The state is pursuing more activities in the political arena. .
"Japan is reinventing superpower - again. Instead of collapsing beneath its widely reported political and economic misfortunes, Japan's global cultural influence has quietly grown. But can Japan build on its mastery of medicine to project an equally powerful national message?" (McGray).
In the past Japan's foreign policy concentrated more on economic issues. Japan's Ministry had decided that economic issues were essential to the survival of the state. These issues were given extensive treatment because they were used to achieve the states prosperity goal. A strong economy also gave the state security to a large extent. Little emphasis was given to the states military alliances and global issues.
Postwar Japan can be compared to Germany in many ways. The states external environment led to many internal political developments. Internal pressures that were exuded on the state determined the government and a large extent of the foreign policy followed.
"However, Japan was not integrated in multilateral military alliances and economic blocs. Therefore; its foreign initiatives have been less and its attention has been absorbed by its superpower ally, the United States, which has also become its chief economic rival." (Langdon, xii).
In the 1960's under Nabuski Kitchie, the LDP leader, came the rise of what is known today as Japan Inc. Kitchie decided that if Japan were to survive, the states" economy had to grow. Japan was run like a big business and Kitchie has been compared to a general in his directives. The people began to show distaste for the centralized control of the state. .
The states" economy flourished. The political structure however, was severely damaged because of this. The infrastructure was plagued with discontent for the LDP and conflicts arose internally. The people of Japan began to rise up against the government. The people felt that they were being asked to sacrifice democracy for the economic gain of the state.