Winner of the 2000 Yomiuri Yoshino Sakuzo Prize for academic writing on politics, economics, and history, this book locates the modern history of Southeast Asia within the framework of a “maritime Asia＂ which emerged from trade and commerce, state formation, imperial/global hegemonic ambitions, and popular resistance. It examines the rise of British-led collective imperialism in the nineteenth century and Pax Americana in the mid-twentieth century, and looks closely at the ways in which Japan navigated the evolving regional system. In its pages, the maritime Asia experience is examined comparatively across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. A new author's note brings this English-language edition up to date on regional developments since the original publication.

The passing of Emperor Sh-owa marked the end of an era―an era memorable in both war and peace. As is the custom, the new emperor’s reign was given a new name, in this case “Heisei,” but this did not mean a reset on the international stage. The persistent diplomatic issues remained, and, furthermore, new issues arose. Promoting global peace and stability, preventing natural disasters, relations with China, regional cooperation, Japan’s role in the international order are just some of the many outstanding issues. How did Japan approach them and deal with them? What was accomplished and what still needs to be done? Given the issues’ paramount importance for both Japan and the world at large, this anthology brings together influential essays published by five of Japan’s leading scholars during the period.