Pro-Palestinian Non-state Actor in Japan’s Postwar Diplomacy toward the Middle East: Nakatani Takeyo

Abstract

This paper examines the ideas and activities of Nakatani Takeyo, a former pro-Palestinian politician, activist, and the president of the Japan-Arab Association. In particular, it focuses on Nakatani’s activities, his views on the Middle East, and his connections with Japanese conservative politicians. The paper demonstrates how Nakatani’s relationships with conservative politicians, such as Nobusuke Kishi, Yasuhiro Nakasone, and Takeo Miki, influenced and facilitated his strategic approach toward Arab nations. It also explores how Nakatani’s Pan-Asiatic notions, rooted in the pre war period, had a profound effect on his civilian diplomacy in the Middle East. Asianism, a cornerstone of Japan’s pre war nationalist ideology, remained deeply relevant to his post war actions, his discourse on Middle Eastern issues, and the cultivation of his networks with both Japanese and Arab leaders. In short, as a non-state actor, Nakatani played a crucial role in Japan’s Middle East diplomacy in the post war era. Furthermore, this study highlights how Nakatani’s activities helped bridge Japan with the broader Islamic world, framing Middle Eastern nationalism as a vital component of a unified Asian front against Western hegemony.