TOKYO (Sputnik) — According to Afanasiev, some 15 percent of Japanese companies regard business with Russia favorably, while previously the figure was 45 percent.
"The sanctions have a very strong psychological effect," the envoy said at Japan National Press Club in Tokyo.
He added that the Japanese sanctions had an impact on bilateral high-level contacts. At the same time, in the second half of the year the Japanese side demonstrated understanding of necessity to intensify meetings, and Russia welcomed it.
Japan joined a number of Western countries that have imposed anti-Russia sanctions in 2014, citing Moscow’s alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis, a role Russia has repeatedly denied.
