According to CoinMeta, Japanese media reported on the 15th, citing sources, that the Japanese government is considering replacing its ambassador to Russia within this year and will make a formal decision at an upcoming cabinet meeting. It is planned to appoint Hideo Uyama, former director of the European Bureau at Japan's Foreign Ministry, as the new ambassador. The current ambassador, Hiroya Takefuto, was appointed in October 2023 and took up his post in Russia in December, with a typical term of office being three years. The report did not mention the reasons for the replacement. Japan-Russia relations have continued to deteriorate; in October of this year, Russia arrested a Japanese journalist. At the beginning of this month, Russia temporarily took control of seven companies under Japan Tobacco Corporation's assets in Russia, which sparked Japanese protests. Russia has also summoned Hiroya Takefuto on multiple occasions to protest against Japanese companies' investments in Ukraine, as well as comments by Takemiya Sanae and Toshimitsu Shigemichi regarding Putin's visit to Iturup Island. (Xinhua News Agency)