Relations between Russia and Japan have always been a bit tense. For more than three hundred years of history, there are many conflicts and contradictions, and mostly territorial. The Russian Empire at the beginning of the led against Japan exclusively peaceful orientation. But the closed policy of the land of the rising sun made it impossible to establish friendly relations.
For example, the militaristic tendencies of the Japanese made themselves felt in 1811-1813, when the Japanese captured a Russian captain, 2 of his officers and 4 sailors who were conducting a hydrographic description of the Kuril Islands, which caused a large conflict.
Speaking of recognition or not recognition of the international acts, we should first recall the first treaty of peace and friendship between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan (Treaty of Shimoda) of February 7, 1855, which was signed thanks to the Russian diplomatic mission. The Japanese authorities then themselves signed official contacts with the neighboring state.
Following the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905, the Southern Sakhalin Island was taken from Russia by Japan. So Japan decided not to stop there and in 1918-1922 intervened in the Far East of Russia, covering the Primorsky, Amur, Transbaikal regions and Northern Sakhalin.
But in an attempt to establish diplomatic relations with Japan on January 20, 1925, the Convention on the basic principles of relations was signed, where the Soviet side made great concessions in order to stabilize the situation in the Far East. Part of Sakhalin South of the 50th parallel passed into the possession of Japan.
During the events of the Second World war, there were also territorial conflicts. The Japanese government accepted the «Fundamental Principles of National Policy», which provided, along with the complete capture of China, the subsequent development of the offensive, in particular, on the territory of the Mongolia and the USSR. Thanks to the signing of the Anti-Comintern Pact on November 25, 1936, Japan received the support of Berlin, which meant a military-political Alliance between Japan and Nazi Germany. However, in April 1941, a five-year neutrality Pact was signed between the USSR and Japan. The Treaty was observed until August 1945.
So, given the Alliance with the Nazi invaders, during the Yalta conference, the head of the Soviet State I. Stalin promised the allies to declare war on Japan in two or three months after the end of hostilities in Europe. This could have been avoided if the Kuril Islands and southern Sakhalin had been returned to the USSR. This was enshrined in the documents of the Yalta conference. August 9, 1945 diplomatic relations were interrupted, the USSR declared war on Japan. On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the act of surrender, recording in it its refusal of all rights, grounds and claims to the Kuril Islands and the southern part of Sakhalin island.
And after 1951, with the support of the United States, the Japanese government began to challenge the right of the USSR to possess these Islands. This territorial conflict is still relevant.
Thus, considering the history, we can see almost one-sided attempts of Russia to establish relations with Japan. Russian-Japanese relations are developing in small steps, while the main obstacle to achieving a peace Treaty is the reluctance of the Japanese side to recognize the results of World War II enshrined in international law. Japanese territorial claims hinder the development of economic and diplomatic relations between the two countries. Whether the Japanese side will be able to step over its own pride in favor of a peace Treaty and improving of international cooperation is still unclear.
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