Japan's Foreign Policy 1945-2003. The Quest for a Proactive Policy

This book describes major aspects of Japanese foreign policy from WWII to the present. Bilateral relations with the US, China, Korea, Southeast Asia, Russia, Europe and the Middle East as well as multilateral diplomacy are analysed. Written by a former diplomat who was deeply involved in major issues of postwar Japanese foreign policy, it provides fascinating insider views on policy making in Tokyo. The book explains how and why Japan is developing a more proactive foreign policy and highlights vital policy issues which it is facing at the turn of the century. It is written with exceptional clarity and is accessible and friendly to any reader who is interested in modern Japan.

"This book stands out amongst the crop of textbooks on Japanese foreign policy that have been available to date, because of its authoritative, insider voice. Here we not only learn what happened in postwar Japan's foreign policy, but what the thinking was behind these decisions. This is an invaluable element that brings the reader inside the policy-making rooms of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself. In the process, Japan's world view and its own self-image are concurrently revealed, in fascinating and unexpected ways. This book destroys stereotypes, and vastly improves the quality of our understanding of Japan as an international player. We are spoiled by the wisdom and experience of not just one, but three major forces in the shaping of Japan's international existence: Mr Togo's own formidable experience, plus the seminal contributions of his father and grandfather, who was instrumental in the closing phases of World War II. All of this makes this book indispensable to those who wish to truly understand Japan in her own terms, and through her own eyes."
Rikki Kersten, Professor Modern Japan Studies (Leiden University).