This may be somewhat off topic, but I am writing to request any
advice/information any subscribers may have regarding reference material on
Japanese approaches to public international law. I am doing research on the
subject for a professor at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. I was in
Osaka for six weeks earlier this summer, at Osaka University, working on the
project, and found an apparent dirth of material. While I am primarily looking
for source material in English, I did search for Japanese language materials as
well, and still found very little.

Specifically, it appears that most material in Japan and in Japanese is focused
on surveying western approaches/theory of public international law. What I am
looking for are distinctive aspects of Japanese thought on public international
law, and how it may be reflected in policy. So far, the most I can come up with
is that there is perhaps very little in the way of a distinctive theoretical
approach at all.

I have looked at the more obvious sources, such as _The Japanese Annual of
International Law_, and _Kokusai ho gaiko zashi_. However, if anyone can point
me in the direction of other sources, or has any ideas on the topic, I would
much appreciate hearing from you.

Craig Martin
University of Toronto
cmartin[atx]idirect.com

[Moderator's Note: Please send responses to the above question directly to Mr.
Martin.]