This course is designed to deepen students’ understanding on the U.S.-Japan relations, particularly on the origins, development, current status, future challenges, and impacts to Asia-Pacific region as a whole. Therefore, there are four main themes of this class: the historical background of U.S.-Japan relations; the U.S.-Japan relations and military alliance in the postwar and during Cold War eras; the redefinition of U.S.-Japan military alliance under new international orders; and conclusions. In addition, this course requires students to have some background education on Japanese politics before taking this class.