Tanker carrying Russian oil bought by Japanese company Taiyo Oil arrives in Japan

Lead

Japan has taken delivery of its first cargo of Russian oil in almost a year, as the country seeks to diversify its energy imports amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising tensions around Iran. The Omani-flagged tanker Voyager, carrying crude from the Sakhalin-2 project, arrived at a port in Ehime Prefecture in southwest Japan on May 4, according to the Kyodo news agency, as reported by TASS. The vessel later reached Tokyo Bay, where refining facilities of several Japanese companies are located, TASS reported from the scene.

The oil was purchased by Japanese companies Taiyo Oil and Idemitsu Kosan, both of which confirmed the purchases to TASS. The shipments are part of efforts to diversify supply sources beyond the Middle East, through which Japan previously sourced 95% of its oil imports, TASS reported.

Coverage comparison

Reports from TASS and The Hindu provide a consistent picture of the key events: a tanker carrying Sakhalin Blend crude arrived in Japan in early May, marking the first Russian oil delivery to the country since June 2025. The Hindu, citing unnamed officials of wholesaler Taiyo Oil, reported that the tanker reached the coast of Imabari in western Japan on May 4, 2026. TASS, citing Kyodo, reported the arrival at a port in Ehime Prefecture on the same date.

TASS also reported that the Voyager tanker later arrived in Tokyo Bay, specifically in the Sodegaura area where several Japanese companies have refining facilities. This was reported by TASS from the scene on May 8.

The coverage attributes the purchases to two main factors: the need to diversify import sources beyond the Middle East, and the broader context of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Both TASS and The Hindu describe the situation around Iran as an "escalating" or "worsening" backdrop to the deliveries.

All reports agree on the central fact that the oil is exempt from sanctions. TASS noted that Sakhalin Blend crude for Japan is not subject to sanctions, and The Hindu likewise described the oil as exempt. The reports also confirm that Japan had stopped importing Russian oil after February 2022, with the exception of certain cargoes tied to LNG supply contracts from the Sakhalin-2 project.

Key claims

The tanker Voyager, flying the flag of Oman, transported the Russian oil cargo sold to Japanese company Taiyo Oil, as reported by TASS based on monitoring data. The tanker was expected to arrive at the port of Kikuma on Shikoku Island on May 3, where a Taiyo Oil refinery is located, and later arrived at its destination in Ehime Prefecture, according to Kyodo via TASS.

Japanese oil company Idemitsu has purchased a Russian crude oil run from Sakhalin as part of efforts to diversify its import sources, the company's press service told TASS. The purchase decision was made at the request of the Natural Resources and Energy Administration to ensure stable supplies of petroleum products, Idemitsu said.

Taiyo Oil also confirmed the purchase of a cargo of Russia's Sakhalin Blend crude oil. A company representative told TASS that the company "has a social responsibility to ensure stable supplies of petroleum products" and is acting in cooperation with the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. The representative noted that the supplies are not subject to sanctions, but said no decisions have been made regarding future purchases.

Japan purchased its first cargo of Russian oil in almost a year, with the last purchase by Taiyo Oil from Sakhalin occurring in June 2025, according to TASS citing Kyodo. The oil from Sakhalin-2 is exempt from the sanctions regime, with exceptions applying to oil tied to LNG supply contracts.

The purchases come against the backdrop of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which Japan sourced 95% of its oil imports from the Middle East, TASS reported. A representative of the Natural Resources and Energy Agency of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry stated on May 2 that even a small volume of oil from Russia is important for Japan amid the escalating situation around Iran, and that imports from Sakhalin-2 have been approved by the United States and do not violate sanctions.

Japan decided to abandon Russian oil and gas as part of the collective course pursued by G7 countries, and now purchases only small volumes of oil from the Sakhalin-2 project once or twice a year, Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev told TASS. Nozdrev said Tokyo has not approached Moscow about resuming oil supplies, and that any such request would require Japan to lift sanctions, primarily the price cap on Russian oil. Exceptions to the price cap apply only to oil from Sakhalin-2, whose deliveries are linked to LNG supplies.

Perspectives

Japanese companies (Taiyo Oil and Idemitsu): Both companies frame the purchases as part of efforts to diversify import sources and ensure stable supplies of petroleum products. Idemitsu said the decision was made at the request of the Natural Resources and Energy Administration. Taiyo Oil cited its "social responsibility" to ensure stable supplies and cooperation with the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy.

Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev: Nozdrev emphasized that Japan decided to abandon Russian oil and gas as part of the G7's collective course, reducing bilateral energy cooperation to a minimum. He noted that Tokyo has not requested a resumption of oil supplies and would need to lift sanctions, including the price cap, to do so. He also highlighted that Japan continues to participate in Russian LNG projects on Sakhalin and in the Arctic, though Arctic LNG 2 shipments remain blocked by US sanctions.