Why Japan and its politics matter -- Japan's emergence as a modern state and the politics of war, 1853-1945 -- Politics influenced by social norms and behaviour: continuity and change -- Political reconstruction and development, 1945-1989 -- One step forward and one step back: attempting political reform in the 1990s -- New politics for the new millennium: the Koizumi effect -- Who runs Japan? -- Parliament and parliamentary elections: the changing character of electioneering -- The politics of party: the liberal democrats and their rivals -- Some problems of the constitution -- Domestic political issues -- Issues of foreign policy and defence -- The analytical challenge of Japanese politics