TOKYO, May 8. /TASS/. Japanese oil company Idemitsu has purchased a Russian crude oil run from Sakhalin as part of its efforts to diversify its import sources, the company's press service told TASS.

Earlier, TASS reported the arrival of the Voyager tanker carrying Russian oil in Tokyo Bay, where Idemitsu's refinery is located.

"We made the decision to purchase the cargo at the request of the Natural Resources and Energy Administration to ensure stable supplies of petroleum products," the company noted.

"Currently, Sakhalin Blend crude oil for Japan is not subject to sanctions, and we are working to ensure stable supplies of petroleum products by using our reserves and diversifying our oil purchases, with this shipment forming part of those efforts," the company added.

Japan stopped importing Russian oil after February 2022, later joining the price cap mechanism initiated by Western countries, with the exception of certain cargoes from the Sakhalin-2 project tied to LNG supply contracts. This oil is exempt from the sanctions regime. Japanese companies last purchased Russian oil from Sakhalin in June 2025.

Oil tanker in Tokyo Bay

Earlier, a TASS correspondent reported the arrival of the Omani-flagged tanker Voyager in Tokyo Bay. Voyager, carrying Sakhalin Blend crude, departed from a port on Sakhalin in late April. In early May, it arrived at the port of Kikuma on Shikoku Island, where Taiyo Oil's refinery is located. After unloading part of the cargo there, it headed towards Tokyo.

Taiyo Oil previously told a TASS correspondent that it had purchased a shipment of Russian oil as part of its efforts to diversify supply sources from regions outside the Middle East amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Japan has received over 90% of its oil imports via this route in recent years. Taiyo Oil stated its social responsibility for ensuring uninterrupted supplies of petroleum products.

Alternative Supplies

In recent years, Japan has imported approximately 95% of its oil from the Middle East, with most of these shipments transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Amid the escalating situation surrounding Iran and disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Tokyo has become increasingly concerned about finding alternative sources.

Japan has also begun drawing down its strategic reserves. The government has concluded that, thanks in part to these reserves, it will be able to fully meet the country's domestic oil needs at least until the end of this year.

Japanese officials have not mentioned Russia as a possible alternative supplier. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry did not respond to a TASS correspondent's question about whether they were considering importing Russian oil given the temporary lifting of restrictions on the sale of oil and petroleum products from Russia by the United States.

In Japan, Muneo Suzuki, a member of the upper house of parliament from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is among those who support the need to resume purchases of Russian oil. Tsuneo Watanabe, a senior researcher at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, told a TASS correspondent that, given the escalating situation around Iran, Japan needs to restore and develop relations with other oil suppliers, including Russia.