Governing Japan

J. A. A. Stockwin received a degree at Oxford in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1959 and a doctorate in International Relations from the Australian National University in Canberra in 1965. He taught in the Department of Political Science at the Australian National University until 1981; and was Nissan Professor of Modern Japanese Studies at the University of Oxford from 1982 to 2003. Stockwin remains active in researching and writing on the politics of Japan.

• General Editor’s Introduction ixList of Tables xMaps xiiConventions xivAcknowledgements xv1 Introduction: Why Japan and its Politics Matter 12 Historical Background: Japan’s Emergence as a Modern State and the Politics of War, 1853–1945 123 Social Background: How far Social Norms and Behaviour Influence Politics 284 Political Reconstruction and Development, 1945–1989 485 One Step Forward and One Step Back: Attempting Political Reform in the 1990s 766 New Politics for the New Millennium: The Koizumi Effect 1017 Who Runs Japan? 1358 Parliament and Parliamentary Elections: The Changing Character of Electioneering 1569 The Politics of Party: The Liberal Democrats and their Rivals 17910 Some Problems of the Constitution 20211 Issues of Domestic Political Concern 22412 Issues of Foreign Policy and Defence 24613 Conclusions: The Analytical Challenge of Japanese Politics 265Appendix 1: House of Representatives election results, 1946–1955 273Appendix 2: House of Representatives election results, 1958–1972 275Appendix 3: House of Representatives election results, 1976–1990 276Appendix 4: House of Representatives election results, 1993–2005 278Appendix 5: House of Councillors election results, 11 July 2004 280Appendix 6: House of Councillors election results, 29 July 2007 281Further Reading 282Index 289

"The first three editions (1975, 1982 and 1999) have been essential reading for the last two generations of Japan scholars. The latest, published in 2008, is no exception. This is a masterful display of concise and informative writing and a joy to read." (Japanese Studies, December 2009) "This clearly written and well-organized volume will continue to be of great service to students of Japanese politics." (Pacific Affairs, Autumn 2009)"Devoid of jargon, this book is written clearly and crisply, and peppered with wit and wisdom. ... Refreshing and pleasing to hear the voice of an eminent British scholar on Japanese politics in a field dominated by American and Japanese academics." (Japanese Journal of Political Science, 2009)"Arthur Stockwin ... is the leading British expert on Japanese politics. His analysis is succinct and he has managed to unravel most of the complexities of Japanese politics. There is much food for thought in this stimulating and informative book." (Japan Times)