Drawing upon case study material and primary research, including interviews with officials and security analysts, the book presents a chronological analysis of Japan's sea lane security. "This work analyzes sea lines of communication (SLOC) as security issue for Japan and places it in the broader historical context of its defense policy, alliance relations, and national strategy. Guided by overarching concern with Japan's strategic geography and Japan's overall security policy decision-making process, Graham sets out to explain how Japan's vulnerability to the disruption of its sea lanes defined its perceived security imperatives and choices in defense and alliance policy since 1940 and how Japan's vulnerability to SLOC disruption has been used instrumentally as a rationale to legitimize politically or constitutionally problematic military activities in a post war period governed by the so-called "Peace Constitution." "--Reference & Research Book News