Abstract: The African continent and the offshore areas have abundant energy resources, and Africas position in the international energy market is increasingly prominent. In recent years, Japan has gradually strengthened its energy cooperation with Africa in order to cope with increasing domestic energy demand and at the same time seek to get rid of its dependence on energy in the Middle East. In addition to meeting the dominant purpose of diversifying energy imports, Japans energy cooperation with Africa has other deeper objectives, including highlighting Japans marine geopolitical influence and seeking Japans permanent membership of the UN Security Council. However, Japans energy cooperation with Africa still faces many challenges. The utilitarian purpose of Japan, the competition game with the United States and Europe, and the state of contention with China restrict Japan from further enhancing the level and speed of energy cooperation with Africa.

Key words: African energy, geopolitics, oil and gas, SinoJapanese relations, ChinaAfrica cooperation