Japan MOFA diplomacy methods on the Russian direction during Japan-Russia high-level negotiations in 1997–1998

Abstract

The article concerns the problem of the methods of Ministry of Foreign Affairs toward Russia, based on the experience of the 1997–1998 official and unofficial negotiations. The author represents MOFA’s main diplomatic conceptions and tactics with respect to Russia: “face to face diplomacy”, “strangling” tactics, and “trap” method. This research is based on the memoirs of diplomats and politicians, involved in the private negotiations between Russian and Japanese authorities. Deputy Suzuki Muneo, diplomats Togo Kazuhiko and Sato Masaru, who wrote these memoirs, were the leaders of a diplomatic group specialising in Russia. They had a great impact on the negotiations process between president Yeltsin and prime-minister Hashimoto. These diplomats participated in the formulation of strategic diplomatic conceptions (multi-level approach, Eurasian diplomacy), that prepared the ideological basis for the negotiations from the Japanese side and created tactics and methods to make the meetings with Russian president more fruitful for Japanese national interests. Refs 30.