Author: Mamajonov, Rustam

Annotation: This article analyzes the process of the formation of Japanese foreign policy, its stages, and historical significance during the Meiji modernization carried out in the second half of the nineteenth century. The main purpose of the study is to identify the influence of the political, economic, and military reforms implemented after the Meiji Restoration on Japan’s foreign policy strategy. The article demonstrates that the modernization process involved not only domestic reforms but also contributed to the emergence of new foreign policy concepts. In the initial stage, the Meiji government aimed to restore Japan’s sovereignty and achieve equal diplomatic status with Western powers. From this perspective, the Iwakura Mission is regarded as an important factor in understanding the international system and establishing modern diplomacy. By the end of the nineteenth century, Japan’s foreign policy began shifting from a defensive orientation to an active expansionist policy, while the First Sino-Japanese War played a crucial role in the country’s emergence as a regional power. Japan’s growing influence in relations with Korea and Russia is also evaluated as a significant achievement of its foreign policy. Furthermore, the article highlights the importance of Yamagata Aritomo’s concepts of the “line of sovereignty” and the “line of advantage,” which strengthened the theoretical foundations of Japanese foreign policy.

Keywords: Meiji modernization, Iwakura Mission, unequal treaties, Okubo Toshimichi, Saigo Takamori, Ito Hirobumi, Yamagata Aritomo, line of sovereignty, line of interests.

Pages in journal: 352 - 364