Japan be Number One Internationalism and History of Japanese Diplomacy, 1853-2006

Abstract

This thesis engages with two bodies of scholarship: Japanese diplomacy and internationalism. Japan’s interaction with the international community and how it started and developed in the course of history is analysed. It is argued that Japanese leaders had strived to grant Japan a just place in the world. Their path, however, was not a straightforward one. The problems caused by identity issues, a West-centric world order, and the concept of ‘honour’ muddled the Japanese attempt. The words and practices of key figures were examined to illustrate the comprehensive development of Japanese diplomacy and internationalism between 1853 and 2006.