Japan's Path to Global Influence through Soft Power
No. 9 (2025-06-27)Author(s)
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Isabella Montoya AbadíaUniversidad de los Andes, Colombia
Abstract
Japan’s historical narrative is complex, marked by empires, monarchies, wars, cultural upheavals, political controversies, invasions, and historical debts. The Meiji period, which began in 1868, saw Japan adopt an imperialist approach to international affairs—a trajectory that led to major events such as the annexation of Manchuria, the occupation of the Korean Peninsula, and ultimately, its defeat in World War II (Adelman, Pollard, Rosenberg & Tignor, 2024).
After the war, Japan faced the daunting task of rebuilding the nation from the ground up, prompting a profound question for its government: How does a country rebuild after experiencing such devastating circumstances?
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