Japanese History: Post-War Era (1945-70)


Figure 1.--This image shows a busy market, we think in Japan despite the Chinese chracters on the banner. The dealer thought it was tken in the 1930s, we think the 1950s is more likely based on the chilren's clothes. It shows a busling Japan getting back to business as the Japanese Economic Miracle took hold.

Japan was devestated by the Pacific War, mostly in the last year of the War when the American strategic bombing campaign turned city after city into vast heeps of ash. The two atomic bombs were actually only made a minor contribution to the destruction of Japan's wood and paper cities. Most of the destruction resulted from the incideraries dropped as part of the Strategic Bombing Campaign. While the massive destruction draws the attention of most authors, an under-reporting matter is that the Japanese at the end of the War were surviving on near-starvation diets. And had the Emperor not surrendered (August 1945), there would have been a terrible famine. The detuction of the country's transport system and a very poor harvest would have resulted in mass starvation. America in a poorly reported achievement saved millions of Japanese people from starvation. Food was a problem in the first years of the occupation, but people did not starve, in sharp contrast to the countries occupied by Japan during the War. Gen. MacArthur who oversaw the occupation virtually created modern Japan, a fusion of traditional culture with Western modernity. The reforms today taken for granted were at the time mind-boggling. The reforms included demilitarization, breaking up the Zibatsus, enfranchizing women, enpoweing labor unions, constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties, a free press, a constitunional monarchy, dismantling the Empire, land reform, and much more. America's humane treatment of a defeated Japan, made the country an important ally in the Cold war follwing the Pacific War. At the same time, the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, turned aorld war II ally into a Cold War foe. With military expansion ended, the Japanese turned their energies toward the economy, resulting in the Japan Econonomic Mircle--becoming the first of the Asian Tigers. Experts were amazed at the spped with which the country recovered. And unlike the early phase of industrialization, the average person including the rural peasantry benifited. Japan very quickly shifted from making low-cost goods, to high technology products with notavly high quality standards. Within only a few decades, Japan became a country which not only achieved European living standards, but in most cases exceeding those standards.

Pacific War Aftermath

Japan was devestated by the Pacific War, mostly in the last year of the War when the American strategic bombing campaign turned city after city into vast heeps of ash. The War in China (1937) proved costly, but it was only after Japan attacked America that the War turned disaterous for Japan. The two atomic bombs were actually only made a minor contribution to the destruction of Japan's wood and paper cities. Most of the destruction resulted from the incideraries dropped as part of the Strategic Bombing Campaign.

Famine Prevented

While the massive destruction draws the attention of most authors, an under-reporting matter is that the Japanese at the end of the War were surviving on near-starvation diets. And had the Emperor not surrendered (August 1945), there would have been a terrible famine. Japan was not self-sufficent in food production and in the last year of the war, the American air and sea blockade was making it virtually impossible to import needed food supplies. The detuction of the country's transport system and a very poor harvest would have resulted in mass starvation. America in a poorly reported achievement saved millions of Japanese people from starvation. Food was a problem in the first years of the occupation, but people did not starve, in sharp contrast to the countries occupied by Japan during the War.

American Occupation

There had been an intense debate at the highest level of the American Government over the occupation regime for a defeated Germany. Secretary Morgenthau wanted ahard peace abd the partition of the country. Secreataries Hull and Simpson facored a soft peace. President Roosevelt had no yet made up his mind. The occupation of Japan received less attention. As a result, it was left lrgely in the hands of Gen. MacArthur and Washington did not interfere to ny extent. Ironically, the Generalwho had a checkered world war II record, did auperb job as a virtual viceroy. It is beyond question, the great achievemebt of his career. MacArthur oversaw the occupation virtually created modern Japan, a fusion of traditional culture with Western modernity. The reforms today taken for granted were at the time mind-boggling. The reforms included demilitarization, breaking up the Zibatsus, enfranchizing women, enpoweing labor unions, constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties, a free press, a constitunional monarchy, dismantling the Empire, land reform, and much more.

Cold War

America's humane treatment of a defeated Japan, made the country an important ally in the Cold war follwing the Pacific War. At the same time, the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, turned aorld war II ally into a Cold War foe. apan like Germany began the Cold War as an occupied country. There were, however, some basic differences. Japan unlike Germany did not prove to be central to the Cold War--rather the focus at first shofted east to China and Korea. The Japanese unlike the Germans never accepted the war guilt and responsibility for horrendous and widespread war crimes. The Japanese also did not surrender unconditionally--the Emperor was not arrested and tried as war criminal. Also the country was not divided into Allied occupation zones. The United States was solely responsible for the occupation. Actually this and not just the atomic bombs had been a major reason for the Japanese surrender. The Soviets were rapidly moving through Manchuria and down the Korean Peninsula. The Japanese realized that a Soviet invasion of the Home Islands might result. The Japanese Government had suppressed the Communists and a Soviet invasion would mean the inevitable introduction of Communism. The American occupation meant change--but not Communism. General MacArthur oversaw the occupation. He introduced a new democratic institution, gave women the right to vote, made the Emperor a constitutional figurehead, allowed the organization of labor unions, promoted a free press, and made other major changes. Japan was transformed from a militarist, authoritarian society to a modern democratic nation with a vibrant capitalist economy.

Japanese Economic Miracle

With military expansion ended, the Japanese turned their energies toward the economy, resulting in the Japan Econonomic Miracle--becoming the first of the Asian Tigers. Experts were amazed at the spped with which the country recovered. And unlike the early phase of industrialization, the average person including the rural peasantry benifited. Japan very quickly shifted from making low-cost goods, to high technology products with notavly high quality standards. Within only a few decades, Japan became a country which not only achieved European living standards, but in most cases exceeding those standards.







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Created: 5:45 PM 7/1/2016
Last updated: 5:46 PM 7/1/2016