Why did Tokyo and Moscow fail to normalize relations in the 1990s? What was accomplished at times of intense negotiations? In this collection, experts from Japan, Russia, and the U.S. explore the chronology of bilateral relations between Japan and Russia. Drawing on personal experiences as officials and consultants, the authors reflect on opportunities for a breakthrough that were lost. Most of the volume covers the period from 1991 to 1999 to show how Tokyo and Moscow differed in their assessments and how the logic of decision making affected the course of negotiations. Comparisons shed light on domestic factors behind these relations and on the great power context in which they operate.