ABSTRACT
Which narrative appears from the first-hand accounts in the previous chapters on the development of the EU–Japan relationship? How can the dots be joined together? This chapter gives a concise summing-up of the preceding sections with the aim of explaining both the path which the EU and Japan have embarked on since the 1970s and the direction in which these economic powers are heading. It has often been said that there is no future without history. If that is so, the insights to be gained from an analysis of the dynamics of the past and present relationship between the EU and Japan can provide valuable contributions to the preparation and implementation of a future EU–Japan political and economic framework. Looking at what has been achieved in the past, considering which approaches have been successful and which not, reflecting on which hurdles had to be overcome and which obstacles still remain, is instructive not only from an academic point of view but also for those involved in drafting the contours of the future partnership between the EU and Japan.
