Russia continues its military invasion of Ukraine.
There is a man in Kushiro, Hokkaido who keeps in touch with his friend who lives in Russia.
Men are becoming more concerned about the "change" in the messages of his friends as the invasion prolongs.
Yosuke Sakuma, a Russian instructor living in Kushiro, had previously studied at a university in Saharin and worked at the Consulate General of Japan in St. Petersburg, Russia, and is still in contact with six Russian friends. I am.
In late February, when the military invasion began, his friends sent a message against the invasion, saying, "I want everyone to know that many people in Russia do not support this war." rice field.
After that, the Putin administration was nervous about the growing voice of opposition to the war in the country, and in early March, it revised the law and strengthened the control of speech.
According to Mr. Sakuma, the content of the messages of his friends has changed since then.
Of these, one of his friends sent a message saying that he had heard from four colleagues at work: "President Putin is leading Russia in the right direction." "No one wants war. However, it is Russia that will win this battle by all means. "
In Russia, there have been movements to appeal for anti-war even after the revision of the law, which strengthens speech control.
Under these circumstances, I am confused that even my close friends have posted as if they were tolerating a military invasion.
Mr. Sakuma said, "I was very angry when I thought that the country was starting to control the opinions of the citizens in just a month or so."
Mr. Sakuma is participating in a charity initiative to donate a part of the sales of T-shirts he designed to Ukraine, hoping for a ceasefire as soon as possible.
The T-shirt designed by Mr. Sakuma has a message in Russian that he wants the war to end as soon as possible for the future of Russia.
Mr. Sakuma said, "I just want the war to end, but as a Japanese who loves Russia, I would like to act as much as I can as a Russian teacher."