This paper explores the implications of various rankings related to peace. One of the effort to rank nations is the Global Peace Index (GPI) released by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Some peace researchers may oppose the idea of ranking nations or propose alternative frameworks for it because they believe that interpretation of peace differs across cultural mindsets and values.

Although the GPI rankings are rarely disputed in Japan and few attempts have been made to integrate the GPI and other peace-related rankings, this paper attempts it and clarifies that Japan needs to recognize importance of creating its own peace rankings. The effort to create such peace rankings should be inextricably linked with Japan's peace-oriented identity.

Chapter 2, which follows the introduction, examines some notions of peace referring to previous studies. Through a principal component analysis, Chapter 3 integrates various peace rankings and creates new indicators that can be used to compare major powers. Chapter 4 discusses why Japan's portrayal of itself as a peace-loving country lacks persuasiveness. The concluding chapter emphasizes the need for Japan to create its own peace rankings.