[BeauBo]

Japan potentially faces an even bigger economic shock from energy prices than Europe this year.

They have (relatively) the least domestic energy natural resources of any major economy.

I don't think that setting price controls on Russian crude oil exports will likely be effective, but it might be to some extent if enough buyers join in to a cartel, and are able to stick to it. Maybe just talking about it will help them negotiate some of the discount that China and India get.

[BeauBo]

Japan ping.

[butlerweave]

Not enough space for a blanket of wind/solar ?

[DesertRhino]

That’s funny that Japan thinks it can cap oil prices as a buyer. I think I will cap the price of an F150 pick up at $25,000 for a 2022 model.

[DesertRhino]

That’ll show the Ford motor company!

[Pollard]

All the modern Western countries are facing major self inflicted crises.

[dfwgator]

Remember what happened the last time Japan faced an ‘energy crisis’.

[HighSierra5]

Time to fire up the nuke power generator plants.

[stuckinloozeeana]

Thanks biden

[Wissa]

Maybe just talking about it will help them negotiate some of the discount that China and India get.

I believe China and India get their discounts because Russia classifies them as "friendly"... they don't participate in sanctions against Russia.

[lodi90]

I don’t think that setting price controls on Russian crude oil exports will likely be effective, but it might be to some extent if enough buyers join in to a cartel, and are able to stick to it. Maybe just talking about it will help them negotiate some of the discount that China and India get.

---

Biden is too politically weak and drug addled to lead on this. Everyone is basically doing what they want while he leads from behind.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

It surprises me that Japan doesn’t have a more robust nuclear program than it does.

[butlerweave]

Doesn’t Japan shovel money at Crisis all the time ?

[T.B. Yoits]

They can get their power from the Fukushima nuclear reactors... oh, wait.

[Leaning Right]

Japan should just consult with energy experts Al Gore and Greta Thunberg. Gore set the USA right. And Thunberg set Europe right. So as a team they’d have no problem setting Japan right.

[bray]

100% Biden’s fault.

[Sequoyah101]

I watched with interest as the Jap representative sat at the G-7 conference table seeming to wonder why he was there as the others plotted WWIII in Europe and their eurocentric retribution against russia all at his expense not to mention ours.

Why is Italy in the G-7 that was once the G-8 before russia got expelled in ‘14? The whole bunch is just self-aggrandizing.

[chajin]

The answer for decades was nuclear power, but Fukushima wiped that out, not because nuclear is generally unsafe, but because the disaster made it impossible to convince the public that nuclear is still generally safe.

A combination of Russian and Alaskan oil would be sufficient, but that would take an American government that is practical and realistic (cf "Trump administration"), so that's off the table too.

But then, Japan has been living under the principle of 我慢 (gaman), or "shut up and take it," which is how they will approach and get through the present crisis.

[mewzilla]

Because of its extreme dependence on imported energy, Japan has had to continue importing Russian oil and gas despite its verbal commitment to sanctions against Moscow...

SNORT.

The sanctions have always been a joke.

And the so-called war is just the latest scam.

[jimwatx]

It’s ridiculous to think a cap on oil prices is feasible, Japan best get busy building more nuclear reactors.

[dljordan]

How about some nice Thorium reactors? They make them in Japan.