Japan's Philosophy of Self-Help Efforts in International Development Cooperation : Does It Work in Africa?

Japan has emerged as a leading actor in international assistance but has often been seen as peripheral to major debates about aid and development. This paper explores Japan's distinctive aid philosophy of supporting the self-help efforts of developing countries while respecting autonomous development and examines the distinct contribution Japan can make to these debates. In order to develop such an argument it is necessary to look into Japan's own recent history of development and the idea of self-help in Japanese society. It is also important to understand the Japanese tradition of perseverance, which differs from traditions of other aid-providing countries. Japanese aid modalities and practices have been supported by these cultural values. The Japanese challenge is to demonstrate the validity of self-help efforts and the possibility of self-reliant development in the most deprived areas.