This book provides the most comprehensive assessment of Russia-Japan relations between 2000 and 2016 that is available in English. It is clear-eyed in its analysis of the formidable political, economic, and strategic reasons for inertia, yet it is never pessimistic. Peter W. Richardson reminds readers that, in the long run, the realization of genuine peace and reconciliation between Russia and Japan is 'desirable, possible, and necessary.'

James D.J. Brown, Professor of Political Science, Temple University, Japan Campus, Japan

This book is a highly detailed survey of Russia-Japan relations, focusing on key areas of bilateral interaction: strategic, economic, and political, from 2000-2016. Richardson uses both Russian and Japanese primary sources to illustrate that the Putin period represents the lowest point of cooperation, and the complete atrophy of relations. The main obstacle to thawing these relations remain in the lack of a peace treaty, the deadlock over the disputed islands, and the legacy of the Second World War. As the author makes plain, this situation looks unlikely to change, given the increasingly nationalistic policies of the Putin regime.

Natasha Kurht, Senior Lecturer of International Peace & Security, King's College, London, UK

The territorial dispute over the Kuril Archipelago has dominated Russo-Japanese relations for two centuries and remains one of the world's most intractable. Forensically exploring ten factors, spanning political, economic, and strategic themes, Richardson masterfully illustrates that this region, far from being a static relic of World War II, is dynamic and volatile. As conditions change in the Kurils, Tokyo, and Moscow, so too do the hurdles for resolution. Nevertheless, it is precisely in this dynamism that Richardson finds some hope for the future: although the history of this dispute is a long one, its future is not set in stone.

Michael Thornton, Assistant Teaching Professor of History, Northeastern University, USA