The agent, the structure, and space in Japan's foreign relations: rethinking international political dynamics as <i>Aidagara</i>
Journal: International Journal of Asian Studies
Year: 2023

Abstract This article leverages Watsuji Tetsurō's idea of aidagara – “inter-relationships” – to better appreciate the interpenetration of space and relationships in Japanese foreign policy narratives. I set Watsuji's philosophical framework against Japanese foreign policy narratives referring to various spaces as a case study to emphasizing the interplay of space and relationships in Japanese diplomatic efforts. On the one hand, we see the Japanese government invoking East Asia, the Asia-Pacific