Abstract
Japan for the most part does not possess energy resources, whereas Russia is abundantly endowed with oil and natural gas, etc.. Japanese firms hold oil and natural gas rights in their neighboring country, and in addition to participating in exploration have shown interest in new LNG projects also.
The policy of promoting the east which the Putin Administration has been developing and the 3/11 catastrophe in Japan have turned into an opportunity to promote yet further the energy cooperation between the two countries.
Niigata has been known as an oil and gas production area since remote times, and today is also fulfilling the role of a gateway for energy, sending natural gas to the area embracing the Tohoku, Kanto, and Chubu regions.
Amid the progress of Japan-Russia cooperation it is expected that Niigata's functions will strengthen still further.
