In Japan's National Identity and Foreign Policy, Alexander Bukh focuses on the construction of the Japanese self using Russia as the other, examining the history of bilateral relations and comparisons between the Russian and Japanese national character.

Alexander Bukh is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Science at Tsukuba University, Japan. He holds an LL.M from Tokyo University and a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

1. Exploring Japan's Identity 2. Constructions of Japan's "Self" 3. Japan's "Soviet Union", Japan's "Russia" 4. Ainu, Russia and Japan's Quest for "Northern Territories" 5. Shiba's Original Forms of Japan and Russia 6. "Newly Born Russia" and Japan 7. The Idea of the Northern Territories. Conclusion