Projecting British Ideas on Post-War Japan

Drawing from a wide array of English and Japanese primary sources, Saito examines the pivotal role of Britain's overseas information policy in shaping post-war Anglo-Japanese relations.

While the historiography of post-war Japan's international relations has predominantly centred on US-Japan relations, Britain's initiatives towards Japan have been largely overlooked. This book fills that lacuna by examining Britain's efforts to influence Japan through a dynamic interplay of the allied occupation, the Cold War, decolonisation and post-war rapprochement between the two countries. It challenges the conventional view of Britain as a declining empire, showcasing its social and cultural influence, and examines its distinct perceptions of an emerging post-war Japan. Based on solid archival research, it provides readers with a nuanced and unique understanding of post-war Anglo-Japanese relations in the context of the cultural and propaganda dimensions of the Cold War, a field that remains underexplored.

Offering an in-depth examination of Britain's information policy towards Japan, this is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers and students interested in international history and cultural diplomacy, including those studying Anglo--Japanese relations and East Asian studies.