ABSTRACT
The dependence of Japan on the oil-producing states of the Middle East far exceeds that of any other advanced industrial state. Japan's economy relies more heavily than any other industrial state's on oil for primary energy. Japan's first significant involvement in Middle East crisis diplomacy was, in a sense, an accident of UN parliamentarianism. The Japanese government also saw in the "occupied territories" issue a parallel with Japan's long-standing complaint about the Soviet Union's occupation by force of two northern islands which are part of Hokkaido and two southern Kurile islands, all of which are historically Japanese territory. Japan's early dilemma was eased as the United States and the oilproducing states moved toward reconciliation on pricing and supply issues and also politics. Japan was transferred to the list of "friendly" states, and the supply restriction was lifted before the special envoy had left the Middle East.
