Japan Facing the Arctic and North: Interplay Between the National and Regional Interests

This chapter analyzes Japan’s North/Arctic engagement as part of region-building in the Arctic and the North, which is understood as continuous (re)conceptualization of both regions as a political and sociocultural construction based on the criteria that are proposed by the internal and external actors. The involvement of Japan and Hokkaido’s various actors: government bodies at all levels and associated organizations, academia and private companies (the forums and patterns of cooperation preferred by them, the motives behind and outcomes of their policies)—is explored from the perspectives of paradiplomacy and multi-level governance in the wider context of national and regional policies as well as the emerging Asian/North Pacific Arctic region and mini-lateral structures including China and South Korea. The study focuses in particular on the original concepts of the “northern regions” and “winter cities” proposed by Hokkaido and Sapporo and their implications for the changing notions of the “Arcticness” and stakeholdership in the Arctic matters. The authors hope that it will enhance understanding of the recent trends in the Arctic/North as constructed regions, the diversity of their multi-level governance structure, and cooperation at the sub-state and non-state level.