Japan protests Russian soldier statue, fueling summer tensions

Key facts

• Japan has protested the installation of a statue of a Soviet soldier in Hokkaido.
• The statue's placement has aggravated existing tensions between Japan and Russia.

Japan has lodged a protest with Russia concerning the erection of a statue depicting a Soviet soldier in Hokkaido. This action has intensified the already strained relations between the two countries, contributing to a period of heightened tension during the summer months.