Japan announced Friday that it will impose sanctions on 15 Russian individuals and nine organizations over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, after the government announced the revocation of Russia’s “most favored nation” status. Japan has now put sanctions on 76 individuals, seven Russian banks, and 12 Russia-based organizations, according to its finance ministry. This round of sanctions includes the freezing assets of Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, chief of GRU military intelligence service, and Russia’s deputy defense ministers. The sanctions also target several military equipment manufacturers, including United Aircraft Corp and state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced Wednesday that the government will revoke Russia’s “most favored nation” status, a clause that forbids members of a trade agreement to discriminate between trading partners. The status removal would result in higher taxes on Russian goods. Kishida said the move is in line with a statement issued by the …