Projecting British Ideas on Post-War Japan: Propaganda, Cultural Exchange and Overseas Information Policy, 1945–1975

Drawing from a wide array of English and Japanese primary sources, Saito examines the pivotal role of Britain’s overseas information policy in shaping post-war Anglo–Japanese relations. While the historiography of post-war Japan’s international relations has predominantly centred on US–Japan relations, Britain’s initiatives towards Japan have been largely overlooked. This book fills that lacuna by examining Britain’s efforts to influence Japan through a dynamic interplay of the allied occupation, the Cold War, decolonisation, and post-war rapprochement between the two countries. It challenges the conventional view of Britain as a declining empire, showcasing its social and cultural influence, and examines its distinct perceptions of an emerging post-war Japan. Based on solid archival research, it provides readers with a nuanced and unique understanding of post-war Anglo–Japanese relations in the context of the cultural and propaganda dimensions of the Cold War, a field that remains underexplored. Offering an in-depth examination of Britain’s information policy towards Japan, this book is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and students interested in international history and cultural diplomacy, including those studying Anglo–Japanese relations and East Asian studies.