This collection of essays by leading scholars and diplomats involved with the area examines the key political and economic issues facing Japan, Russia, and their neighbors since the end of the Cold War. The main goal is to analyze recent developments in Moscow-Tokyo bilateral relations and their growing interest in closer economic engagement, stability, and regional cooperation.
The volume provides readers with an in-depth analysis of the very problems and opportunities that compelled the national leaders of Japan and Russia to drastically change the format and contents of the dialogue, to address the most critical issues not only of the moment but also for the future. The volume is a crucial resource for scholars, policy makers, and students involved with Asia-Pacific economic cooperation and Japanese and Russian foreign policy.

VLADIMIR I. IVANOV is Senior Researcher at the Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia. Formerly he was Head of the Asia-Pacific Region Department of the Institute of World Economics and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Among his earlier publications is Northern Territories and Beyond: Russian, Japanese, and American Perspectives (Praeger, 1995).
KARLA S. SMITH formerly was a researcher at the Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia. She now lives in Washington, DC.

Forewords
Preface
Introduction by Vladimir I. Ivanov
History and Domestic Issues
Japan in the 1990s by Hisao Kanamori
Russia's New Ruling Class by Nodari A. Simonia
The Yeltsin Factor by Nobuo Shimotomai
On the Way to Economic Recovery by Ivan S. Tselitschev
Small Business Developmentin Russia by Douglas Barry
Traditions, Institutions, and Lessons by Andreiy I. Kravtsevich
Potentials and Realities by Tsuneo Akaha
A Retrospective View: A Fifth Period? by Konstanin O. Sarkisov
International and Regional Politics
Japan, Russia, and the U.S. Role by Robert A. Scalapino
A Dialogue: Status and Perspectives by Jiro Kodera
Making a Comeback in Asia by Evgeniy V. Afanasiev and Vladimir I. Ivanov
The Northeast Asian Dimension by Tsuyoshi Hasegawa
Crisis Prevention in Korea by Georgiy D. Toloraya
North Korea and Japan-Russia Relations by Hajime Izumi
Future Geoeconomic Equation by Steven Rosefielde
Main Events of a New Era by Robert Valliant
Development, Trade, and Investment
The Eastern Provinces and Moscow by Alexander G. Granberg
The Northeast Asian Drift by Pavel A. Minakir
Japan-Far Eastern Russia Relations by Makoto Nobukuni
Cooperation in the Energy Sector by Robert N. Ruzanov
Bilateral Trade in Fishery by Nobuo Arai
Economic Links: The Russian View by Andrei P. Rodionov
Economic Links: A View from Japan by Susumu Yoshida
Japan, Russia, and Northeast Asia
Russia and Regional Cooperation by Vladimir I. Ivanov
Sakhalin Oil and Gas and Japan by Tadashi Sugimoto and Kazuto Furuta
Trans-Siberian Land Bridge by Vladimir I. Ivanov and Dmitriy L. Sergachev
Trilateral Cross-border Links by Kazuyoshi Nishikata
The Zarubino Port Project: A Case Study by Hisako Tsuji
The Politics of Fishery by Alexander M. Kurmazov and Igor V. Kazakov
Environment and Cooperation by Karla S. Smith
Selected Bibliography Compiled by Machiko Takalashi
Index