1. Reconstruction: the occupation era -- 2. Conservatism: political continuity and challenges -- 3. Economism: growth and maturity -- 4. Minimalism: hesitancy abroad -- 5. Stability: social cooperation and change -- 6. Malaise: contemporary Japan -- 7. Prospects: future challenges -- App. 1. Prime Ministers of Japan, 1945-98 -- App. 2. Chronology of post-war Japanese history -- App. 3. Security treaty between the United States and Japan, 8 September 1951 -- App. 4. Treaty of mutual cooperation and security between the United States and Japan, signed at Washington, DC, 19 January 1960 -- App. 5. Japan and its neighbours: military strength -- App. 6. Japan's economic and financial changes since 1988 -- App. 7. Japan and international comparisons -- App. 8. Japanese school system -- App. 9. Changes in the proportion of the Japanese elderly by age group, 1930-2025 -- App. 10. Japanese party system, 1946-96
