Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: Japanese diplomacy from prewar to postwar / Iokibe Makoto -- Diplomacy in occupied Japan: Japanese diplomacy in the 1940's / Iokibe Makoto -- Conditions of an independent state: Japanese diplomacy in the 1950's / Sakamoto Kazuya -- The model of an economic power: Japanese diplomacy in the 1960's / Tadokoro Masayuki -- Overcoming the crises: Japanese diplomacy in the 1970's / Nakanishi Hiroshi -- The mission and trials of an emerging international state: Japanese diplomacy in the 1980's / Murata Koji -- Japanese diplomacy after the Cold War / Iokibe Makoto -- Conclusion: what was postwar Japanese diplomacy? / Iokibe Makoto

The book examines the many issues which Japan has had to confront in this important period: from the occupation authorities in the latter half 1940s, to the crisis-filled 1970s; from the post-Cold War decade to the contemporary war on terrorism. The book examines the effect of the changing international climate and domestic scene on Japan's foreign policy; and the way its foreign policy has been conducted. It discusses how the aims of Japan's foreign relations, and how its relationships with its neighbours, allies and other major world powers have developed, and assesses how far Japan has succeeded in realising its aims. It concludes by discussing the current state of Japanese foreign policy and likely future developments."--pub. desc