Abstract
Suspicions and speculations have persisted that, given the right set (or wrong set) of international and domestic conditions, Japan might seriously consider the nuclear option. Certain section Japanese thinkers have openly broached the issue of Japan acquiring a nuclear weapon to manage what many in Japan see as severely untoward developments in the regional and international security environment. This article evaluates Japan’s experiences in nuclear hedging and tries to analyse the six possible scenarios which would force Japan to reconsider its anti nuclear stance. Given the vulnerable situation in East Asia and changing contours of U.S-Japan alliance, it is crucial to study the “push” factors involved in a Japanese nuclear hedging.
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