這幾年世界各國積極開始推動文化外交,日本也關注在世界引起注目的日本大眾文化,而進入21世紀以「酷日本(Cool Japan)」為核心推動文化外交政策。本研究的目的在於從大眾文化的利用之觀點來分析小泉政權以後日本文化外交政策。論文首先檢討Nye的柔性權力之概念以及日本國內對柔性權力議論的情況,進而探討柔性權力資源的大眾文化之可能性。其次,從大眾文化的利用之觀點來探討小泉政權以後日本文化外交的發展過程、目的、意義等,同時指出文化外交所包含的問題。再次,探討以日本對台灣文化外交政策為例來探討文化外交的實踐方面。最後,展望日本文化外交政策的未來與可能性。研究發現,由日本的大眾文化而產生的柔性權力不是具有Nye所說的柔性權力,而是具有促進各國人越境交流和對話等更柔性的權力。日本以「酷日本」為核心所推動的文化外交只是追求經濟成長或國家形象的提高而已,因此日本文化外交不應該只是為了提高國家形象或促進經濟成長,而應該以「柔性」權力來創造日本與世界各國間對話和交流的場所。
In recent years, countries around the world have actively begun promoting cultural diplomacy. As part of this trend, Japan has been concerned with drawing attention to Japanese popular culture, and launched a cultural diplomatic policy called “Cool Japan” at the start of the twenty-first century. This thesis aims to analyze the use of popular culture in Japanese cultural diplomacy since the Koizumi administration. It first examines the concept of soft power described by Joseph Nye, domestic Japanese discourse about soft power, and the possibility of using popular culture as a source of soft power. Second, from the perspective of the use of popular culture, it looks at the development process, goals, and significance of Japan’s cultural diplomacy since the Koizumi administration, and indicates the issues involved in cultural diplomacy. Third, the thesis evaluates the actual practice of cultural diplomacy in a case study of Japan’s cultural diplomacy toward Taiwan. Finally, it comments on the future and potential of Japan’s cultural diplomacy. The thesis finds that the soft power produced by Japanese popular culture is not soft power as described by Nye, but rather a softer form of power that promotes cross-border exchange and dialogue at the individual level. Japan’s “Cool Japan” cultural diplomacy is merely an attempt to pursue economic growth and raise Japan’s national image. Japan’s cultural diplomacy should not be about only these goals, and should use “softer power” to create places for exchange and dialogue between Japan and other countries at the state level.