(Source: http://top.rbc.ru/politics/29/04/2014/921078.shtml)

Japan postponed the introduction of new sanctions against Russia. This was stated by the government officials, according to Japan Times.

The government of Japan plans to wait and observe the actions of Moscow in relation to the Ukrainian crisis, as the sources of the edition clarified. The extension of sanctions, if it comes into force, will apply only to the ban on the issuance of visas and the freezing of assets of Russian officials, the sources stated.

The Japanese officials have not told about the date of the final decision. In addition, the Japanese authorities want first of all to coordinate their actions with other members of the “Big Seven”. Not long ago it became known that the Japanese government is going to announce the expansion of sanctions against Russia on September, 19. According to the “Yomiuri” edition, the sanctions for the first time could be introduced not only against individuals, but also against financial and energy sectors.

The additional sanctions against Russia were introduced by Japan for the last time in early August. According to the Kyodo agency, the list consisted of 40 individuals. Their names were not disclosed, but, according to ITAR-TASS, the list included the Acting Head of the Republic of Crimea Sergei Aksenov, the Advisor of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Crimea Rustam Temirgaliev, the prosecutor of the Crimea Natalia Poklonskaya, the Prime Minister of DNR Alexander Borodai  and the Defense Minister of DNR Igor Strelkov.

The list also included the companies “Chernomorneftegaz” and “Feodosia”. In response to these sanctions the Russian Foreign Ministry compiled a list of the citizens of Japan who are banned from entering Russia. The blacklist was handed to the Ambassador of Japan Tikahito Harada by the Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov.

The first sanctions against Russian citizens were introduced by Japan in April 2014. According to the Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, the ban on entering the country involved 23 officials from the Russian Federation.