Japan denied any involvement in espionage activities in Russia following the arrest of a Japanese journalist accused of spying, highlighting tensions between the two countries amid a longstanding territorial dispute.

Russian authorities detained Yuki Imai, a reporter for the Hokkaido Shimbun, on the Far East island of Sakhalin, near a group of islands contested by Russia and Japan. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged that Imai was engaged in collecting intelligence on Russian defense matters on behalf of Japanese intelligence agencies.

In response, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi categorically rejected the espionage claims, stating there was no evidence to support such accusations. Speaking to reporters, she emphasized the importance of safeguarding the rights and safety of Japanese nationals abroad and expressed a commitment to focusing efforts on protecting Imai.

Tokyo summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev to formally protest the arrest and requested “fair and impartial treatment” of the journalist. Following the meeting, the ambassador issued a statement expressing Russia’s position that Japanese intelligence had previously attempted to recruit private individuals, including accredited journalists, to obtain classified information, and that Russian authorities had thwarted such efforts in the past.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara revealed that the Japanese government had not been in contact with Imai and only became aware of the arrest through Russian public announcements. Meanwhile, the Hokkaido Shimbun said it was still confirming the details but stressed that ensuring the journalist’s safety remained its highest priority.

Relations between Moscow and Tokyo have been strained for decades over sovereignty claims involving the Kuril Islands, a chain northeast of Japan and southwest of Russia’s Sakhalin Island. The dispute continues to complicate diplomatic interactions, particularly amid broader geopolitical tensions between Russia and several Western-aligned nations.

While Moscow framed the arrest within its broader efforts to counter espionage allegedly conducted by citizens from so-called “unfriendly” countries, Japanese officials maintained that the espionage charges against Imai were unfounded. Both sides have yet to provide further concrete evidence supporting their respective claims.