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Paper short abstract

Since 2022, Japan has shown unprecedented support for Ukraine under PM Kishida. This paper examines Japan’s "diplomacy of sympathy," using symbolic and financial aid to defend the global rules-based order, boost its standing in Europe, and spark domestic debate on conflict response.

Paper long abstract

This paper investigates the evolution of Japan’s foreign policy toward Ukraine between 2022 and 2024 through the conceptual lens of "diplomacy of sympathy" (DoS). Centered on the leadership of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, the study explores how Japan utilized coordinated, state-level behavior to project official emotional responses—such as solidarity and a benign attitude—toward a victimized state. This strategic pivot represents a departure from the "stunted" and asymmetrical diplomacy of the Abe era, which previously prioritized rapprochement with Moscow to resolve the Northern Territories dispute.

The paper categorizes Japan’s DoS into two primary dimensions. First, expressive gestures utilized emotionally rich language to unequivocally condemn Russia’s "illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked" aggression. By labeling Russian actions as "absolutely intolerable war crimes" and "outrageous," Tokyo validated the victimization of the Ukrainian people while expressing "utmost respect" for their perseverance. Second, these symbolic acts were reinforced by substantive gestures, including approximately 12 billion USD in financial and humanitarian aid by 2024. This material backing, focused on de-mining and reconstruction, positioned Japan as a top-five donor and a principled defender of the rules-based world order.

Furthermore, the paper elucidates the utilitarian and strategic benefits of this diplomacy. Internationally, Japan reinforced its status as a dependable partner to the USA and EU. Regionally, Japan revitalized its standing in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), countering Chinese influence by deepening ties with "like-minded" states such as Poland and the Baltic nations. Historically, Japan’s stance serves as a discursive tool against Russian and Chinese narratives regarding the wartime past. Domestically, evocative language helped justify unprecedented expenditures and stimulated debates on civic duty and national defense, particularly regarding a possible Taiwan contingency. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that sympathy serves as a potent political tool, linking European security to the Indo-Pacific under the warning that "Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow".