This book shows the process of the start, development, distortion and even bankruptcy of modern Japanese diplomacy. It reveals the war-oriented nature of Japanese diplomacy, the interference of forces outside the government system in diplomacy, and the exclusion of rational and democratic and peace-conscious diplomatic officials. It leaves behind the painful lesson that "war begins with the collapse of diplomacy and ends with the revival of diplomacy". It discusses issues such as diplomacy with the Near East and Central Asia, the military attaché system, and the upgrading of Sino-Japanese diplomatic levels that are rarely mentioned in previous works on the history of Japanese foreign relations.
本书展现了近代日本外交起步、发展、扭曲乃至破产的过程，揭示了日本外交的战争导向性、政府体制外势力对外交的干预以及理性与具有民主和平意识的外交官员被排挤等特点，留下了“战争因外交的崩溃而开始，并由外交的复活而终结”的惨痛教训，对以往日本外交通史著作中很少涉及的对近东与中亚的外交、武官制度、中日外交级别升格等问题进行了论述。
本书展现了近代日本外交起步、发展、扭曲乃至破产的过程，揭示了日本外交的战争导向性、政府体制外势力对外交的干预以及理性与具有民主和平意识的外交官员被排挤等特点，留下了“战争因外交的崩溃而开始，并由外交的复活而终结”的惨痛教训，对以往日本外交通史著作中很少涉及的对近东与中亚的外交、武官制度、中日外交级别升格等问题进行了论述。
