East Kazakhstan, formerly the Kazaha Autonomous Region of Japan, and before that Kazaha-dô (see Administrative divisions of Japan) is a sovereign nation in central Asia which achieved independence from Japan during the 20th century. To its west is the nation of West Kazakhstan, formerly a part of the Russian Empire. Since the breakup of the Russian Empire, and the independence of West Kazakhstan, there has been talk, particularly in West Kazakhstan, of a Kazakh Union.