Japanese Culture And Its Pursuit Of "Normal State" Strategy In The Post-WWâ…¡ Era

After the Cold War, we have witnessed growing economic globalization, also trends toward multi-polarization in international politics, and decreasing influence of ideological factors both in national and domestic political area. Then, as a relatively independent element, culture becomes a hot topic, with more and more perceived impact on both internal and external affairs of a nation. As the time requires, cultural studies emerge as a new form in international politics.This is the big context of the upcoming analyses. This article will look at Japan's post-WWII pursuit of"normal state"strategy from cultural perspectives and try to identify historic and cultural drivers underneath by using cultural anthropology, social psychology and comparative politics theories.The article concludes with a preliminary thought that Japan's pursuit of a"normal state"strategy represents a new stage in the country's"internationalization"journey, and implies new exchange & collision between native and imported culture. The challenges thereby are significant in the sense that the Japanese are aspiring to reshape its culture by shifting from a pure"cultural importer", as has been over the past 2,000 years, into an"exporter". The author believes, with its inherent cultural elements , Japan has been reflecting, in the post-WWII era, especially after the Cold War, the characteristics and trends of"normal state"strategy, and continued desiring for a"cultural brewing"under renewed historic mission.