This thesis reviews Yasukuni’s symbolic power and transformation from its foundation in 1869 to contemporary times in order to analyze the potent and variant meanings of the Yasukuni symbol. The paramount importance of the site is to ritualize the war dead, whether for national, personal, or religious purposes. While examining the shrine’s many functions, this paper does not try to defend or obscure the serious causal effects of the shrine’s symbolic power but to situate the intentions and controversies in a historical context to see how Yasukuni became what it is, and how it remains important to the Japanese. Beyond looking at Yasukuni through its many controversies (mondai), this thesis explains how the shrine has been important and continues to be a highly active ritual site with deep cultural and religious meaning. In order to understand current Japanese opinions of the significance of Yasukuni shrine, fieldwork was undertaken from June 2011 to October 2012. Research was conducted primarily in the Kanagawa prefecture of Japan. The Kanagawa prefecture, close to the Tokyo area, facilitated repeat visits to the shrine. / text

This thesis concentrates on the partial reconstruction of the axiological basis at the core of the ideological – nationalistic disputes between China and Japan. The recent history of Sino-Japanese international relations is analyzed in order to show how nationalistic incentives became the rational political choice in the domestic policy of both countries. The research, concerned primarily with history, memory, and historical memory, is based on the argumentation used by the People’s Daily, an extension of the People’s Republic of China’s political line, in regard to Yasukuni shrine and Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s visit to the shrine in 2013. The final purpose of this thesis is to analyze the dialectical argumentation, and by comparing both country’s sentiments, to explain the role of nationalism in their current bilateral relations.

This thesis examines the influence of domestic nationalist movements on bilateral relations between China and Japan. I will use Two-level game theory as the primary analytical framework. Two-level theory provides a useful lens for examining policy formation at discrete stages, domestic, international, and domestic again in order to ratify international agreements. I will examine three primary cases through this framework to study the effects of domestic nationalism on bilateral diplomacy between Japan and China. The East China Sea Dispute is the only actual territorial dispute between Japan and China. The Yasukuni Shrine controversy and the textbook controversy are both discrete elements of a larger dispute over war memory and guilt, as well as construction of historical narratives for political purpose. I will seek to show that domestic nationalism has a strong limiting effect on the ways in which China and Japan are able to interact with each other on the global stage, as leaders must retain their legitimacy against a backdrop of unresolved historical issues and domestic contention. / text

Thesis (Th. M.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 1998. / Vita. Bound with 2 copies of leaf 10; numbering and text undisturbed. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-171).

Diploma thesis is trying to describe and analyse factors shaping current relations between China and Japan. My intention is to identify main factor, which shape and influence bilateral Sino-japan relations in long term view. I suggest that main factor is historical factor. Thesis explains the change in bilateral relations after Cold war. Also explains national myth-making, nationalism and current problems such as Yasukuni Shrine and text-book controversy. Last part is focused on territorial conflict between China and Japan, namely Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.

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小泉時期全力支援美國小布希總統的全球反恐戰爭，透過強化美日同盟，成功提升日本在美日同盟的功能與角色，朝向正常國家之路邁進。小泉每年參拜靖國神社興起了日本的民族主義，但也造成了中日關係的惡化，進而加深了日本在加入聯合國安理會常任理事國上的難度，也成為中國大規模反日運動的導火線。在中日關係上，從二戰後就一直存在著歷史上的仇恨問題，以及地緣政治因素，中日兩國在領土紛爭及資源分配等政治經濟的議題上，始終有著既合作又競爭的複雜關係。小泉時期因為911反恐浪潮強化了追隨美國路線，使得美日間友好關係展現了前所未有的高潮，同時也使中日關係產生了前所未有的「政冷經熱」的詭異現象。 本文認為，小泉的追隨美國路線的外交政策或是在推動正常國家政策上，必然會對造成中日關係上的影響，但是在推動正常國家政策上中國的支持又不可或缺，進而日本需要調整對中政策才能達成目標。小泉時期的追隨美國路線，係以什麼基準考量推動對中政策？其對中政策又如何去影響中日關係？中日關係的變化是否又會對日本的對中政策有所改變？值得我們深加研究。 / During the Koizumi administration, Japan's normalized country policies strongly supported George W. Bush's Global War on Terror to increase its role in the U.S.-Japan alliance. In addition, Koizumi also made the formal visit to the Yasukuni Shrine every year and raised Japanese nationalism. Together, these acts have contributed to the deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations, deepened the difficulty of Japan's accession to the United Nations Security Council permanent members, and become the main cause of China's large-scale anti-Japanese movement. Since World War II, Sino-Japanese relations have been characterized by historical hatred and geopolitical factors. In territorial disputes, resource allocation, and other political and economic issues, China and Japan always have a complex relationship with both cooperation and competition. During the Koizumi period, Japan's pro-American policy was strengthened due to the wave of anti-terrorism following 911, which lead to an unprecedented climax in U.S.-Japan friendship. Meanwhile, Sino-Japanese relations experienced an unprecedented and strong phenomenon of "Cold Politics-Hot Economics." Koizumi's pro-American foreign policy or Normalization policy has significantly influenced Sino-Japanese relations. To promote normalization, however, China's support is also indispensable to Japan. Thus, Japan needs to adjust its policy to achieve its goals. This research explores the basis through which the Koizumi administration evaluate its China policy under a pro-American foreign policy guideline. How Japan's China policy influences Sino-Japanese relations and whether the change in Sino-Japanese relations will then change Japan's China policy are also worth our further discussions.

This thesis examines how Shinzo Abe’s historical perspectives on “comfort women” and the Nanjing Massacre are influenced by global demands. Abe’s official account on these issues have been affected by pressures to reconcile with South Korea and to face China’s rise for strategic reasons. This originates from sources including think tanks such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies and media. Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power will provide the theoretical background to analyze Abe’s views on both issues. The existence and method through which these pressures are applied will be detailed and explored. This research will hope to contribute to the understanding of historical memory in the Asia-Pacific and how it remains an issue that undergoes changes in the current political climate. / Graduate

This thesis examines the deep bilateral tensions surrounding the East China Sea (ECS) disagreements between Japan and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the period from August 19th 2003 to June 18th 2008 from an actor-centred constructivist liberal viewpoint. The East China Sea disputes could be described as a conflicting difference of opinion over a) the demarcation of maritime territory and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in which potentially significant energy deposits exist and b) the ownership of the strategically important and historically sensitive Pinnacle (Senkaku/Diaoyu) Islands. This research addresses the question of why, given the fact that China and Japan have a strong interest in co-operation and stable relations with each other, small incidents in the ECS blow up into larger problems, cause approaches to the East China Sea to wax and wane, and move the relationship in a direction that goes against preferred national objectives? In attempting to unravel this puzzle, this work argues that domestic politics and popular negative sentiment have been the major issues that have greatly amplified and politicised the ECS problems and have significantly affected positive progress in negotiations aimed at managing and stabilising these disputes. By examining these, the thesis addresses the question of why China and Japan have been so constrained in their attempts to find a workable bilateral agreement over disputed energy resources and demarcation in the East China Sea. It also indirectly deals with the question of why the conflicting legal complexities surrounding these disagreements contributed to both states so fervently maintaining and defending their claims.