ABSTRACT
Japan's remarkable successes since 1945 have been a major surprise to the rest of the world, and given Tokyo's key leadership position in a dynamic Asia, there is good reason to assume that it will be able to respond to the many requests for it to take a greater leadership role. Japanese thoughts on the twenty-first century are closely linked to this rethinking of Japan's national image. The Japanese, for example, sensitive to the traditional Asian astrological cycles, were quick to identify one historical trend—that 1988 was the Year of the Dragon, a sign in the cycle of events of significant importance. Japanese competitive instincts will continue to challenge US leadership in financial services, as dramatic Japanese investment has taken place in trading companies, banks, insurance, financing, leasing, and real estate. The Japanese approach to cooperation is quite different. Japanese leaders would prefer to avoid an "independent" agenda.
