Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ALESA
Yukako Honda
1, Introduction
After the Japanese surrender in 1945, which was the end of WW2, the
allied force, practically the US force, occupied Japan for seven years. It is a
widespread notion that the reform during this occupation is what Japan owes its
pacifism and democracy. This article tries to, through a close analysis of the
democratization, and prove that the notion is incorrect. The analysis lead to the
reform was not a process fully dependent on the GHQ. GHQ, or the General
Headquarters, is the institution of the Allies that was located in Japan to lead
the occupation, the leader of which being called the Supreme Commander of
the Allied Powers, or SCAP. General Douglas MacArthur took this role after
defeating Japan in WW2. As this postwar era is the critical period in Japanese
occupation policy was not modernizing the undeveloped totalitarian nation, but
rather about eliminating any potential threat to the US. Initially, SCAP was
seen in his statement made on January 1, 1946, a new day dawns for Japan.
The shackles of militarism, of feudalism, of regimentation of body and soul,
have been removed. (MacArthur, 1964, p.195) he was regarding the reform
leading the reform was considered to have taken Japan into an utter turmoil.
(Sempa, 2015, para.4) In 1945 when the occupation started, the central focus
obvious around 1947, the US shifted the policy. In 1948 This new policy was
later called the Reverse course, as the democratic reform was decelerated or
even partly brought to a halt. (Schreus, 2005, p.178) One of the aspects where
the shift could be seen clear was the GHQs position toward labor movement.
in Japan. (Schreus, 2005, p.178) This incident, which means that the US
Japan, indicates that the USs goal was not set on benefitting Japan. Adding to
that, in understanding this not-so-small shift, it is simpler to consider that not
only the adjusted policy but also the initial one was for the sake of eliminating
threats to the US. What is often named as the most prominent symbol of
Japanese people would renounce war forever. This article was written by the
SCAP with the expectation of the Allies the general noticed before and after
Potsdam. (MacArthur, 1964, p.202) This demonstrates that the article which
proclaims eternal pacifism was added not for Japan but for the other countries
3, Rearmament
rearm itself. After Korean War broke out, the US toned up its view of Japan as a
critical Cold War ally. Responding to this, SCAP ordered Japan to establish its
own Self-Defense force. (Saeki, 2005, p.140) This contradicts with the initial
the modern nation it sought to be after WW2. In addition, the two countries
signed the Japan-US security treaty when the occupying force retreated from
Japan, which allowed American military force remain after it. As Japanese self-
defense force and US military have strong ties, (Wright, 2016, para.1)
4, Economic policies
influence in the country. One might argue that, considering that Japan is now
one of the largest economy in the world, the rapid economic reconstruction is
Japan by J.M.Dodge, which aimed at relieving the inflation the country was
suffering, and it did bring the inflation to an end.(Hamada & Kasuya, 1992, p.21-
22) However, it was not the revised policy that brought Japan the economic
boost. It happened twice, in the first half of 1950s and in the 1960s, but not
during the occupation period. This indicates that the US occupational scheme
was not the critical factor in the economic development. Rather, the balancing
process of Japanese federal budget in Dodge Line had a serious side effect of
chronic deflation. (Hamada & Kasuya, 1992, p.23-24) The special procurement,
the orders to the Japanese factories by UN force as well as the money spent by
the personnels and their family (Nakamura, 2004, p.102), saved the country from
this situation.
5, Conclusion
6, References
http://www.econ.yale.edu//growth_pdf/cdp672.pdf
Kopstein J.& Lichbach (2005) Comparative Politics: Interests, Identities, and
Kennan, F.G. (1947) The Sources of Soviet Conduct. The History Guide. Retrieved
from http://www.historyguide.org/europe/kennan.html
macarthur-meeting-and-the-future-of-japan/
Wright M.J. (2016) Postwar Semantics in Japans Self-Defense Forces. The
in-japans-self-defense-forces/