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The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of the Japanese environmental policy. Japan, which faced with the aggravation of environmental problems during rapid industrialization, is considered nowadays as a leader in the sphere of environmental security provision not only for its own territory, but also for the whole Asia-Pacific region. Therefore the author underlines the main periods of the Japanese environmental security concept development from the beginning of the Meiji era till the end of the 20th century. Special attention is paid to the study of historic backgrounds and basic features of the Japanese environment preservation and pollution control policy. At the same time the author deals with political actions aimed at the fight against environmental challenges. Thus, particular attention is paid to the Japanese government's turn to deliberate, systematic, long term activity on environmental conservation, which includes special legislative acts elaboration, pre- and postwar economic growth policy review. Key aspects of environmental conservation regulation, which take into account Japan's demands in this sphere and at the same time meet expectations of the international community, viewing Japan as a green power, are also discussed in the article. In conclusion the author examines the basic features of Japan's participation in major international conferences on the protection of the ozone layer, on the warming of the atmosphere, on preservation of the global environment, which had a great impact on the Japanese environmental legislation.