# Does Japan make the promotion of human rights in foreign countries a part of their foreign policy **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2017, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-japan-make-the-promotion-of-human-rights-in-foreign-countries-a-part-of-their-foreign-policy/792481 "2017-07-31T05:05:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-japan-make-the-promotion-of-human-rights-in-foreign-countries-a-part-of-their-foreign-policy/792481/1 "2017-07-31T05:05:21Z")
I’m under the impression that most wealthy western nations make the promotion of human rights (however imperfectly they do this) at least a part of their foreign policy. Maybe not always the #1 priority but it is still on the agenda. Does Japan do this? I’m under the impression regarding foreign policy they do not really ask other nations to improve their domestic situation regarding human rights. Is this accurate? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-japan-make-the-promotion-of-human-rights-in-foreign-countries-a-part-of-their-foreign-policy/792481/2 "2017-07-31T14:02:11Z")
Japan is a member of the [UN Human Rights Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Human_Rights_Council). Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has [pledges and commitments to human rights](http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/human/index.html) on their web page, associated with the renewal of the HRC membership. Does that answer your question, or were you looking for something else? > [@](#): > > I’m under the impression regarding foreign policy they do not really ask other nations to improve their domestic situation regarding human rights. Is this accurate? I’m sure one can get that impression about any country. Were you thinking of any specific foreign policies by Japan? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-japan-make-the-promotion-of-human-rights-in-foreign-countries-a-part-of-their-foreign-policy/792481/3 "2017-07-31T21:56:37Z")
> **[World Report 2017: Rights Trends in Japan](https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/japan)** > [@](#): > > However, in practice Japan rarely speaks publicly about human rights, with Foreign Ministry officials and diplomats sticking to their longstanding policy of quiet diplomacy. This is aimed at maintaining good relations, particularly in Asia, in part to compete with China, maintain access, and promote trade. In his 2016 speeches, Abe only vowed to deepen ties with countries sharing these values. The one country that Japan has been willing to criticize publicly is North Korea, which gets exceptional domestic attention because of Pyongyang’s past abductions of Japanese nationals. Also the UN human rights council doesn’t really mean much. Egypt, China, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, etc are all on it. [http://www.dailywire.com/news/12076/look-new-members-un-human-rights-council-what-joke-hank-berrien#exit-modal](http://www.dailywire.com/news/12076/look-new-members-un-human-rights-council-what-joke-hank-berrien#exit-modal) ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-japan-make-the-promotion-of-human-rights-in-foreign-countries-a-part-of-their-foreign-policy/792481/4 "2017-07-31T22:09:31Z")
Is there still a GQ question here that hasn’t been answered? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-japan-make-the-promotion-of-human-rights-in-foreign-countries-a-part-of-their-foreign-policy/792481/5 "2022-07-24T16:52:46Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I’m under the impression regarding foreign policy they do not really ask other nations to improve their domestic situation regarding human rights. Is this accurate? Yes. Japan doesn’t give a shit about human rights. They are a neo Confucian culture. Western people make that mistake all the time, thinking that everyone else thinks the same way they do. If you don’t mind reading and asking questions, maybe have a look at this: > **[www.debito.org: Japan and the UN, 1999-2001: JAPAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD](http://www.debito.org/japanvsun.html)** It’s just records of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and their interactions with Japan. I’m not telling you what to think, just showing you what is actually happening. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-japan-make-the-promotion-of-human-rights-in-foreign-countries-a-part-of-their-foreign-policy/792481/6 "2022-07-24T20:27:40Z")
[Moderating] This thread was in bounds for FQ, and then it died a natural death. Since the post that bumped it was out of bounds for FQ, I’m going to close this. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-japan-make-the-promotion-of-human-rights-in-foreign-countries-a-part-of-their-foreign-policy/792481/7 "2022-07-24T20:27:53Z")