Japanese Policymaking: The Politics Behind Politics Informal Mechanisms and the Making of China Policy

Zhao's authoritative and insightful analysis of key factors that greatly impact Japan's policymaking will be of significant appeal in view of the intense contemporary interest in Japan's relationships with other countries. Four cases involving Japan's relations with China demonstrate the author's conclusions that a complexity of societal, cultural, and institutional elements interact to fashion policy.

The principles and mechanisms examined apply over the spectrum of Japan's policymaking within a framework of informal pluralism. Zhao describes kuromaku, tsukiai, and nemawashi, which represent actors and organizations, social connections, and behind the scenes preparations.