This paper examines the evolution of Japan–Arab relations from the post-World War II era through the present, with particular focus on the transformative impact of the 1970s oil shocks. Before the shocks, Japan's engagement with the Arab world was largely economic and filtered through Western alliances, resulting in limited political and cultural ties. The 1973 and 1979 oil crises exposed Japan's acute energy vulnerability and prompted a fundamental reassessment of its Middle East policy. In response, Japan diversified its energy sources, deepened bilateral economic and political engagement with key Arab partners—especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE—and expanded cultural and educational exchanges. The paper traces these developments country by country and concludes that Arab nations now occupy a central strategic role in Japan's foreign policy.
The 1970s oil shocks marked a pivotal point in Japan–Arab relations, prompting a major shift in Japan's perception of and approach toward the Arab world (Hook et al., 2005). Before the 1970s oil shock, Japan had established diplomatic relations with several Arab countries, but these were not marked by significant political or economic treaties. In the early post-World War II era, Japan followed a non-aggressive foreign policy and focused primarily on economic development. After the oil shock, however, the situation changed significantly.
The oil shock of 1973 was a turning point in Japan–Arab relations. As a nation heavily dependent on imported oil, Japan recognized the need to build stronger relationships with Arab nations to secure its energy supplies. Today, Japan's primary trading partners in the Middle East are the major oil-producing nations, owing to Japan's significant dependency on oil imports. These key partners are primarily Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar. This paper discusses how the oil shock led to a strengthening of ties in Arab-Japan relations.
Before the oil shocks of the 1970s, Japan's interaction with the Arab world was relatively limited and detached, mediated through interactions with Western companies rather than through direct diplomatic or political engagement. Although Japan imported oil from the Middle East, its foreign policy was largely influenced by Western countries, particularly the United States. Japan's perception of the Arab world was thus often filtered through the lens of its alliance with the West (Miyagi, 2013).
Japan's rapid industrialization in the post-World War II period led to an increasing demand for energy resources, particularly oil. The Middle East, being rich in oil resources, naturally became a primary focus for Japan's energy needs. Japan began importing oil from the Middle East in the 1950s, with Saudi Arabia and Iran being the main suppliers (Yergin, 1991).
Saudi Arabia, with its vast oil reserves, was one of Japan's largest oil suppliers at the time. The discovery of oil in the 1930s had transformed Saudi Arabia into one of the world's leading oil producers. The country's stable political environment and the creation of ARAMCO (Arabian American Oil Company), which began full-scale oil production in the late 1940s, enabled Saudi Arabia to become a reliable oil source for Japan. The business relationship established between Japanese oil companies and ARAMCO allowed for a steady flow of oil imports, solidifying Saudi Arabia's position as a crucial supplier (Partrick, 2009).
Iran also played a significant role in Japan's oil supply during this period. Iran's oil industry, under the control of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (later British Petroleum, or BP), had been a major global player since the early 20th century. However, after the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry in the 1950s and the subsequent formation of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Iran began to actively seek new markets and partners. Japan, with its booming economy and growing energy needs, was an attractive partner, leading to a growing trade relationship (Fattouh & El-Katiri, 2012).
The trend of Japan's heavy reliance on Middle Eastern oil intensified in the subsequent decades, particularly after the 1970s oil shocks. Japan sought to diversify its energy sources and suppliers, but Middle Eastern oil—especially from Saudi Arabia and Iran—continued to play a vital role in Japan's energy security.
Politically, Japan's relationship with Arab countries was quite limited during this period. Japan, heavily influenced by its alliance with the United States and other Western countries, often aligned its foreign policy stances on the Middle East with theirs. This approach at times put Japan at odds with Arab countries, particularly over issues like the Arab-Israeli conflict (Hughes, 2005).
Influence of the Western Alliance. In the aftermath of World War II, Japan was primarily focused on rebuilding its economy and maintaining its security, which hinged on strong relationships with Western powers, most notably the United States. The US-Japan Security Treaty, signed in 1951 and revised in 1960, was a cornerstone of this relationship, guaranteeing Japan's security under the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Consequently, Japan was largely compelled to align its foreign policy with that of the US, including on contentious issues in the Middle East (Cooney, 2015).
The Arab-Israeli conflict serves as a clear example of this alignment. During the Arab-Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973, Japan was cautious not to deviate significantly from the stance of the US, which was strongly supportive of Israel. Japan maintained diplomatic relations with Israel and refrained from overt criticism of its policies. The logic behind this stance was twofold: first, it prevented jeopardizing Japan's relationship with the US and other Western allies; second, it allowed Japan to avoid entanglement in the complex politics of the Middle East, enabling it to focus on its primary goal of economic development (Heginbotham & Samuels, 1998).
However, Japan was also aware of the need to maintain good relations with Arab nations due to its increasing dependence on their oil supplies. It therefore often attempted a balancing act, expressing sympathy for the plight of Palestinians and advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Overall, Japan's alliance with the Western powers heavily influenced its stance on Middle Eastern affairs, particularly during periods of conflict or tension (Togo, 2010).
Impacts on Arab-Japan Relations. This stance sometimes strained Japan's relations with Arab countries. Many Arab states perceived Japan's approach as biased, particularly during the Arab-Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973. Japan's recognition of Israel and its continued support for the state were contentious issues for Arab nations, which often felt that their perspectives were not fully considered (Togo, 2010).
Arab nations felt that Japan's recognition of Israel was indicative of a biased stance. For instance, Japan recognized the State of Israel in 1952, only four years after its declaration of independence, and maintained diplomatic relations throughout the Arab-Israeli conflicts (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, 2020). This perception of bias strained Japan's ties with Arab countries. During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the Arab oil-producing countries imposed an oil embargo on nations perceived as supporting Israel, including Japan. Japan's oil imports fell by about 14% in 1973 as a direct result of the embargo (Yergin, 1991).
Despite these tensions, Japan sought to balance its foreign policy to maintain its relationships with Arab nations, acknowledging their critical role as oil suppliers. It expressed sympathy for the Palestinians and called for peaceful negotiations. Japan was among the first countries to advocate for the legitimate rights of Palestinians, even though it did not fully break away from the Western perspective on the conflict. In 1971, Japan voted in favor of a United Nations resolution calling for the just treatment of Palestinians (UN General Assembly Resolution 2727). Despite these efforts, its careful balancing act often left both sides unsatisfied.
Japan's trade with the Arab world during this period illustrates the complex dynamics of these relationships. Despite the political tensions, the total trade value between Japan and Arab countries increased from 551 billion yen in 1960 to 3,275 billion yen in 1970, just before the oil shock (Trade of Japan, 2023). This growth underscores the importance of Arab nations as suppliers of oil to Japan, a factor that significantly influenced Japan's diplomacy during this time.
Cultural exchanges between Japan and the Arab world were minimal prior to the 1970s. Most Japanese had limited exposure to Arab culture and vice versa. However, there was some interest in Japan regarding Islamic art and archaeology, leading to early academic exchanges in these fields (Abe, 2002).
A study by Abe (2002) found that the Middle East was only infrequently featured in Japanese cultural outlets, and when it was, the coverage was often related to conflict or oil rather than cultural topics. Despite this limited cultural exchange, there was some interest in Japan regarding aspects of Arab and Islamic culture, particularly art and archaeology. Early academic exchanges facilitated by organizations like the Japan Association for Middle East Studies, established in 1955, played a crucial role in these areas (Usuki, 2008).
From the 1950s to the early 1970s, Japanese scholars like Toshihiko Izutsu and Seiichi Mizuno became pioneers in the study of Islamic philosophy and archaeology respectively. Izutsu's (2008) work on comparative studies of Islamic and Japanese philosophies was particularly influential in academic circles.
In terms of the arts, Japanese interest in Islamic art was fostered by exhibitions held in Tokyo and other cities. For instance, the Tokyo National Museum held an exhibition on Islamic Art in 1971—the first of its kind—which attracted a large number of visitors (Tokyo National Museum, 1971). It was not until the 1970s, with the impact of the oil crisis and the growing importance of Arab nations as oil suppliers, that more substantial cultural exchanges began to take place.
The oil shocks of the 1970s changed Japan's perceptions of how it should approach the Arab world. The decision of Arab oil-producing countries, under the auspices of OPEC, to implement an oil embargo in retaliation for Western support of Israel during the Yom Kippur War exposed Japan's vulnerability to energy disruptions (Victor & Eskreis-Winkler, 2008). Understanding what the oil shocks represented is therefore important context for the policy changes that followed.
The first oil shock took place in 1973–1974 when the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), a group within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), proclaimed an oil embargo against countries seen as supporting Israel during the Yom Kippur War in October 1973. The countries primarily affected were the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
The embargo led to a fourfold increase in the price of oil globally. It severely disrupted economies heavily dependent on oil, like Japan and the United States, causing inflation and economic recession. The crisis highlighted the economic importance of oil and the influence of oil-exporting countries, leading to a significant reshaping of international relations and policies toward energy security (Banks, 2018).
The second oil shock occurred in 1979–1980 following the Iranian Revolution. Iran was a major oil producer, and the revolution led to a significant drop in its oil production. Combined with subsequent events such as the Iran-Iraq War, this resulted in another substantial increase in oil prices. The impact was again felt worldwide, leading to economic slowdowns in many countries and triggering changes in energy policies and consumption patterns (Hamilton, 2011).
Both oil shocks led to a greater emphasis on energy conservation, the development of alternative energy sources, and a more strategic approach to energy security.
"Diversification, investment, and diplomatic engagement after shocks"
"Bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iran"
"Modern economic, security, and cultural partnerships"
The relationship between Japan and the Middle East has significantly evolved and broadened. Energy security remains a significant aspect of this relationship, but the ties now also encompass economic investments, security cooperation, and cultural exchanges, making it a truly multifaceted partnership. The oil shocks of the 1970s served as a wake-up call for Japan, highlighting its energy vulnerability and catalyzing a significant shift in its relations with the Arab world. Arab nations, with their abundant oil resources, have since played a critical role in Japan's energy security strategy—a testament to the changing geopolitics of energy.
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