U.S.-Japanese relations began as economic, geopolitical, and trade tensions, but eventually evolved to include cultural and military aspects. U.S.-Japanese relations has continuously been tense ever since the landing of Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s ships on Tokyo Bay on July 8th, 1853. In order to understand the tense relationship between the U.S. and Japan, there needs to be a historical background. Using Walter LaFeber’s “The Clash” as a basis to this historical background until America’s entrance into World War II. Before jumping into the 1990s, a discussion about Japan’s economy after 1945 and Shintaro Ishihara’s argument that Japan will be first among equals. Shintaro Ishihara argues that Japan’s technological advancement should be used to control over …show more content…
Also, Ezra F. Vogel writes about the Japanese-American relations after the cold war. Vogel argues that Japanese-American relationship’s readiness to unite, America’s over-weaning confidence, and Japan’s dependence disappeared at the end of the cold war; complicating the nature of the relationship in a new era. Furthermore, Kerry Brown, Banning Garrett, and Bonnie Glaser all address Sino-Japanese relations’ potential dangers, Chinese apprehensions about U.S.-Japanese alliance, and the overall history of Sino-Japanese relations from 1945-1990. Continuing the discussion from the importance of Sino-American-Japanese relations is the shift from Japanese bilateralism. This shift is addressed by Aurelia George Mulgan, who focuses on the rise of China, U.S.- Japanese methods to balance China, and Prime Minister Abe’s ambition for more influence. Also, HDP Envall’s “Japan: From Passive Partner to Active Ally” focuses on Japan’s changing strategic conditions and security perceptions. Japan’s approach isn’t solely focuses on America, but in response to the rise of