Russia has banned the entry of the heads of Toyota and the company that owns Viber

Russia , in response to Japan's sanctions, is introducing an entry ban for 13 Japanese citizens, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.

Among those subject to sanctions:

• founder of Rakuten Corporation (owner of Viber Messenger) Hiroshi Mikitani;
• Chairman of the Board of Toyota Motor Toyoda Akio;
• President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency Tanaka Akihiko;
• Musashi Fuso President Fukuhara Teruhiko;
• Shinsei Bussan Co President Iwamatsu Seigo;
• Shinwa President Tanaka Hiroaki;
• Toyobo Co President Takeuchi Ikuo;
• Toray Industries President Oya Mitsuo;
• Nikken Co President Amemiya Makoto;
• Saito Seisakusho Co President Saito Mitsuru;
• Morooka Co President Morooka Noboru;
• Denyo Co President Yoshinaga Takanori;
• President of Koshin ltd Kohara Eiichi.

After the start of the Russian operation in Ukraine, Japan has already introduced over ten packages of sanctions against Moscow, which also affected the export of high-tech products and cars, as well as the import of energy resources. In mid-June, Tokyo concluded an agreement on security guarantees with Ukraine, under which Japan pledged to supply Kyiv with non-lethal equipment, as well as help treat wounded Ukrainians.

After the imposition of sanctions, Russian authorities denied entry to dozens of high-ranking Japanese and also refused to continue dialogue on the issues of the Kuril Islands and the conclusion of a peace treaty. The Foreign Ministry emphasized that Russia no longer has territorial disputes with anyone, including Japan. Tokyo then responded by recalling that until recently Moscow had been conducting a dialogue “precisely because the territorial problem between our countries remains unresolved.”