"WE FEEL SORRY FOR THE RUSSIANS, WE NEED TO HELP THE SUFFERERS".

The aim of this article is to trace the origins of Russophobic stereotypes and myths in Japan and to analyze their features and traits. In the article the authors scrutinize writings by Japanese politician and public figure Uchida Ryohei (1874--1937) which are dedicated to the Russian Empire and the "Manchurian question." Uchida's writings were found in the collections of the Russian State Military Historical Archive and the National Diet Library of Japan. The hypothesis of the article is that Uchida Ryohei was one of the main ideologists and creators of Russophobic stereotypes and myths in the Japanese Empire. It was around Uchida Ryohei that proponents of anti-Russian views and people who were impatient to start the war against the Russian Empire united. The article goes on to demonstrate that Uchida Ryohei's writings and political activities played a key role in the initiation of the Russo-Japanese war (1904--1905) and in shaping a negative image of Russia in Japanese public opinion at the beginning of the 20th century. What's more, Uchida's cultural heritage is still in demand in modern Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]