Postwar Reforms in Japan

After the surrender…•Many Japanese people felt very betrayed

after the end of the war▫WHY?

•1947: Japan writes a new constitution and states:▫We, the Japanese people, desire peace for all

time … We desire to occupy an honored place in international society, striving for the preservation of peace, and the banishment of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance, for all time from Earth

After the surrender…•The US and it’s allies wanted to make sure

that Japan would never again threaten world peace

•Biggest Causes of WWII:▫Japanese Militarism▫Overseas Expansion▫Japanese Tradition of Undemocratic Rule

•Allies appointed an American general – Douglas MacArthur – to command the occupation forces in Japan

Major Goals of the Occupation:•Ending Militarism

•Building Democracy

Ending Militarism•MacArthur disbanded the Japanese armed

forces•Dismantled the Japanese overseas empire•Wartime military and civilian leaders put

on trial▫Found guilty of war crimes and were either

imprisoned or executed

Building Democracy•Japan writes a new constitution in 1947

▫Purpose: make Japan democratic

•Changes in the Constitution:▫Stripped the Emperor of ALL his power▫Gave power to the Diet, an elected

legislature ▫Emperor remained a figurehead, a symbol

of national unity

Building Democracy• Constitution contained a list of rights (like the

American Bill of Rights)▫Protected freedom of speech, religion, and press▫Gave women the right to vote▫Established equality of men and women▫Guaranteed the right of all Japanese to an equal

education▫Made it illegal to wage war▫Forbid Japanese government from having a

military ▫Large landowners needed to sell their land to

small farmers

Occupation Ends•1952 – occupation forces withdraw from

Japan and Japan is allowed to control their own affairs

•Cold War brings this change▫WHY?

•1949 – Communists won power in China•1950 – Korean War starts

▫US sees Japan as a key ally in the fight against Communism in Asia

Political Patterns•After the Americans left, Japan modified

the reforms▫Brought back the large companies – called

what?▫Japan developed their own type of

democracy LDP: Liberal Democratic Party

Changing Social Patterns•Society became more democratic•Changes in family structure:

▫Head of the household (father/grandfather) does not have legal rights over the rest of the family

▫Arranged marriages are less common▫Over 75% of families now live in cities▫Nuclear family is the focus, not extended family▫Larger role of the mother in family life▫Family is still the center of Japanese life

Role of Women•Even though women have the same legal

rights as men in Japan, attitudes are still very traditional

•Women have a harder time getting into universities and are not paid the same amount as men

•50% of the workforce are female•1993 – Japan elects their first woman

speaker in the Diet

Stop & Think:•Who are Office Ladies?

•Usually, Office Ladies are paid about half of what their male counterparts are. And, they will work overtime without any pay. Why would employees work extra hours without pay?

Education•Japanese families firmly support education for

all

•During the occupation, American forces set up a school system similar to the one in the USA▫All children have to attend school for at least 9

years▫TODAY: 94% of Japanese students complete

high school and 40% go to college

Education• Juku – special “cram” schools that

prepare Japanese students for elite high schools or universities

•A diploma from a top university (like Tokyo University) is the key to success in business and government

Western Influences •Western appliances, entertainment, and

culture became very popular in Japan after WWII

•Economy improved

•More Japanese started traveling the world and learning new information from the West

The Economic Miracle •After WWII, Japan had to rebuild their

economy▫Why was the Japanese economy failing

after WWII? What had happened?

•The Korean War helped stimulate the economy▫Japan sold about $4 billion worth of

supplies to United Nations forces fighting

The Economic Miracle• SUCCESSES:

• The Japanese economy raced ahead in the 1950s/1960s

• Factories were rebuilt• This is called the

“Japanese economic miracle”

• SETBACKS:

• Between the 1960s and 1990s, the economy grew steadily

• The 1990s brought a recession and the Asian financial crisis▫ Most companies went

bankrupt▫ Workers lost their jobs▫ Banking system almost

collapsed

Industrial Development•Before WWII, Japan was the most

industrialized nation in Asia▫They wanted to regain that status!

•Japan turned their lack of natural resources into an advantage▫Imported raw materials and turned them

into steel became the world’s biggest producer

The Oil Shock•As the Japanese economy boomed, they

started depending more and more on OIL▫WHY?

•1973 – the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quadrupled the price of oil (4x)

•Japan started focusing more on conservation and using alternative energy sources

Shift to High-Tech Industries •The Japanese economy started shifting to

technology and electronics

•Japan is the largest producer of cars around the world▫EXAMPLES?

Reasons for Success•Japan borrows and improves upon Western

technology▫Example: the VCR / color printers / CD

players

•Traditional values such as loyalty and hard work▫Contributed to productivity

•Respect for education

Reasons for Success• Workers saved most of their income

• Japan doesn’t spend money on their military – so they have more to spend on technology and industry

• Close ties between business and government ▫Government gives tax breaks and loans to companies▫Groups of businesses form alliances

• Agriculture was protected by high tariffs

Challenges for the Future•Japan now has one of the highest

standards of living in the world•However, there are problems:

▫Noise, air, and water pollution▫Overcrowding in cities▫Labor shortage▫Aging population and low birth rate▫Costly services for the elderly