This thesis presents a study of Japan’s international role with a special focus on its historical evolution. To that end the following three pillars will lay the necessary theoretical foundations: One, the notions of historical and political identity and a discussion of the ambivalent shapes they have taken in Japan; two, the regional context, an examination of Japan’s situation with respect to Asian history as a whole, and finally the third pillar, the “civilian power” concept, as described by Hanns W. Maull. Each of the three pillars will be explained in further detail below. While each of these three aspects will be discussed separately, one has to keep in mind that they are all mutually related.