Kyodo News reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s car collided with the police escort accompanying him on the morning of December 1 in the city of Tottori on Honshu. Government officials later confirmed that the prime minister was not injured, and the incident prompted a brief halt in the convoy’s momentum.
Witnesses described a minor collision that caused a short pause as security teams checked for damage. The prime minister and the escort sustained no serious harm, and the convoy resumed its journey after confirming everyone was safe and the scene was secure.
The convoy remained at the scene for several minutes before moving on. After visiting his parents’ graves and his birthplace, Ishiba headed to Tottori Airport to return to Tokyo, following a tightly scripted itinerary that balanced security and ceremonial duties.
On November 29 Ishiba reiterated that Japan remained committed to resolving the territorial issue and to signing a peace agreement with Russia, even as relations faced persistent strain.
A response from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs signaled that dialogue on a peace treaty would only be possible if Tokyo abandons its hostile stance. Maria Zakharova, the ministry’s spokesperson, stated that the resumption of full-fledged interstate dialogue with Japan may be possible if Tokyo abandons a hostile course aimed at harming Russia and its citizens.
Moscow and Tokyo had pursued a peace treaty after World War II, but the southern Kuril Islands dispute over Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and nearby islets prevented an agreement from being signed.
Russia halted consultations with Japan after the imposition of anti-Russian sanctions tied to Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, a move that further cooled diplomatic channels between the two capitals.
Earlier reports described Japan’s plans to tighten sanctions against Russia and North Korea amid ongoing regional tensions and security concerns.