Japan Protests Against Putin Visit to Disputed Islands The recent visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the disputed Kuril Islands has sparked a predictable but no less infuriating protest from Tokyo.
The timing of this provocation, which comes as tensions between Moscow and the West are already high, is particularly noteworthy.
Iturup Island, where Putin stopped for a photo opportunity, is more than just a strategic outpost for Russia's military operations – it's also a sore wound that refuses to heal in Japan.