ABSTRACT
The "nuclear umbrella" is considered critical by Japanese leaders and they have consistently pressed United States (US) counterparts to explicitly reference nuclear capabilities when reiterating the strength of the US commitment to Japan. Many disarmament advocates are quick to point out that Japan's reliance on US nuclear forces undermines the clarity of Tokyo's call for disarmament. Japan walks a tightrope, like all countries that preach disarmament and rely on the US nuclear deterrent for its security. Japanese diplomats internalize this tension by acknowledging the two dimensions of nuclear policy—;;humanitarian and security—;;and working to balance them. Japan's disarmament diplomacy has been central to its postwar resurgence. Tokyo's postwar leadership recognized that Japan's status as a "trading state" required a good relationship with Asian nations to ensure market access to and raw materials from those countries. Disarmament has posed the biggest problem for Tokyo in its relationship with India.
