Publication

The publication examines the shift in Japanese foreign policy in the aftermath of first Gulf War. The author suggests that on the one hand Japan is moving toward a new form of internationalism that is characterized by national interest and bilateralism. On the other hand, Japan is abandoning its traditional approach to foreign affairs marked by pacifism, international developments assistance and multilateralism. The paper concludes that renewed emphasis on national interests might jeopardize relations with neighboring countries calling for Japan to reckon with its past.