ABSTRACT

There are three major periods of modern foreign-policy change in Japan: the opening of Japan and the Meiji Era up to World War II, the Cold War, and now the post-Cold War time. Each of these periods saw significant events and foreign pressure for change dictate the foreign policy that would develop in Japan. Each time, Japan responded in its own unique way to adapt to the world around it. This chapter will examine the development of Japanese foreign policy in the modern era in order to show how Japan got to where it is today.