This is not to say that Japan is absent from the world political scene even now. Far from it. Japanese have served as electoral observers in many countries. Japanese police provided crucial help to the UN's refugee agency in the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda. Japanese personnel have served with peacekeeping operations in Angola, Cambodia, Mozambique, Tajikistan and on the Golan Heights.
Japan is involved in the Middle East peace process.
And Japan has served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Still, there is room for Japan to do more, on its own and through the United Nations. I know there are constitutional provisions and historical inhibitions that affect Japan's decision-making on certain types of international involvement. Nonetheless I would like to think that Japan could participate more fully in peacekeeping. Japan's active role in East Timor is a significant step in this direction.