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Упрощенная HTML-версия

Электронное приложение к журналу «
Международная жизнь
»
an informal meeting with their Russian colleagues in the course of which an idea was born for
a joint research project on the history of bilateral relations between Russia and Japan in the 20th-
early 21st century. In June 2012, Russian historians formed the commission on difficult issues
of Russian-Japanese relations that included about 20 Russian experts. Both young researchers
and experienced, merited historians participated in the commission's activities. Essentially, the
commission became a cross-section of Russia's academic community. As for the Japanese au-
thors' team, it features well-known historians and political scientists who represent leading uni-
versities and training centers in Japan and other countries.
It is important that the monograph was published by respectable university publishing houses
in both countries - in Russia, by the MGIMO University Publishing House and in Japan, by the
Tokyo University Publishing House. A pilot edition of the Russian-language monograph was
presented on May 21, 2015 in Tokyo at the Third Russian-Japanese Forum, Points of Contact:
Business, Investments, Sports. In October 2015, the book was published in Japan and in De-
cember, the main Russian-language edition was published in Russia.
Before the project was launched, many people were concerned that joint work would be com-
plicated due to the existing differences on the most difficult and delicate issues in the history of
bilateral relations.
However, it turned out that those concerns had no basis in reality. We not only did not quarrel
with each other but we were able to find a common language on the most sensitive issues, often
taking a critical view of our own governments.
On the whole, the historians from both countries have demonstrated their ability to work pro-
ductively in one team and find a common language in areas where it was impossible to find ap-
propriate mutual understanding on an official level.
The book has generated considerable interest. As far as I know, two-thirds of the print run have
already been sold. Of course, it takes time to fully appreciate the readers' reaction and its aca-
demic value. However, one thing is clear: The publication of the book is an event that is far
from ordinary. I believe the monograph will receive broad public recognition in Russia. Work is
in progress to publish the English edition of the book, which is designed to popularize the pro-
ject's research achievements all over the world.