On November 11, 2025, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced indefinite entry bans on 30 Japanese citizens, including scholars and researchers.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ban was in response to Japan’s continued “policy of sanctions against Russia in connection with the special military operation.” The scholars sanctioned include:
- Nobumasa Akiyama, a professor at the School of International and Public Policy and the Graduate School of Law at Hitotsubashi University;
- Ichiro Iwasaki, a professor at the Institute of Economic Research at Hitotsubashi University;
- Akihiro Iwashita, a professor at the Slavic and Eurasian Research Centre at Hokkaido University;
- Yu Koizumi, an Associate Professor of International Security Studies at Tokyo University;
- Kenro Nagoshi, a professor at the Institute of World Studies, Takushoku University;
- Takashi Hirano, a professor in the Faculty of Business and Commerce at Keio University and editor of the Japanese-language version of the Ukrinform website;
- Yoko Hirose, a professor in the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University;
- Yuichi Hosoya, professor of international politics and law at Keio University and the Director of Research of the Asia Pacific Initiative; and
- Ken Endo, a professor at the Graduate Schools for Law and Politics at Tokyo University.
The reason behind why these specific scholars have been sanctioned has not been reported publicly.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about state authorities restricting international academic exchange in apparent retaliation for Japan-Russia political relations. International academic engagement, including the sharing and exchange of ideas across borders, is a core aspect of academic life, and crucial for social and democratic advancement. Arbitrary restrictions on international academic exchange erode academic freedom and harm democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/12/japan/politics/russa-bans-30-japanese/ https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/2058638/