ABSTRACT
Historically, the link between Japan and Africa has not been strong, and this may be largely due to the geographical distance between the two. Japanese diplomacy has traditionally emphasized Japan-US relations and relations with its neighbors in Asia; however, Japan-Africa relations have been undergoing a drastic change in the past two decades. This chapter will provide an overview of changing Japan-Africa relations by asking the following two questions: How has the relationship between Japan and Africa changed over time? Furthermore, what are the implications of the changing Japan-Africa relations? The first section will provide a historical overview of Japan-Africa relations, including the emergence of African studies in Japan. The second section will examine changes that are visible in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) between 1993 and 2019. The chapter will illustrate how Japan’s interests and its engagements with Africa have diversified over time, while also drawing a possible lesson that may be useful for a recent initiative within Japan-Africa relations such as the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor – which would further deepen broader engagement exemplified by a recent shift in TICAD.
