Sato and America During the Cold War ― U.s.-japanese Relations, 1964-72

Using recently released archival material from the US and Japan, this book critically re-examines U.S.-Japanese relations during the tenure of Sato Eisaku, Japan's longest serving prime minister. During these critical years in the Cold War in Asia, with the Vietnam War raging and the acquisition by China of a nuclear capability, Sato closely aligned with the U.S. This directly contributed to his success in securing the reversion of Okinawa and other Japanese territories which had remained under U.S. control since Japan's surrender at the end of World War II. To accomplish this he was also forced to conclude secret agreements with President Richard Nixon, including one on nuclear weapons, which are explored fully. Sato faced the challenge of the Nixon administration's attempts to shore up the relative decline in American power with policies at odds with allied interests. Sato successfully overcame such challenges and also laid the groundwork for Japan's anti-nuclear policy.

Fintan Hoey is Assistant Professor of History at Franklin University, Switzerland, was previously a Government of Ireland Doctoral Scholar at University College Dublin, Ireland, and held a Japan Foundation Japanese Studies Fellowship at Rikkyo University, Tokyo. His has previously published on Japan's defense policy and is currently preparing publications on Japanese nuclear weapons policy.