In OTL, Russia and Japan signed the Treaty of Saint Petersburg in 1875. This treaty essentially stated that Japan would cede its half of Sakhalin Island to Russia, and in return Russia would cede the Kuril Islands to Japan.
So, in an ATL where Russia didn't get rid of Alaska in 1867, might they have handed it to Japan in an alternate version of the Saint Petersburg treaty in 1875? This alternate treaty would be something like: Japan recognizes Russian ownership of all of Sakhalin Island, the Kuril Islands, and the Sea of Okhotsk. In return, Russia hands over ownership of Alaska to Japan.
Are Russia and Japan likely to agree to such a thing, and if so, how would a Japanese Alaska develop?
I imagine a Japanese Alaska would end up becoming much more populous than OTL Alaska, for starers.
So, in an ATL where Russia didn't get rid of Alaska in 1867, might they have handed it to Japan in an alternate version of the Saint Petersburg treaty in 1875? This alternate treaty would be something like: Japan recognizes Russian ownership of all of Sakhalin Island, the Kuril Islands, and the Sea of Okhotsk. In return, Russia hands over ownership of Alaska to Japan.
Are Russia and Japan likely to agree to such a thing, and if so, how would a Japanese Alaska develop?
I imagine a Japanese Alaska would end up becoming much more populous than OTL Alaska, for starers.