After more than half a century of withdrawal from international politics Japan is back. What are the implications for the rest of the world? Japan is on the verge of a sea change. After more than fifty years of national pacifism and isolation including the lost decade of the 1990s, Japan is quietly, stealthily awakening. As she prepares to become a major player in the strategic struggles of the 21st century, critical questions arise about her motivations. What are the driving forces that influence how Japan will act in the international system? Are there recurrent patterns that will help explain how Japan will respond to the emerging environment in world politics? As Japan shows signs of vitality and international engagement, understanding the forces that drive her is more important than ever. In Japan Rising, renowned expert Kenneth Pyle identifies the common threads that bind the divergent strategies of modern Japan, providing essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand how she arrived at this moment - and what to expect in the future.