The course introduces students to a range of key challenges Japan is currently facing as the nation tries to redefine its role in the fast-changing world. Politically, the world is transitioning from the post-Cold War euphoria about ideological victory of capitalism over communism (the so-called “end of history”) toward an uncertain future characterized by a defuse distribution of power, both hard power and soft power. Economically, globalization is being driven by technological revolutions, national and cross-border market expansion, and the massive and instantaneous international capital flows and is changing the distribution of wealth and development opportunities around the world. The changing political and economic power structures are contributing to a major shift in the distribution of military power, leaving no country in a position to assert a superpower status and raising questions about the sustainability of military alliances that were formed during the post-WWII and Cold War decades. Finally, the cross-national transmission of social values and cultural practices, e.g., in fashion, food, entertainment, arts, literature, and sports, is creating a new world of social innovations and cultural fusions that defy national borders. In the face of these sweeping changes, the Japanese are raising questions about their future: How much longer can Japan remain the third largest economy in the world? Can the Japanese people retain their identity as a peace-loving people under their pacifist constitution? Can they continue to believe that their country is characterized by ethno-cultural homogeneity? Can they continue to claim manga, anime, umami, and myriad other products of Japanese origin as “Japanese” cultural products when they become popularized and localized in other countries? How the Japanese answer these questions will help redefine Japan’s role in the world and how the country will relate to other key world powers. The class will study how the Japanese intellectuals are addressing these questions and what answers they are coming up with through individual reading and class discussion of a selection of Japanese writings about their nation’s relations with other relevant world powers, including the United States, China, Korea, Russia, Southeast Asian countries, and the European Union.