Japan appears content with backseat role in Asian defense

japan-flights.blogspot.com — By Richard HalloranSunday, Nov 11, 2007, Page 9 After five years of solidifying Japan-US security relations under the leadership of former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, the alliance over the past year has lurched into a sharp decline under his successor Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda because Tokyo has reverted to the insul