In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the world's major donor economies have increased their aid budgets in an effort to address a perceived link between terrorism and poverty.
Tokyo, however, is under unprecedented domestic pressure to cut its overseas aid amid a prolonged economic slump.
Despite having been the world's leading aid donor for about a decade until it was overtaken by the United States last year, Japan is increasingly losing its voice in the development sphere.