Japan has consistently been pursuing the goal of a permanent UN Security Council seat for 30 years. The book investigates the motives for this ambition, and how it has been pursued domestically and internationally. It is therefore a study of the inner workings of the Japanese Foreign Ministry as well as of the country's underdeveloped multinational diplomacy.

This book looks at Japan's foreign policy at the regional and global level from a power perspective. Reinhard Drifte argues that, although Japan still poses as a political pygmy, it is no longer an economic superpower. Instead, it increasingly translates its economic power into influence over the perceptions, intentions, options and material circumstances of other people. This new power posture has been referred to as "civilian power" but is no less effective for national interest than military power was in the past.

This text examines Japan's foreign policy at the regional and global level from a power perspective. It argues that Japan is no longer an economic superpower while satisfying itself with the posture of a political pygmy. Instead Japan is increasingly translating its economic power into influence over the perceptions, intentions, options and material circumstances of other people. This power posture has been referred to as civilian power but is no less effective for national interest than military power was in the past. The book states that the present economic difficulties and the political upheaval have not significantly dented Japan's power.