The article analyzes the main provisions of the theories of classical American geopolitics A. Mahan, N. Spikeman and J. Kennan in relation to U.S. policy in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole and in relation to Japan in particular. Despite various transformations in politics, classical theories remain the foundation of modern US foreign policy. The author concludes that the concepts of American theorists mainly reflect the current foreign policy actions of the United States in the region.