Abstract: This paper provides an analysis of Japans diplomatic approach towards Russia during the RussianUkrainian conflict, which reflects the contradictory and pragmatic characteristics inherent in Japanese diplomacy. By integrating materialistic and idealistic factors proposed by Wendt, this study examines Japans diplomatic language and actions. The findings indicate that Japans cognition of national interests, encompassing economic wealth and selfesteem, is jointly determined by materialistic and idealistic factors, thereby influencing the consistency or inconsistency between Japans diplomatic language and actions. When materialistic and idealistic factors have the same influence on the cognition of national interests, or when they are inconsistent but materialistic factors are not directly related to national security, Japan maintains consistency between diplomatic language and actions. However, when materialistic and idealistic factors clash in their influence on the cognition of national interests, particularly when materialistic factors directly relate to national security, Japan reveals incongruity between its diplomatic language and actions. In light of this, China should not only “heed its words” but also “observe its actions” closely, scrutinizing the underlying logic behind Japans diplomatic language and actions in order to discern the true intentions behind Japans diplomacy.

Key words: RussiaUkraine conflict, Japan-Russia relations, Japanese diplomacy, consistency between diplomatic language and actions, inconsistency between diplomatic language and actions