Japan's Changing Political Economy

There has been a good deal of debate over Japan’s changing activities in Asia. This has led to considerable speculation about everything from a yen bloc and an Asian free trade regime to a recreation of a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, usually, but not always, seen as emerging through commercial means. To examine the possiblilities for any such developments it is necessary to explore three central tensions in Japan’s political economy. The interaction among these three will determine the broad tension of Japan’s political economy.