№ 6 - 2013
Round Table of the ‘Polis’ Journal, Inoguchi T., Harada Yu., Hakamada Sh., Kawato A., Shimotomai N.
Russia and Japan. Part I. View from Japan

Participants of the Round Table expressed their views of how Japan assesses relevant problems of international relations in the Asian-Pacific region, as well as some issues of Russian and Japanese domestic policy. Takashi Inoguchi (professor, University of Niigata Prefecture) in the article “Voters Swing, and Swing Away Soon: Japan 2012” analyzes the key tasks of E.Noda’s government (namely, recovery, government deficits, social policy, and alliance) and the way it dealt with them. Particular attention is paid to changes in Japanese politics evoked by globalization. The author summarizes that swings and swing-aways in voter support are likely to continue for a while in Japanese domestic politics. Yutaka Harada (professor, Waseda University) in the article “An Economist’s View of Japanese Politics” expresses his opinion regarding economic development of Japan in correlation with policy issues. The author analyzes Abenomics, economic policy of S.Abe’s government, which consists of monetary easing, expansion of public investment, and strengthening of a growth strategy, and criticizes some of its measures. Shigeki Hakamada (professor, University of Niigata Prefecture) dwells on relevant challenges confronting Japanese foreign policy and outlines priorities for its development in the article “How Will the Change of Government Affect Japanese Foreign Policy?”. He points out that most Southeast Asian countries want Japan to become a slightly stronger, more decisive, yet not militaristic in the very near future and considers it safe for Japan to strengthen its security policy. Akio Kawato (professor, Waseda University) in the article “How Japan Weighs Russia’s Strength and Weakness in Asia” analyzes the nature, habits, strength and weakness of contemporary Russian foreign policy and its bearing on the Russo-Japanese relations. He underlines that although Japan and Russia will not “pivot” on each other, they will have more reasons for closer cooperation. Finally, Nobuo Shimotomai (professor, Hosei University) analyzes development of Russian political system through the perspective of political leadership and weights various expert opinions regarding interpretation of Putinism in the article “From Tandem to Putin II – A Japanese View”. In his opinion, the “Primakov phenomenon” is one of the key challenges for Kremlin that wanted to enhance the weight of the President.