ABSTRACT
Japanese government, business and individual networks now extend across the globe. The European continent has received much of the attention of these networks. Notwithstanding, within Japan itself, Europe’s presence remains limited: not only does an enduring post-war US impact on Japanese government, business and society concentrate Japanese attention across the Pacific, but also the very nature and identity of the European continent make it difficult to understand what ‘Europe’ actually signifies. Such historical and institutional realities ensure that ideas of Europe within Japan are built upon different moments of exposure to often ad hoc and uncoordinated efforts by a variety of political and economic representatives within Europe.
