James D.J. Brown is a professor of political science at Temple University's Japan campus in Tokyo.
In two weeks, Tokyo is due to host a gala concert marking the start of the 2024 Festival of Russian Culture in Japan.
Opinion
Japan should not showcase Putin's propagandists
For the Russian government, official cultural events are a political weapon
Sergei Roldugin, right, artistic director of St. Petersburg Music House, is a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin and godfather of one of his daughters. (Pool via Reuters)
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