The measures were put in place immediately after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet formally approved them in the morning, following a decision announced last week, with the United States and the European Union having already stepped up pressure on Moscow with widened sanctions.

The sanctions include the freezing of assets held in Japan by 40 individuals and 2 groups which are believed to be directly involved in Russia's annexation of Crimea as well as the instability in eastern Ukraine.

The individuals include ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and senior pro-Russian separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine.

The import of all products originally made in Crimea will be restricted as well.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that Japan will work with the global community, including the Group of 7 countries, for a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the situation in Ukraine.

Other G7 countries have announced new sanctions against Russia after the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane.

 

  http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/000047747.pdf