This comprehensive textbook serves as an essential resource for students exploring Japan's international relations. It offers a user-friendly approach, consolidating a wide range of information into a single volume, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced learners. The new edition includes updated content, reflecting the latest developments in Japan's diplomatic strategies and global interactions.
This Element argues that Japan has fundamentally shifted its military posture over the last three decades and traversed into a new categorisation of a more capable military power and integrated US ally. This results from Japan's recognition of its changing strategic environment that requires a new grand strategy and military doctrines.
The book offers a comprehensive analysis of Japan's military landscape, focusing on key areas such as defense spending, civil-military relations, and the military-industrial complex. It explores Japan's efforts to enhance its power-projection capabilities and the growing cooperation with the US. Additionally, it delves into Japanese perspectives on nuclear weapons, constitutional changes, and military engagement, providing insights into the evolving dynamics of Japan's defense policy in a regional and global context.