Putin's decision to transfer assets of Sakhalin II gas and oil project affected

Karafuto, as Sakhalin was known, was home to 400,000 Japanese before World War II.

Soviet forces invaded Karafuto on the eve of Japan's defeat in August 1945 and seized its official installations, railways, schools and factories.

The Japanese word for seize sesshyu is written with two kanji characters which, by themselves, do not denote anything violent or sinister.

What actually happened was nothing short of outright looting.

I hadn't thought about this until I came across the word sesshu in media reports for the first time in a while.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was reported to have signed a decree to transfer the assets of the operator of the Sakhalin II gas and oil project partially financed by Japanese corporations.

Since it started importing LNG for the first time in 1969, Japan has led the world in the use of liquefied natural gas. After the two oil shocks in the 1970s, LNG became as important as nuclear power as Japan moved to diversify its energy sources.

LNG's role as an energy source increased when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 knocked nuclear power plants out of operation.

LNG is transported by thermos-like tankers to the city gas for daily cooking and to generate elecrtricity indispensable to the operation of air conditioners and refrigerators, and is chilled to an ultra-low temperature of minus 162 degrees.

Japan has always struggled to secure energy sources because of its resource-poor nation.

Prior to the Soviet invasion, attempts were made to drill for oil in Karafuto.

LNG had an edge over oil in terms of the diversity of import sources. The future of Sakhalin as a supply source has been affected by Putin's latest move.

The old maxim: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Trade and investment will create a friendlier world, and is completely destroyed by globalization.

How do you deal with nations that have no intention of honoring the rule of law? What a difficult time we are now in.

Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that covers a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. The column is written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers and provides useful insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.