The move comes after Russia required “unfriendly” countries to make energy payments in rubles instead of euros.
Japanese companies are being urged to reject Russia’s demand to make energy payments in rubles, Cabinet Chief Hirokazu Matsuno said on Tuesday.
Russia last week demanded that “unfriendly” countries pay for its gas in rubles, not euros, after the United States and European allies joined forces on a series of sanctions against Russia.
Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki told a parliamentary session last week that the government does not understand Moscow’s intentions or “how they would do it”.
Japan has imposed a series of punitive measures against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including sanctions on deputy chiefs of staff in President Vladimir Putin’s government, the head of the Chechen Republic and executives of companies with close ties to the Kremlin.
Tokyo has also targeted Russia’s central bank, restricted the country’s access to the international SWIFT payment system, revoked Russia’s most-favored-nation status for trade and banned Russia from exporting oil-refining equipment.
Big Japanese brands including Toyota, Honda, Nintendo and Sony have halted exports to Russia, citing concerns over logistics, supply chains and safety.
Japan, one of the United States’ closest Asian allies, has hit Moscow harder than other countries in the region, most of which have declined to blame the conflict. Apart from Japan, only South Korea, Singapore and the self-governing island of Taiwan have announced sanctions against Moscow.