How History impacts Japan’s image and interests, and what to do about it

Japan’s past flares up in many shapes, over many issues and foot-dragged Japanese influence. This chapter presents a general analytical framework for, and a brief analysis of, Japan’s ‘History problem’. The most recent cycle began in 2012 when the Korean president asked for new negotiations regarding the ‘comfort women’ problem and when the Noda cabinet decided to ‘nationalise’ the Senkaku. History issues seemed under control from late 2014, but kindling charcoal remains, damaging Japan’s image and thereby its interests and power.