Japan Post-War

Japan Post-WarJapan Post-War

Occupation to the “Economic Miracle”

Occupation to the “Economic Miracle”

“Endure the unendurable”“Endure the unendurable”

• Small pockets of protest among junior officers, some committed suicide

• Surrender officially signed on battleship Missouri in Tokyo Harbor 9/2/45

• General Douglas MacArthur made Supreme Commander for Allied Powers (SCAP) ruled Japan until ’51 (occupation ended ’52)

• Small pockets of protest among junior officers, some committed suicide

• Surrender officially signed on battleship Missouri in Tokyo Harbor 9/2/45

• General Douglas MacArthur made Supreme Commander for Allied Powers (SCAP) ruled Japan until ’51 (occupation ended ’52)

MacArthur as Shogun?MacArthur as Shogun?

Japanese ReactionJapanese Reaction

• First fear, then appreciation/admiration (1945-48), then boredom (1948-50), then resentment (1950-1952)

• Japanese shared goals of peace and democracy with Allied occupation to root out causes of war and authoritarianism

• First fear, then appreciation/admiration (1945-48), then boredom (1948-50), then resentment (1950-1952)

• Japanese shared goals of peace and democracy with Allied occupation to root out causes of war and authoritarianism

Reforms in Japan Created by SCAP:New Constitution

Reforms in Japan Created by SCAP:New Constitution

• Political equality for women• Civil rights including freedom of speech,

press, assembly, religion, academic freedom, and collective bargaining

• Emperor only ceremonial power • Article 9: disarmament (meaning NO

armed forces!)

• Political equality for women• Civil rights including freedom of speech,

press, assembly, religion, academic freedom, and collective bargaining

• Emperor only ceremonial power • Article 9: disarmament (meaning NO

armed forces!)

Government ReformGovernment Reform

• House of Peers replaced by elected House of Councilors – 6 yr term

• Lower House remained the same – 4 yr term• Diet (two houses) holds political control• Cabinet members have to be Diet members• Prime Minister is head of majority party• Military banned from running for office

• House of Peers replaced by elected House of Councilors – 6 yr term

• Lower House remained the same – 4 yr term• Diet (two houses) holds political control• Cabinet members have to be Diet members• Prime Minister is head of majority party• Military banned from running for office

Other ReformsOther Reforms

• Educational: co-ed system based on US model

• Break-up of zaibatsu until ’48 b/c of growing fear of USSR caused SCAP to abandon policy

• Land Reform

• Educational: co-ed system based on US model

• Break-up of zaibatsu until ’48 b/c of growing fear of USSR caused SCAP to abandon policy

• Land Reform

War Crimes TrialsWar Crimes Trials

• Tokyo War Crimes Trials:– 7 leaders sentenced to death, 18 were imprisoned– 200,000 fired from jobs in gov’t (based on type of

work, not personal accountability– Emperor Hirohito not held accountable

• Other trials took place all over Asia– 5000 Japanese convicted

of inhumane treatment of prisoners/civilians

– Over 900 executed

• Tokyo War Crimes Trials:– 7 leaders sentenced to death, 18 were imprisoned– 200,000 fired from jobs in gov’t (based on type of

work, not personal accountability– Emperor Hirohito not held accountable

• Other trials took place all over Asia– 5000 Japanese convicted

of inhumane treatment of prisoners/civilians

– Over 900 executed

The Cold War And OccupationThe Cold War And Occupation• Fall of China (1949) to

communists and the Korean War (1950) turned Japan from enemy to needed ally

• Japan rearmed by SCAP (it’s not an army, it’s a police force!)– Development of Self-Defense Force– Resisted by Japanese

• Defense and rapid economic recovery replaced demilitarization and democratization as primary goals

• Fall of China (1949) to communists and the Korean War (1950) turned Japan from enemy to needed ally

• Japan rearmed by SCAP (it’s not an army, it’s a police force!)– Development of Self-Defense Force– Resisted by Japanese

• Defense and rapid economic recovery replaced demilitarization and democratization as primary goals

End of OccupationEnd of Occupation

• 1951 San Francisco Treaty & Security Pact– War officially ends w/ occupation– Japan lost all territory outside Japan, but

granted self-determination– USA to protect Japan but

encouraged Japan to “increasingly assume responsibility for its defense”

• 1951 San Francisco Treaty & Security Pact– War officially ends w/ occupation– Japan lost all territory outside Japan, but

granted self-determination– USA to protect Japan but

encouraged Japan to “increasingly assume responsibility for its defense”

Economic Recovery & GrowthEconomic Recovery & Growth

• US Aid averaged $400m a year during occupation, invested in rebuilding industry

• Economy expanded based on exports in 50s and 60s– Exports prioritized over domestic consumption– 1951 Japan resumed pre-war GNP– Growth rate averaged 10% 1950-1965

• US Aid averaged $400m a year during occupation, invested in rebuilding industry

• Economy expanded based on exports in 50s and 60s– Exports prioritized over domestic consumption– 1951 Japan resumed pre-war GNP– Growth rate averaged 10% 1950-1965

"Japan should be allowed to export is way out of trouble, and given the tools to do so.” – US Sec. of State George Marshall

Japan’s Second Economic Miracle: Japan Inc.

Japan’s Second Economic Miracle: Japan Inc.

• Rebuilding of Japan’s economy in the hands of the elites– Run by bureaucrats and industrialists who

worked to build the wartime economy

• Rebuilding of Japan’s economy in the hands of the elites– Run by bureaucrats and industrialists who

worked to build the wartime economy

Fundamentals for SuccessFundamentals for Success

• Lifetime Employment– Symbiotic work relationships: loyal workers & paternalistic

management

– Advancement based on seniority

– Birth of “salariman” (1950: 30% to 1995: 70% of workforce)

– All employees benefited in success of the company

• Labor Unions: ensured shared hardships, shared rewards

• Lifetime Employment– Symbiotic work relationships: loyal workers & paternalistic

management

– Advancement based on seniority

– Birth of “salariman” (1950: 30% to 1995: 70% of workforce)

– All employees benefited in success of the company

• Labor Unions: ensured shared hardships, shared rewards

Fundamentals for SuccessFundamentals for Success

• High rate of personal savings(1973: 17% of GNP in JP vs.6% in USA)– Banks (not stock market) channeled

investments to companies, backed by the gov’t

• National cooperation (ie “iron triangle”) of politicians, big business, and bureaucracy– Careful gov’t planning, aggressive

expansion in foreign markets, protection of the domestic economy

• High rate of personal savings(1973: 17% of GNP in JP vs.6% in USA)– Banks (not stock market) channeled

investments to companies, backed by the gov’t

• National cooperation (ie “iron triangle”) of politicians, big business, and bureaucracy– Careful gov’t planning, aggressive

expansion in foreign markets, protection of the domestic economy

Economic Success Led to…Economic Success Led to…

• Advanced industries in science & technology• Thriving consumer culture• Spread of Japanese pop culture

• Advanced industries in science & technology• Thriving consumer culture• Spread of Japanese pop culture

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