Relations between Japan and the Russian Federation in 1995-2015

The relations between Japan and the Russian Federation, considering the historical process are not rooted in a long history. If it date was launched from the arrival of a Japanese sailor named Dembay in Moscow, during the reigh of Petro (1682-1725) it could be said to be about 300 years old. However, the history of diplomatic relations begins with the signing of the Treaty of Shimoda in 1855. In this thesis, which is based on a document review on Japanese-Russian relations, the important events of the relations between 1991-2015 were examined in chronological order and the answer to the question of which way relations may change in the future has been sought. As a result of the research, when Yeltsin (1991-1999), Putin (2000-2004/2004-2008), Medvedev (2008-2012) and Putin (2012-2015) periods are taken into consideration, belonging of the Kuril Islands is the biggest political problem between the two countries, during the Yeltsin period, the Kuril Islands were recognized by the Russians and the first steps were taken to resolve the problem and Signing of the Tokyo Declaration (1993) to soften relations strained after World War II; while no concrete steps have been taken towards solving the Kuril Islands problem during Putin's presidency, economic and cultural relations have improved; during the Medvedev period, it was the first time that a Russian president visited the Kunashir Islands for the solution of the Kuril Islands problem, and the Russians provided economic support to Japan due to the nuclear disaster in Japan (2011) and the economic crisis (2011); During the third presidency of Putin there is no attempt to resolve the Kuril Islands problem other than the fact that the signing of the peace treaty, which was pending to be signed after World War II, has been put forward as a condition for resolving the islands problem. As a result, it is possible to say that although a full political rapprochement could not be achieved due to unresolved issues such as the signing of the peace treaty between Tokyo and Moscow and the Kuril Islands, beneficial economic, commercial and cultural relations for both countries continued to develop. Key words: Japan, Kuril Islands, Russia, USSR, Shimoda Treaty, international relations