TOMSK, September 04. /ITAR-TASS/. Japan has imposed sanctions against Russia under pressure from the United States, Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe told journalists in Tomsk, which is hosting the summit of the heads of Asian cities, on Thursday.

The governor said Japan was very dependent on the US in security issues.

“We have problems related to China, North and South Korea. That is why we need to rely on the US military potential,” Yoichi Masuzoe said, adding he wanted the Russians to understand what stood behind Japan’s decision to impose sanctions against Russia.

The governor also pledged to exert maximum efforts to improve bilateral relations between Russia and Japan.

On August 5, the Japanese Foreign Ministry published the names of 40 individuals and two organizations that fell under the Japan government-approved sanctions against Russia. The sanctions list includes Crimean officials, representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics; as well as two Crimean companies - Chernomorneftegaz and the Feodosiya oil base. Japan has also banned all imports of goods produced in Crimea.

Japan imposed the first round of sanctions against Russia on March 18, the day when Crimea officially reunited with Russia. It suspended consultations with Russia on possible facilitation of the visa regime and postponed the conclusion of three treaties with Russia - on investment cooperation, cooperation in space exploration and prevention of dangerous military activity.

In addition to that, Japan temporarily stopped issuing entry visas to 23 representatives of Russian official bodies and other persons on July 24. Their list, however, has not been published.