Abstract: The annual summit of East Asian leaders has become a platform for games between East Asian countries and countries like the United States and Russia. As one of the earliest ASEAN partners for dialogue and cooperation, Japan has long been regionalizing its regional diplomacy through regional, subregional, and bilateral channels, and highlighting its “comprehensive relationship” with ASEAN and Southeast Asian countries. In each of the different stages of these sumits-preparation, conferencing, and implementation of agreementsJapan has formed an effective mode of participation.

Key words: East Asia Summit, summit diplomacy, ASEAN Community, regional economic cooperation