Publication

This report discusses US-Japan Relations, with focus on issues related to alliance, economic and Japanese politics. Japan is a significant partner for the US in a number of foreign policy areas, particularly in terms of security priorities. The post-World War II US-Japan alliance has long been an anchor of the US security role in East Asia. The alliance facilitates the forward deployment of about 49,000 US troops and other US military assets based in Japan in the Asia-Pacific. If Japan decides to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, it will become an even more critical element in the Obama Administration’s rebalancing to Asia strategy.