Why did the Japanese look to Stalin regime in hopes of securing favorable peace terms?

The Japanese looked to Stalin's regime for favorable peace terms during World War II due to the Soviet Union's position as a neutral power in the conflict between Japan and the Allies. They believed that by negotiating with Stalin, they could leverage Soviet influence to secure better terms and possibly maintain their territorial gains. Additionally, Japan sought to avoid a complete defeat and hoped that the Soviet Union could mediate a more favorable outcome than what the Allies might demand.