ABSTRACT
As the Japanese government had a strong interest in neighboring Asian countries and in the Western countries, the African continent had received little consideration at the governmental level from the 1960s until the oil crisis. The trading pattern had a typically vertical structure, in which Japan exported industrial manufactures and imported raw materials. Japan has given priority to economic self-interest over African political aspiration toward the “liberation of Africa.” Japan had the policy of separating economics from politics in relation to Africa, and its policy had shown remarkable success in terms of expansion of trade. Japan not only became involved in major economic cooperations in the Middle East but also sought to deepen understanding and to try to strengthen links with the Arab world. From the time of the oil crisis and Japan’s heightened consciousness regarding raw materials, Japan’s interest in Africa has increased, because Japan would like to diversify the sources of raw materials.
