The Asia Chessboard Abe's Legacy and Japan's Next Moves
Mar 18, 2025
Nobukatsu Kanehara, a professor at Doshisha University and former aide to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, dives into Japan's evolving foreign policy and its implications for the region. He discusses the historical shifts driven by leaders like Abe and the U.S.-Japan alliance. Kanehara critiques unconventional foreign policy ideas, such as an 'Asian NATO,' while analyzing Japan's strategic role amid the Ukraine crisis and potential tensions with Taiwan. His insights highlight Japan's growing significance in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Joining the Foreign Ministry
- Nobukatsu Kanehara joined the Japanese Foreign Ministry in 1981, inspired by Prime Minister Nakasone's realism.
- Nakasone positioned Japan as a Western ally, contrasting the prevailing pacifist sentiment.
Nakasone's Realism
- Prime Minister Nakasone's pro-Western stance was initially outside the mainstream in Japan.
- Realism in Japanese foreign policy faced resistance from dominant pacifist and pro-Soviet factions.
Post-War Leadership
- Post-war Japanese prime ministers, often chosen from economic ministries, lacked the strategic depth of figures like Kishi and Yoshida.
- This led to concessions against Japan's national interest due to domestic political pressures.