Prologue Part I Lateral pressure and Japan 1 Conflict and contention: a theory of lateral pressure Causes of warn2 The profile and capabilities of Japan: a critical century Part II Emergence of Japan 3 Growth, development, and early expansion 4 Intersections with major powers 5 Comparisons of profiles: Japan and the major powers 6 A model of lateral pressure: from the Meiji Restoration to World War I Part III Expansion, competition, conflict 7 Gains from World War I: Japan as an emerging power 8 Japanese expansion, conflict and escalation 9 Toward the Pearl Harbor decision 10 Modeling Japan's lateral pressure to World War II 11 Comparing lateral pressure processes: World War I and World War II 12 Simulating growth and expansion: paths to war Part IV Postwar Japan: reconstruction, growth, expansion 13 Lateral pressure after World War II 14 Economic growth and vulnerability 15 A new model of lateral pressure in postwar Japan 16 Simulating Japan's post-World War II expansion Part V Conclusion: emergence of a global power 17 Adaptation to a new international environment 18 Retrospection and thoughts for the future 19 Epilogue: a critical assessment