ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the philosophical underpinnings of Japanese attitudes towards war and peace. It examines the essence of anti-war attitudes or war-wariness in ancient, medieval and early modern times, when there was little European influence over Japanese life. The chapter also explores the anti-war attitudes, pacifist thought and peace philosophy of the late modern times and the contemporary period. The idea that Shintoism was an inspiration for the hierarchical nature of Japanese ethical practice was challenged by the egalitarian tendencies in peace movements in the Meiji period. The exploration in this chapter confirms this because Christian pacifism, in a sense, brought an opposing value system that could significantly affect Japanese attitudes concerning war and peace. In the Constitution of Japan, the separation of religion and state was meant not only to guarantee freedom of belief and religion but to realize the basic principles of the Constitution.
