Media reports say Japan has received its first shipment of Russian oil since the start of the Iran war. Japan relies heavily on energy imports, with around 95% of its oil coming from West Asia/the Middle East, making it sensitive to disruptions in regional shipping routes. According to the reports, Japan has been trying to diversify its energy procurement since the war began on February 28, when Tehran is reported to have shut the Strait. The arrival of Russian crude marks a shift in sourcing amid concerns over supply and transit through traditional routes. While the articles do not provide additional operational details such as the volume of the shipment or the specific port, they characterize the delivery as part of Japan’s broader effort to reduce dependence on a single region and to maintain energy supply continuity during the conflict. The reports collectively frame the shipment as the first of its kind in the post-February 28 period, highlighting Japan’s response to changed geopolitical conditions affecting oil logistics.