Japan to Close All 6 Economic Centers in Russia

Newsfrom Japan

Politics

Sep 10, 2025 18:45 (JST)

Tokyo, Sept. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government said Wednesday that it plans to close all of its six economic centers in Russia because of strained relations between the two countries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Amid major changes in the situation around Japan-Russia relations, the Japan Centers have fulfilled their historic roles,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference.

Russia’s unilateral suspension of the memorandum of understanding on the Japan Centers in January was another reason to close them, he said.

The Japan Center in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok underwent an on-the-spot inspection by the Russian Internal Affairs Ministry on July 30 and Aug. 26, Hayashi said.

The decision to close the Japan Centers was communicated to the Russian side through diplomatic channels on Aug. 27, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]

Jiji Press