ABSTRACT
Japan's foreign aid policy towards Africa has been limited for several reasons: First, there are the difficulties of implementation due to geographical distance, and insufficiency of local staff (MOFA 1988: 35). Second, there is limited information regarding trade, investment and tourism, or civil and economic activities (TCSF 2005: 4). Third, a lack of politico-strategic interests and only minimal strategic resources is also pointed out (Sharp 2003: 102). Additionally, there have been criticisms that Japan, as a world economic power, does not utilize concomitant political or military strength. A preliminary argument is that over time the influence of international factors led to a reappraisal of Japan's foreign policy from a passive stance to a more proactive and assertive role in terms of translating more of its economic strength into political and diplomatic power.
