The Emperor's New Clothes: Can Japan Live Without the Bomb?

The article discusses concerns within the government of Japan regarding the goal of global nuclear disarmament set by U.S. President Barack Obama. Japan's reliance on the U.S. nuclear capability for its defense and its regional influence is discussed, as are the uneasy relations between Japan and its neighbors in East Asia, including the nuclear-armed North Korea. Also discussed is the possibility that Japan might opt to pursue its own nuclear weapons capability, and the implications of such a move for regional security.