-
Japanese Surrender
First issue of SACP (an acronym that refers to the entire occupation regime) was to demilitarize, demobilize, and reparation Japanese who remained overseas. Upon the surrender of the Japanese, SCAP issued the direct order to demobilize all Japanese forces. -
Period: to
American Occupation
-
Land Reform Law
Banned absentee landlordism
- Landlords were forced to sell their land to the government, who then resold it to former tenants.
- Cut tenant farmers from 28% to 5%. Overall very successful -
Education Reform
SCAP believed that the Japanese education system was too centralized in Japanese militarism, and military values. SCAP issued a series of educational directives:
1. Expunge the ideology of supernaturalism in textbooks
2. Screen teachers
3. Insist on the separation of the state from Shinto and do away with Shinto influences in education
4. Ban the teaching of ethics, natural history, and geography from curriculum
- Reforms would later be reversed after treaty w/ Japan and US -
Period: to
Japanese Reforms
-
The Tokyo War Crimes
Only losing countries were charged with war crimes. 6 military leaders were hanged, and 5,700 were prosecuted for Class B, and C war crimes. -
Showa Constitution
Empower has no power to govern
- Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation (may be a problem considering cold war looming
- Bill of Rights – Gave freedom of speech, assembly, religion, guaranteed free education, assured the right to work, and outlawed discrimination on basis of gender, race, creed, social status, or family origin. -
Breaking up of Zaibatsu
- Ordered the dissolution of Mitsui and Mitsubishi, and broke up 18 more companies. This was deemed ineffective as many of these companies revived after the occupation.
- During this time SCAP and Mac Arthur initially pushed for increased labor rights, however will later ban some larger ones
- This "trust busting" was less so if not a complete failure, and would actually be reversed to an extent at the begining of the Korean War
-
Horrible Living After Occupation
3.7 million families had no shelter of their own, and lived on an average of 1,200 calories a day
- Many epidemics of deadly diseases spread (cholera, typhoid fever, diphtheria) No medicine
- Curruption ran rampant, and many turned to alcohol or joined gangs, and prostitution -
Period: to
The Yoshida Years
Many historians assert that Yoshida laid a solid foundation on which the phoenix of Japan could rise.
- He introduced the conservative established line that became the fundamental framework for the Japanese political system. It rested on two pillars
1. Japanese dependence on the US for its military security
2. Strong emphasis on economic development while downplaying constitutional reforms -
Establishment of Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI)
Would to manage and guide the process leading to Japans economic miracle. -
The National Police Reserve
With the coming of the Cold War, and the Communist victory in China, and the Korean War, the United States encouraged Japan to build up a force for dealing with issues at home and natural disasters.
- One month after North Korea invaded South Korea, the National Police Reserve was set up with 75,000 men. It was later expanded in 1952 to become the Self-Defense-Force in 1954 -
Period: to
Begining of the Cold War
The beginging of the Cold War, the growing turmoil -
Begining of Cold War
The beginning of the Cold War: turmoil in Asia, war in China, tensions on the Korean peninsula, and muscle-flexing of the Soviet Union. Everything combined forced US to change its directives.
The US began trying to strengthen Japan, and sometimes reversing reforms placed prior.
- Dissolving of zaibatsu was stopped
- Labor reforms, and strikes were halted
- Red Purge was initiated, with 13,000 alleged Communist Party members losing their jobs because of their political activities -
Period: to
Korean War
- War was deemed a gift from gods
- War meant flood of orders from American military to Japanese industries.
- War supplies and material comprised of about 60% of exports
- Japanese companies began to earn profits for first time since war
-
US – Japanese Security Treaty
Japan was under US nuclear umbrella
- US pledged to protect Japan against external aggression
- American “land, air, and sea forces” were to continue to be stationed “in and about Japan”
- US had right of extraterritoriality (crimes tried in US)
- Japan was incorporated into Pax Americana, thus preventing her from pursuing an independent foreign policy
- Many against, Some saw it as a lightning rod for US enemies. -
Period: to
Economic Miracle
-
Period: to
Yoshida Shigeru
-
Yoshida Shigeru Elected
Won under “liberal” tag. Yoshida planned to end Japans troubles NOT through reform, but by returning to goals/values of the pre-militaristic state, and building a modern nation-state.
- Concentrated on promoting cooperation between bureaucracy and industry
- Depurged military leaders to create National Police Reserve (NPR) (later be National Security Force (NSF))
- Turned back on occupation reform (labor)
- Signed the Security Treaty: which too many was seen as violating Japans neutrality -
Formation of Liberal-Democratic Party (LPD)
Japans two largest parties, the Liberal and Democratic parties, joined together, thus allowing them to control the Diet.
- LDP remained the ruling party from 1955 to 1993, making Japan for almost four decades a one-party state.
- LPD established quickly established itself as the voice for big business, big industry, and farmers. -
Kishi Nobusuke Elected as Prime Minister
Ultraconservative in his policy initiatives, and focused on trying to make Japan a more equal partner of the United States, and had visions of Japan emerging as the leading nation in Asia.
- Strongly against labor strikes, and even went as far to introduce legislation to prevent certain economic sectors from striking. Also strengthened police powers especially on strikers
- Reinserted teaching ethics in schools, which upset many
- Wanted Japan to have the right to use nuclear weapons for self de -
Period: to
test
-
The Security Treaty Crisis (Kishi Nomusuke)
Kishi wanted to renew the treaty but with some ratifications (particularly concerning stipulations of Japans sovereignty)- Many leftist groups (Japans socialist party, and communist party) were strongly against the renewal of the treaty as it could mean that Japan could be dragged into a war
- Kishi signed the revised treaty in Washington DC, and then passed it through the diet under non-democratic methods which would later result in his resignation
-
Period: to
Ikeda Hayato Prime Minister
Was an expert in finance and industry, and during his election time took an apolitical path.
- Initiated the Income-Doubling plan, which was highly favored in the Diet, and planned to double GNP per person within a decade.
- Plan set specific goals for investment in key industries, promoted cooperation between companies, and pledged active government guidance for private investments.
- GNP growth reached 10%, and the value of exports rose 15%
- Ikeda years brought both “Clam and Normalancy.” -
Japanese Olympics
Symbolized full acceptance of Japan into the intenational community, and showcased thier increasinlgy modern nation.
- Hosting games resulted in more monetary spending on economic development. Two expressway systems and the bullet train were opened up.
- Noteworthy symbolism: Olympics were held in area that held the American Military during the occupation, and the torch bearer who ignited the Olympic flame had been born in Hiroshima the day the atomic bomb was dropped. -
Bullet Train Opened
Part of Ikedas Era of Good Feelings
- Cut travel time between Tokyo and Osaka from 8 hrs. to only 3.2 hrs.
- The bullet train was a stunning example of Japans technological success, however also brought a profound change in travel patterns, business practices, and lifestyles of common people -
Period: to
Sato Eisaku Elected as Prime Minister
Continued Ikeda’s economic policies, and like Ikeda, headed the Finance Ministry and MITI in the past, so he was experiences with government and business- Term lead to record-breaking 8-years, with GNP becoming 3rd largest in the world.
- Mended foreign relations with South Korea, and tried to claim Okinawa back from U.S.
- Trade tensions continued between Japan and the U.S.
-
Nixon Shock - Nixon Trip to People's Republic of China
This came as a shock to Japan as the United States neither consulted nor informed Japan.
- Japanese also felt that they should have had a relationship with the Beijing government, but had deferred because of its alliance with the U.S. -
Nixon Shock - Devaluation of the Yen
Nixon announced that he was devaluing the dollar against the Yen, ending its fixed convertibility to gold, and placing surcharges on certain Japanese imports- This action roiled Japan’s financial markets and caused severe monetary inflation – the first downturn since the rise of the Japanese phoenix.