Bringing together the work of sixteen international Japan specialists and scholars, this book analyses Japan's culture and history. Comparing the current situation with the uncertainties of the late 19th century, it investigates the possibility and desirability of a 'New Meiji Transformation' in Japan.

Ken Coates is Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Kimie Hara is a Professor and the Renison Research Professor in East Asian Studies, University of Waterloo.

Carin Holroyd is Associate Professor, Department of Political Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Marie Söderberg is a Professor and Director of the European Institute of Japanese Studies at the Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden.

1. Introduction: Japan's future and a New Meiji transformation: International reflections Part 1. Japan in a Changing World: Security, Economics and Politics 2. New Meiji's economics and finance: Is Abenomics successful and sustainable? Most probably not 3. From Datsu A to development assistance as a way of reaching out to Asia 4. Japan's "New Meiji" transformation through G7 and G20 governance 5. Japan's emerging soft power in East Asia? Taiwan as a crucial case 6. Japan and security in East Asia: Finding connections with the West 7. Nuclear Crisis on the Korean Peninsula: Strategic adaptation, the Abe administration and extended deterrence in the face of uncertainty Part 2. Is There a Meiji Model for 21st Century Japan? 8. Japan's grand strategy: In defense of the liberal western pacific order 9. Learning from Okinawa's geopolitical history: How easing the burden of the bases makes good geopolitical sense 10. Meiji inspired diplomacy and politics for Japan's future 11. Effective leadership in Japan: The case of Shibusawa Eiichi 12. Uses of Meiji: Redefining history to repeat a success story Part 3. Japan's Strengths and Challenges: A Foundation for Re-innovation? 13. Japan and care in the community: Sharing evidence from policy experiments 14. Reviving Japan through internationalization of higher education: Is there a "New Meiji"? 15. Does rural Japan have a future? 16. Natural disasters and Japan 17. Planning for Japan's 21st century economy and society