In November 1998, Japan and Russia signed the Moscow Declaration for a Constructive Partnership, thus joining the before-the-new-millenium rush toward partnership, a jargon found everywhere that one is hard-pressed to figure out what it really means.

A “constructive partnership” between Japan and Russia is certainly in the strategic interest of the two countries. It could become another pillar for stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the whole world. Yet, in light of the ominous collapse of the US-China and US-Russia “partnership”, what is the real potential for still another “constructive partnership”? Or to put it more bluntly, are we again raising so many expectations that disappointment is sure to creep in?