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GAIKO FORUM 2000 Summer

What Makes Gaiko Forum Unique

Misako Ito
Editor-in-Chief

When Gaiko Forum was first published twelve years ago, Japan was about to enter a phase of dramatic transformation in international relations. Three months after the journal was launched in October 1988, Emperor Showa passed away. The beginning of the new Heisei Era was marked with events that would shape today's post-Cold War world: the Tiananmen Incident, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War and finally, the disintegration of the Soviet Union. All of these events posed serious questions concerning how Japan's foreign policy should be shaped to respond to the new international order that was emerging.

Japan's role and responsibilities in the international community became issues of profound importance, as awareness of the effects of the volatile international environment on Japan heightened. Japan came to recognize its greater international commitment and proceeded to take a more assertive approach in its foreign policy. At the same time, the collapse of the Cold War system had led to a redefinition of the relationship between domestic politics and foreign policy. All of a sudden, foreign policy, which had previously been dictated by the bipolar system of the Cold War era, became more accountable to the electorate. It was then that it became clear that while Japan was an advanced democratic country, a mature relationship between public opinion and foreign policy had not yet been developed. This realization created an overwhelming sense of responsibility for journalists at the time, as they provided an indispensable voice for the people. All of these changes had made it necessary for Japan to reexamine and redefine its position within the international community, and it was Gaiko Forum that provided the stage for such issues to be discussed.

Through working for this journal, I have been able to witness the emergence of a new, dynamic Japanese foreign policy. Gaiko Forum's "Gaiko" is the Japanese word for "diplomacy," and the title of this journal is meant to signify a place where people convene to discuss issues related to foreign policy. We envisioned this journal as a forum where Japanese opinion leaders and policy makers could address issues pertaining to the international arena and provide analyses, in order to offer insight into the direction of Japan's foreign policy. However, we also set out to create a journal that would draw a wider audience than if it were strictly limited to policy research papers. We pursued these goals while maintaining the Japanese magazine-editing style, creating a foreign policy journal unlike any other.

In July, the G8 Summit will take place in Japan. It will be the last meeting of the G8 nations this century, and to publish Gaiko Forum's first English edition for this occasion is a significant event in providing us the opportunity to reach the international community. Our mission will now be tested in the international arena, and the sense of responsibility we feel is reminiscent of that when Gaiko Forum was first launched in 1988. As we enter a new century, the actors involved in diplomatic affairs are becoming more diverse and Japan's foreign policy must adapt to this global trend. We aim, therefore, to continue our mission of providing a forum to present as many diverse opinions as possible.

Although Gaiko Forum has already made a name for itself within the Japanese intellectual community, its publication in English provides the opportunity for this Japanese magazine to be introduced to the international community. Each month, Gaiko Forum includes a special feature that focuses on a specific topic or region. We commission discussion papers and articles, and panel discussions and interviews with prominent opinion leaders and officials,thus providing a comprehensive review, as well as in-depth analyses of each topic. Gaiko Forum also features a section that includes serial essays, columns on contemporary issues abroad and book reviews, which is popular with readers. These sections have been subsequently published as a number of books.

This English edition is comprised of the translation of nine articles, interviews and a roundtable discussion published over the past six months, selected because they received positive responses from our readers. I hope you will be able to get a better sense and understanding of what Japanese opinion leaders are thinking and saying about Japanese foreign policy.

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CONTENTS

Why National Defense Became Security(Full Text)
Seizaburo Sato
This article appeared in Gaiko Forum's special issue, "Security in the 21st Century",which was published in 1999. A comprehensive review of the basic issues on Japanese security, it was also Sato's last paperŃand should be a classic text for the next generation.

Looking Back at the 20th Century:
The Cycles of Modern Japan's Rise and Fall(Full Text)
Makoto Iokibe / Yutaka Kawashima / Jiro Ushio
Some provocative anlyses of international relations, the discussion takes the readers through various defining moments in JapanŐs diplomatic history.

Non-Isolationist America and Normal Country Japan
Mike Mochizuki / Masahiro Akiyama
The two experts on U.S.-Japan security cover a wide range of topics from North Korea, Kosovo, East Timor and the new securi ty Guidelines.

The Present and Future of Japan-China Relations
Akio Takahara
While taking note of the past and present conditions of Japan-China relations, the article looks ahead to the building of a better relationship.

I Want to Be Sure to Tell the Truth(Full Text)-Okamoto Talks to Armitage-h
Richard Lee Armitage / Yukio Okamoto
Between trusted friends, Okamoto is able to draw some sharp and forthcoming remarks from Armitage about the real significance of Japan to the United States.

The Mtier of Diplomacy in the Middle East Peace Process
Masayuki Yamauchi
Looking at Japan's involvement in the Palestine Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee, the author argues for an imaginative approach to diplo-macy by Japan in the peace process.

From the he Anglo-Japanese Alliance to the U.S.-Japan Alliance
Hiroaki Fujii / Takashi Mikuriya
Questioning the reasons why Japan went wrong after severing ties with Britain, the two explore the issues of principles and adaptabili-ty in Japan's past and present diplomacy.

Thoughts on Cultural Diplomacy in the 21st Century:
Has Japan Changed Enough?
Kazuo Ogura
The author asks poignant questions regarding the strategic value of Japan's cultural exchange policy, and about the consequences of Japan's rapid modernization on traditional Japanese culture and the way it is presented to the world .

Akio Morita's American Dream(Full Text)
Naoyuki Agawa
This is part of a series of essays portraying Japanese personalities who have had deep ties with America. Having worked for Sony, the author sees Akio Morita's essence to be a man of "Japanese spirit and Western learning".