Is Japan truly a normal nation? Are today’s Japanese truly conscious of the nationhood? These types of questions come up every so often. The international community is now facing a historic sea change, and the nations of the world are using all possible means to discover the direction of that change. For this reason, a grand strategy that includes a wide perspective on the world situation and that is based on universal values is required to cope with current political, economic, diplomatic and military changes. To progress with national interest in mind during this time of changing circumstances, we must, as a base ideal, have deep-rooted national pride and confidence in our civilization.

 Currently, Japan is lacking a grand strategy and civilizational power. However, if we look to history, over the course of which the wisdom and knowledge of the Japanese people have stood out, we will be able to clearly see who we were as a people and be able to more clearly determine how we formed our society and how we established our nation.

 Throughout Japanese history, including the period of Japan’s national seclusion, the opening to the West in the middle of 19th century and in peacetime, whenever a crisis arose, the Japanese people used every means necessary to solve the problem. The efforts of our ancestors provide present-day Japanese with many valuable lessons. The eloquent words and actions of our sincere forefathers appeal to our hearts. Truly dedicated people, including ordinary citizens who work hard every day, are those who care for their nation and public welfare by putting aside personal gains and losses for the greater good.

 The global situation is drastically changing.We at the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals will propose a grand national strategy and disseminate our messages both at home and abroad by making the most of the Japanese civilizational heritage. We feel it is vital that each Japanese citizen leads a happy life and we intend to offer a wide perspective so the Japanese people will always be aware of the position Japan holds in the international community.

 Our goal is to make Japan a better nation, and by doing so, contribute to the international community. We appreciate your cooperation and dedication toward this goal.

Japan Institute for National Fundamentals
President Yoshiko SAKURAI