ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the historical evolution of Japan's energy policy and energy security strategy, and demonstrates how Japan's conceptualization of energy security evolved away from oil security, which is in line with the scholarly debate. The analysis is divided into four major periods: the post-war, the oil crises, diversification away from oil, energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and post-Fukushima developments. The environmental factors have to be considered in terms of energy security, as human activities cannot be accomplished without due concern for the environment. The expectation of long-term oil abundance and the continuation of warm US-Japan relations implied that Japan's reliance upon crude oil supplied by the international companies appeared to involve little risk. A revision of the BEP was prepared in late 2006 and adopted by the cabinet in early 2007, but it was based on and largely overshadowed by another energy policy statement, the New National Energy Strategy (NNES), which was issued by METI.
