.N
If we want the sanctions to work, it would be fine if other countries secure the same amount and amount of marine products that Japan needs.
In the case of red king crab, the United States should resume fishing in the Bering Sea, and Canada should send a portion of its catch to Japan, as mentioned in the article.
It would be nonsense for countries to try to make sanctions work by doing nothing without helping each other.
Missiles and tanks are becoming obsolete in present-day Russia because semiconductors from Japan have stopped, and corporate sales have fallen accordingly. It is not the case that each country will bear the burden of the worsening business performance of ordinary companies.
For those who irresponsibly insist on human rights, before criticizing Japan, why not criticize China and the Islamic world where women are apparently oppressed?
TaiwanIsNotChina
The US is responsible for Russia's snow crab harvest? That's a good one. What, are they starving to death that they need the crabs?
TaiwanIsNotChina
I agree, let's pull out of ruthless and criminal invasions of other countries.
A certain country spends 4% of its gdp in an attempt to punch above its weight. Methinks you should start there.
There are only two countries destroying democracy, and they are the ones that never had it in the first place and just seek to profligate empire.
Clay
Worth noting, Europe is still buying Lots of Russian Energy, as does Japan, including Expanding its Huge Investment into NEW Sakhalin Oii & Gas Projects.
Seth M
How in the world does an island country rely on other countries for seefood?!
Clay
Wrote something on Russian Other Russian imports to Japan besides Seafood and Energy, regarding paper/timber, concrete additives, commodities/rare earths etc.
Point is it's used in automotive, housing, consumer goods, etc. It's totally embedded in Japan's economy!
While there's Major tension over US NATO led Proxy War in Ukraine, consumers and businesses being badly damaged by the inflation that's occurring as result.
There are limits, as Japanese Fishing, Automotive, Building/Construction, Consumer Products industries etc. and their many Japanese Customers have to survive.
This should be no surprise, but easy and understandable that Outsiders will try to influence and/or impose their costly idealism that supports their Agenda.
Clay
Great question, I'm told its access to Cold Waters, superior fish quality, so not pure reliance, but market preference for fish/seafood in these northern waters.
Its Japanese fisherman in almost all cases entering Russian water and paying access fees and/or catch fees.