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Postwar Reforms in Japan

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:

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Postwar Reforms in Japan

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  1. Postwar Reforms in Japan

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Major Goals of the Occupation: • Ending Militarism • Building Democracy

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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?

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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?

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. 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

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