1006 Chapter 7
MID#4042
Dispute Number: 4042
Date(s): November 26, 1993 to October 3, 1995
Participants: 365 Russia/740 Japan
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute describes another series of incidents between Russia and
Japan as they contested fishing rights and control over the Kuril Islands north of
Japan. This particular conflict began with a Russian seizure of a Japanese fishing
vessel. Similar incidents followed as Japanese fishing vessels continually tried to fish
the waters around the islands. Japan’s only militarized action came when a Russian
warplane violated Japanese airspace, and the Japanese air force scrambled their own
planes to intercept. This occurred in March 1995. The last incident of the dispute was
similar to the first—a Russian coast guard vessel fired on a Japanese fishing vessel
and then seized the ship on September 27, 1995. No additional incidents occurred for
at least six months as tensions waned.
Coding changes: End day changed from Missing.
MID#4297
Dispute Number: 4297
Date(s): October 12, 1996 to October 1996
Participants: 365 Russia/740 Japan
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On October 12, 1996, Russia seized the Wakatake Maru Number 13, a
Japanese fishing trawler, off Kunashiri Island (southern Kurils) and held its crew
until October 26 and its captain until November 11. On November 4, the Russians
seized five Japanese crew members on a Russian vessel poaching in protected waters.
None of the Japanese had visas, so the Russians detained them for illegal entry into
the country. On November 14, the foreign ministers from Japan and Russia met in
Tokyo to discuss the territorial dispute. On December 1, the Japanese Foreign Min-
istry announced that it would accept Russian control of the southern half of Sakhalin
by opening a branch consulate there, in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The consulate opened in
January 1998.
MID#4222
Dispute Number: 4222
Date(s): April 21, 2000
Participants: 365 Russia/740 Japan
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: An incident between a Japanese fishing vessel and the Russian Coast
Guard took place on Friday, April 21, 2000. Allegedly, the unmarked Japanese fishing