There has been a profound shift in importance and influence toward the Pacific. The past decades have witnessed unprecedented growth in this area. Today, Japan is the pre-eminent nation in this region and, more importantly, a harbinger of future developments. Through Japan, the larger topic of the Pacific Rim can be explored, and students can be introduced to some of the realities of this part of the world. Perhaps the most dramatic evidence of interdependence can be found in the economic realm.
Japan has very few of the natural resources needed for manufacturing.
Currently, the U.S. supplies many of these raw materials to Japan. That is, however, only part of the picture. The U.S. also supplies legal and insurance services. Japan provides the U.S. not only with manufactured goods, but also with investments. Perhaps the most obvious examples of interdependence are in the auto industry.