Japan and Human Security Policy Praxis

Post-war Japan focused on promoting its national interests with limited engagement in international settings. Japan became a leading economy through its hard work and positive commitment by the 1980s. Thereafter, it gradually became involved in the international arena by supporting various developmental projects in developing countries. The advancement of the United Nations Development Program's (UNDP, 1994) human security paradigm provided a suitable framework for Japan's foreign policy engagement. However, in the first decade of the 21st century, Japan and other leading actors in the Indo-Pacific region recognized the importance of partnerships in limiting China's biased expansion strategies. Accordingly, the Quad and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework evolved. Compared to other actors in these partnerships, Japan's prioritization of the human security paradigm makes it a significant player in the sustainable future of the Indo-Pacific region. From this perspective, this chapter critically examines Japan's people-centered and inclusive human security policy praxis.