Introduction: " Over the past decade, there has been a substantial change in Japan?s foreign policy position on democracy support. Its 1992 Official Development Assistance (ODA) Charter committed the country to provide foreign aid in a manner that promotes democracy abroad (MOFA, 10992). The second Abe administration, which came to power in December 2012, has taken Japan?s policy of democracy support a step further. The 2012 ODA white paper, which was released in March 2013, not only expressed Japan?s intention to strengthen democracy abroad but also prioritized it above traditional focuses of Japanese foreign aid such as human security and hard infrastructure assistance. In Burma, Japan has a vital interest in nurturing friendly relations to increase its political and economic clout in the country. This is principally true because Burma, which is undergoing a process of democratic reform, is currently attempting to restrain Chinese influence, long a dominant force in the country. Furthermore, Japan is investing a significant amount of ODA in rebuilding Burma?s economic infrastructure. After the liberalization process began in 2011, Japan started assisting Burma on the rule of law and economic reform through a series of seminars, and in November 2013 it initiated a legal capacity building project..."...Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015.