Leaning Seaward Japan as a Maritime Great Power

This book is the first to examine Japan as a comprehensive maritime power in the twenty-first century and to consider what that status means in an age of great power competition. Geoffrey F. Gresh argues that Japan has grown its maritime capabilities and influence across an array of economic, industrial, and security sectors throughout the Indo-Pacific and is vital to both regional and international stability.

Given Japan’s position as a harbinger state confronting many macro trends—such as China’s rise, an aging population, and climate change—Gresh draws critical lessons for other industrialized nations. Grasping how Japan envisions, invests in, and wields its diverse tools of maritime power and statecraft is essential to understanding its pursuit of a strategic vision for the Indo-Pacific and beyond.