Japan in August 2026: the most important developments in politics
In August 2026 Japan's politics were dominated by a dispute with Russia over the Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories. On August 13 President Vladimir Putin visited the islands. Tokyo summoned Russia's ambassador and lodged a formal protest, and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi called the visit "absolutely unacceptable". Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev defended the trip and warned of "monstrous consequences" if Japan kept pressing its claim, and Putin dismissed Japan's claims as groundless. On August 18 Russia summoned Japan's envoy after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi protested the visit. On August 21 Japan protested Russian military exercises and missile tests near the islands, which Moscow called routine.
Relations with China and North Korea were tense. China protested the actions of Takaichi and the Defense Minister at Yasukuni on August 15 and lodged a complaint over Japan's defence white paper, while Chinese state media criticised what they called Japan's militarization. North Korea's Kim Yo Jong denounced a Japanese Tomahawk missile test-firing, and on August 12 Japan protested a North Korean ballistic missile launch. A cross-party delegation of Japanese lawmakers visited China on August 24 to explore ways to improve relations.
Relations with the United States centered on the International Criminal Court. After US sanctions on the court's chief prosecutor, Japan called them "unfortunate" on August 19 and later "incompatible" with its position. The court's president, Tomoko Akane, asked for Japan's support on August 23, and on August 26 Takaichi said Japan will "protect" the court from a US push to dismantle it. Reports also said the United States plans to close consulates in Canada, Japan and Indonesia, and that Japan was bracing for US demands on defence and the yen.
At home, the Osaka Metropolis Plan was finalized on August 7, reorganizing the city into four special wards. The Okinawa governor race began with six candidates and focused on economic issues. The Constitutional Democratic Party said it would not proceed with an early merger with the centrist Komeito and another group. The Defense Ministry was reported to be seeking a record 9 trillion yen for fiscal 2027.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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