This book focuses on the lives and peace philosophy of Japanese prime ministers from 1945 to the present, attempting to extract one consistent political philosophy, namely, the 'peace philosophy' that has consistently influenced Japan's foreign and defense policy. Exploring the meta-narrative of international relations and politics, this book provides a new meta-analysis of the factors underpinning Japanese politics, providing a timely insight into one of Asia's most powerful yet enigmatic players in a time of transformation. This book will interest scholars of international relations, those watching Asia in transition, and journalists.

This book focuses on Prime Minister Abe's policy toward international peace and security proposed in 2013 under the basic principle of 'proactive contribution to peace'. To this end, this book investigates Prime Minister Abe's policy-making process of the Peace and Security Legislation, which transformed Japan's security policy and enabled Japan to exercise the right of 'collective self-defense', which used to be 'unconstitutional'. This book evaluates the implications of the Peace and Security Legislation on three fronts, domestic, bilateral, and international, by analyzing Japan's Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program, the Japan-US alliance system, and Japan's policy on international peacekeeping operations in South Sudan. This book is one of the first contributions to the research on Japan's foreign and security policy under the Shinzo Abe administration and will be of interest to scholars, policymakers, and students of Japan, Japanese politics and international relations of the Asia-Pacific region.

This book examines Japan's nuclear identity and its implications for abolition of nuclear weapons. By applying analytical eclecticism in combination with international relations theory, this book categorizes Japan's nuclear identity as a 'nuclear-bombed state' (classical liberalism), 'nuclear disarmament state' (neoliberalism), 'nuclear-threatened state' (classical realism), and a 'nuclear umbrella state' (neorealism). This research investigates whether the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 'genocide' or not, to what degree Japan has contributed to nuclear disarmament, how Japan has been threatened by ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons of North Korea, and how Japan's security policy has been embedded with the nuclear strategy of the United States. It also sheds light on theoretical factors that Japan does not support the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Finally, this book considers the future of Japan's nuclear identity and attempts to explore alternatives for Japan's nuclear disarmament diplomacy toward a world without nuclear weapons.

This book examines Japan's nuclear identity and its implications for abolition of nuclear weapons. By applying analytical eclecticism in combination with international relations theory, this book categorizes Japan's nuclear identity as a 'nuclear-bombed state' (classical liberalism), 'nuclear disarmament state' (neoliberalism), 'nuclear-threatened state' (classical realism), and a 'nuclear umbrella state' (neorealism). This research investigates whether the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 'genocide' or not, to what degree Japan has contributed to nuclear disarmament, how Japan has been threatened by ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons of North Korea, and how Japan's security policy has been embedded with the nuclear strategy of the United States. It also sheds light on theoretical factors that Japan does not support the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Finally, this book considers the future of Japan's nuclear identity and attempts to explore alternatives for Japan's nuclear disarmament diplomacy toward a world without nuclear weapons.

This book focuses on Prime Minister Abe's policy toward international peace and security proposed in 2013 under the basic principle of 'proactive contribution to peace'. To this end, this book investigates Prime Minister Abe's policy-making process of the Peace and Security Legislation, which transformed Japan's security policy and enabled Japan to exercise the right of 'collective self-defense', which used to be 'unconstitutional'. This book evaluates the implications of the Peace and Security Legislation on three fronts, domestic, bilateral, and international, by analyzing Japan's Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program, the Japan-US alliance system, and Japan's policy on international peacekeeping operations in South Sudan. This book is one of the first contributions to the research on Japan's foreign and security policy under the Shinzo Abe administration and will be of interest to scholars, policymakers, and students of Japan, Japanese politics and international relations of the Asia-Pacific region.

Dieses Buch konzentriert sich auf das Leben und die Friedensphilosophie der japanischen Premierminister von 1945 bis heute und versucht, eine einheitliche politische Philosophie herauszuarbeiten, nämlich die "Friedensphilosophie", die Japans Außen- und Verteidigungspolitik durchweg beeinflusst hat. Dieses Buch erforscht die Metaerzählung der internationalen Beziehungen und der Politik und liefert eine neue Metaanalyse der Faktoren, die der japanischen Politik zugrunde liegen, und bietet einen zeitgemäßen Einblick in einen der mächtigsten und zugleich rätselhaftesten Akteure Asiens in einer Zeit des Wandels. Dieses Buch wird für Wissenschaftler im Bereich der internationalen Beziehungen, für diejenigen, die Asien im Wandel beobachten, und für Journalisten von Interesse sein.

In the study of Japanese politics, New Komeito tends to be overlooked despite its political influence. It has been 50 years since the establishment of the party and its significance in Japanese politics needs to be re-examined in an academic manner. To this end, this book sheds light on the influence of New Komeito on Japan's foreign and security policy. By applying a theoretical classification, this study categorises New Komeito's pacifist policy as 'anti-war pacifism', 'realistic pacifism', and 'international pacifism'. Based on the theoretical perspectives, the author argues that New Komeito's anti-war pacifism has been consistent, that the party has recognised Japan's right to self-defence based on realistic pacifism, and that it has supported Japan's contributions to international peace operations based on international pacifism. To substantiate the main arguments, this book investigates the foreign and security policy of the party in the Cold War, post-Cold War and post-9/11 period. Finally, the book explores New Komeito's stance on constitutional revision, especially Article 9, the so-called 'peace clause', which is crucial to the current debate in the politics of Japan.