Abstract

Since the end of World War 2, Japan has been divided on the interpretation of Article 9 that prohibits the maintenance of military forces. The majority of the Japanese people regard the maintenance of some necessary forces as constitutional, while 30-40% of Japanese people could be described as “utopian pacifists” as they employ a strict interpretation of Article 9 and regard the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and the US-Japan security treaty as unconstitutional. Until recently, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party did not make any serious effort to revise the constitution, although it made some compromises such as “no dispatch of SDF overseas”, “no export of weapons”, “no research of military related studies in national universities” to persuade the utopian pacifists. Recently, however, Japan has been trying to remove the restrictions on its security policy and become a “normal country.” This seminar will discuss the process together with Japan’s recent foreign policy developments.

About the Speaker

Kitaoka Shinichi is Emeritus Professor of the University of Tokyo and Rikkyo University, and Special Advisor to the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). His specialty is modern Japanese politics and diplomacy. He obtained his B.A. (1971) and his Ph.D. (1976) both from the University of Tokyo.

Dr Kitaoka’s career includes President of JICA (Oct 2015-Mar 2022), President of the International University of Japan (2012-2015), Professor of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) (2012-), Professor of Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, the University of Tokyo (1997-2004, 2006-2012), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations (2004-2006), and Professor of College of Law and Politics, Rikkyo University (1985-1997).

He served on a variety of government panels, including as deputy chair of the Advisory Panel on the History of the 20th Century and on Japan’s Role and the World Order in the 21st Century in 2015. He received many honors and awards including the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2011 for his academic achievements in 2011.

He has numerous books and articles both in Japanese and English. His major books are as follows:

[English Books]

• Self-Respect and Independence of Mind: The Challenge of Fukuzawa Yukichi (Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture (JPIC), 2017)
• The Political History of Modern Japan: Foreign Relations and Domestic Politics (Routledge, 2018)
• From Party Politics to Militarism in Japan, 1924–1941 (Lynne Rienner Publishers in association with JPIC, 2021)
• GOTŌ SHINPEI, Statesman of Vision: Research, Public Health, and Development (JPIC, 2021)

 [Japanese Books]

• Kiyosawa Kiyoshi [Biography of Kiyoshi Kiyosawa] (Tokyo: Chuokoron-sha, 1987; Expanded Edition, Tokyo: Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2004).
• Nichibei kankei no realism [Realism in Japan-U.S. Relations] (Tokyo: Chuokoron-sha, 1991).
• Jiminto [The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan: The 38 Years in Power] (Tokyo: The Yomiuri Shimbun, 1995; Tokyo: Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2008).
• Sekai Chizu wo Yomi Naosu [Reviewing the World Map] (Tokyo: Shincho-sha, 2019)
• Meiji Ishin no Imi [The Significance of Meiji Revolution] (Tokyo: Shincho-sha, 2020)