Professional Documents
Culture Documents
US OCCUPation and How It Influenced J
US OCCUPation and How It Influenced J
Kris Koch
IR 163
Professor Wylie
Table of Contents
Introduction pg. 3
Conclusion pg. 15
Endnotes pg. 16
References pg. 17 to 18
3
Introduction
The US Occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1952 significantly altered the Japan of
Yesteryear into the present powerful nation that is known today. Many factors went into
the metamorphosis of this country such as guidance and control from the United States.
With this control, evolved a new and powerful constitution, which would help to
reconstruct this nation into a new superpower. The many policies contained in this
Background Information
The US Occupation of Japan began with the ending of World War II. On August
6, 1945 an atomic bomb with the power of 12.5 kilotons of TNT was dropped over
approximately 100,000 Japanese to perish, devastated Hiroshima, Japan’s 7th largest city.
Additionally many more people died of the aftershocks of the atomic explosion. This
was not the only reason that Japan succumbed to the Allied Forces. A couple of days
later, the Soviet Union waged war upon the imperial forces located in Manchuria and
Korea. Additionally, on August 9, 1945 yet another atomic bomb was released above a
Japanese City. This great explosion, consisting of the explosive force of 22 kilotons of
TNT, desolated the city of Nagasaki killing between 60,000 and 70,000 people.
4
With all the devastation that Japan had encountered, it was up to its Supreme
Council for the Direction of the War to decide the fate of Japan by choosing whether the
battle should continue with the Allied Powers. This supreme council, formed a year
prior, consisted of a six member body of senior war officials controlled by Emperor
Hirohito. Traditionally, Japan has been a country reluctant to surrender easily, but these
major attacks weakened this once powerful country. Finn states in his book:
It was a nation with a long and proud history of military valor. This
samurai tradition, sometimes called the “spirit of Yamato,” had not
disappeared during a century of modernization. The conflict in the
Pacific had been tough and brutal, aptly described as a “war without
mercy,” but the imperial forces had fought without surrender in a
series of bloody battles in the western Pacific. Japanese leaders had
had a great difficulty in deciding how to react to the Potsdam
Declaration issued in Germany by the major Allied powers on July
26, 1945, calling on Japan to proclaim the unconditional surrender
of its armed forces or face “prompt and utter destruction.1
Japan was fighting a losing battle at this point of the war. Bombing had destroyed
50 percent of urban Japan. Likewise, food and raw materials were becoming sparse due
to the sinking of merchant ships by the Allied forces. Many of the Japanese troops had
died or committed suicide and by August almost two million Japanese citizens had been
killed.
The war was coming to an end and the Emperor finally realized this. 2 Then on
August 9, 1945 Emperor Hirohito decided to accept the provisions of the surrender and
by August 15, 1945 the war was over. Emperor Hirohito made a public announcement
about the surrender. Hirohito stated to his Council for the Direction of the War, “I cannot
bear to see my innocent people suffer any longer.” 3 This was the end of the war and the
The war was over. What was to happen to Japan? The Potsdam treaty stated that
the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces would be in charge of Japan. This
commander was known as the SCAP. It was time to appoint this leader in order to
MacAuthur accepted the job as the SCAP and flew to Japan in his C-54 named Bataan.
On September 2, 1945 the official surrender ceremony took place aboard the battle ship
Missouri. The nickname for this battle ship was Big Mo, named for President Harry S.
Truman’s home state of Missouri. This was a risky maneuver for the new temporary
leader of this nation. At this time the Japanese troops greatly outnumbered the Allied
troops surrounding the ceremony. “MacArthur drove into Yokohama and his headquaters
at the New Grand Hotel. His staff was mystified why the 30,000 Japanese soldiers lining
the route turned their backs. It was a sign of respect, they were told, usually reserved
There were only 4200 U.S. troops present at this occasion yet no trouble with Japanese
forces ensued.
Douglas MacArthur, the new SCAP, was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in early
1880. His background is an important feature in the understanding of his new position.
MacArthur’s father Arthur was a colonel in the 24th Wisconsin Volunteers during the
Civil War, a captain on the Indian frontier, and a military governor in the Philippines who
helped to halt the upheaval against American rule. Due to many reasons, including
family tradition, Douglas MacArthur enrolled at West Point Military Academy in 1899.
assignments in the Philippines and the Far East where he joined his father in Japan as a
lieutenant. He believed that this experience was vital for his success. MacArthur stated,
“It was crystal clear to me that the future and indeed, the very existence of America, was
irrevocably entwined with Asia and its outpost islands.” 6 MacArthur was also fascinated
Years later, MacArthur would once again return to this area. This time he would
occupation of Vera Cruz. This was valuable training for his future position as the SCAP
in Japan. For his outstanding duty, he was marked as one of the most ambitious and
promising officers in the services. In 1925 MacArthur was promoted to the rank of major
general.
MacArthur’s job to defend this infant commonwealth from the Japanese war machine.
7
This was considered an impossible task considering the lack of support he received from
the United States Government. Soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese
attacked the Philippines. The Philippine’s defenses could not hold back the incredibly
skilled and daring enemy. MacArthur was forced to organize a retreat of American and
Filipino troops to the Bataan peninsula. At this peninsula, they awaited support from
Washington but they soon realized it wasn’t coming. MacArthur escaped from Bataan to
Australia and promised his troops that he would return with reinforcements. His bravery
in action proved his importance to the military, and he was regarded as a hero.
MacArthur was the selected to be the commander of the Japanese island invasion.
Although he did not get to lead this attack, he became the SCAP thus leading a peace
invasion of the island. His background undoubtedly displays his credentials for the
rebuilding of Japan.
The Occupation of Japan required troops in order to help rebuild this war
devastated nation. The Eighth Army under Lieutenant General Robert L. Eichelberger
stationed in Yokohama and the Sixth Army under General Walter Krueger standing in
Kyoto were the two armies present at this time. These armies totaled about 460,000
troops and were controlled directly by MacArthur. In order to control such a large
amount of people, including the Japanese, MacArthur arranged the control structure into
two headquarters. The first headquarters was called the (GHQ SCAP) which was in
control of Japan and the other was called the (GHQ FEC) which controlled the US forces
in the Far East. MacArthur believed that if an organization “is right at the top, it will be
Additionally, the (GHQ SCAP) which was located in the Dai Ichi Building,
Tokyo, Japan, was divided into fifteen staff sections. The Government section dealt with
political topics and the Diet. Some of the other divisions included the Economic and
Science Section (EES); The Civil Information and Education Section (CIE) and G-2
What was the Japanese reaction to this influx of American troops? As stated
earlier, the Japanese tradition made it difficult to agree to the surrender. Many expected
violence to occur during the occupation but more of the Japanese civilians and soldiers
realized that they had been beat. In 1948, troops went home because the occupation was
being accomplished peacefully. This is not to say that no problems or conflicts occurred,
but the number was fewer than expected. Many Japanese feared the future, when the US
Occupation of Japan began. One incident involved high officials ignoring the surrender
and continuing to shoot American planes out of the sky. Twenty Allied planes had been
destroyed before it came to a halt. The Associated Press explains, “ The overwhelming
majority of Japanese, however, came to grips with defeat quickly, and worked hard to get
8
their country back on its feet.” Perhaps, one of the reasons that the beginning of the
occupation went so well, had to do with the manner in which the United States forces
entered Japan. The Detroit News describes, “ Rear Adm. Yoshio Kodama had expected
unbearable dark events. Instead, the Americans were handing out candy and chewing
gum to Japanese children. Some Americans descended on a brothel and told the
personnel to put their kimonos in a pile. Then, they left with them as souvenirs, also
9
leaving the girls unpatronized.”
9
country. A large debate ensued on the role of the Emperor and the Imperial line. The
State Department argued that the Emperor could be utilized as a figurehead in order to
promote occupation objectives in Japan. The Japanese society would except commands
more willingly if its own Emperor informed them. Roger Buckley states:
The highly debated role of the Emperor was later defined in the 1947 Japanese
The beginning years, considered the radical stage, took place from 1945 to 1947. During
this period, Japanese individuals were removed from government, business, and
academia. Some of these individuals received jail terms and death sentences. Walter
LaFeber’s book describes, “ Others believed the roundup destroyed both innocent lives
and a bureaucracy needed to make the country function.”11 This “Purge” as it was called
This period also brought about a great change for Japanese women. Before this
period women had very few freedoms or rights. In fact, women were thought to be
inferior to men. For instance, only women could be tried for adultery.
10
Yet another example of this inequality is displayed when the US troops arrived: “When
the U.S. troops arrived in August 1945, Tokyo authorities sought to please the
prostitutes” form lower classes who personally pledged before the Imperial Palace to
sacrifice themselves for kokutai.” 12 This was all going to change with the leadership of
SCAP. Women suddenly earned the right to vote, own property, obtain a higher
education, enter the government, and join the police department. American women
suggested to the SCAP that the contract of marriages should be abolished. These women
claimed that the contract of marriages enslaved the Japanese women to their husbands.
The SCAP also planned for major educational reform. They tried to decentralize
authority, while denationalizing and democratizing textbooks. This reform ran across
One of the major reforms being considered was the new Japanese constitution.
MacArthur’s goals were to form a democratic, open market in Japan similar to the market
in the United States of America. The Japanese citizens would have individual rights that
the government could not infringe upon. This includes freedom of speech, thought, and
religion.
The decentralization of the political function and the antitrust sentiment was
created in order to dismantle Japan’s zaibatsus. These zaibatsus or corporate ties did not
follow the US model MacArthor attempted to follow. The Mitsui zaibatsu was the
equivalent size of some of the largest companies in the US combined, such as U.S. Steel,
General Motors, Standard Oil of New York, Alcoa, Douglas Aircraft, Dupont, Allis
11
Chalmers, Westinghouse, AT&T, RCA, IBM, Dole Pineapple, National City Bank,
Woolworth Stores, and Statler Hotels. Gigantic Zaibatsu banks funded Zaibatsus, like
the one above. In 1947 the SCAP ordered that all Zaibatsus be disbanded.
This breaking up of the zaibatsu was the primary reason that the radical or first
while food became scarce. In fact prices increased 12 times between 1946 to 1949.13
This high inflation almost completely suspended exports. Japan was Bankrupt.
The US Occupation had to evolve in order to save this failing nation. This change
in ideology took place from 1947 to 1950 and is considered the conservative period of the
occupation. They kick-started the economy by eliminating the anti-zaibatsu laws and by
increasing the power and size of The Economic Stabilization Board (ESB). This board
was formed in late 1946 to be the headquarters for economic planning. Kiyoko Ishikawa
illustrates:
This new board emphasized the Dodge Line, which translates to a balanced budget
system, a fixed exchange rate, a reduction in subsidies, and many other measures. This
set Japan on the road to recovery. Eventually the ESB was reduced in size and renamed
The formation of the new Japanese Constitution was perhaps one of the most
important goals of the US Occupation of Japan. This document is the guiding path of
following guidelines that would fulfill the SCAP’s criteria.15 These guidelines included
suffrage for women, the encouragement of labor unions, regulation of child labor,
accepted and approved in October 1946 by the Japanese Diet. It went into effect on the
May of 1947.
Chapter one of the constitution pertains to the duties and powers of the Emperor.
As stated earlier, there was great debate over this issue. Article six of this constitution
provides the Emperor with the power to appoint the Prime Minister as approved by the
Diet. Additionally, Article seven states that the Emperor may perform the following
duties, such as the convocation of the Diet, the dissolution of the House of
Awarding of honors, the receiving of foreign ambassadors and ministers, the performance
Chapter Two of the constitution deals with the renunciation of war. This chapter
The constitution states, “Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and
order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation… In
order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well
Chapter three of the constitution refers to the rights and duties of the people. This
section of the constitution is similar to the United States Bill of Rights. This section
grants equality among all people and provides them with all the basic human rights.
Before the war, Japan was noted for treating certain individuals as inferior. An example
of this prejudice is against the people known as the Burakumin. Today, inequalities
among people still exist but it is not as prevalent due to the constitution.
and to governmental bodies. Article 41 states that the Diet is the law making division of
the government. This Diet is divided into two houses, the House of Representatives and
the House of Councilors. Furthermore, Chapter four continues to describe the law
making procedure. This Diet existed during the occupation but was directed by the
SCAP.
Chapter five discusses the Cabinet. This Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister
and other Ministers of State. During the US Occupation the Prime Minister of Japan was
Yoshida.
Consequences of US Occupation
The US Occupation has had a profound effect on numerous aspects of Japan. One such
aspect is the effect on the population of Japan or the social effect. For instance, the status
14
of women has greatly improved due to reform during the occupation. This occupational
reform was the starting point for the empowerment of women in this country. Figures
from the Japanese Information Network show that women are active in Japan’s modern
economy: “According to the 1995 edition of the Ministry of Labor’s Hataraku josei no
jitsujo (The Labor Conditions of Women), 50.2% of women aged 15 or over had a
paying job in 1994, 2.6 percentage points more than in 1980. Women comprised 40.5%
of the total work force in 1994, up 1.8 points from 1980.”17 Although women have come
a long way since the prewar era, inequality still exists in Japan. Despite the 1947 Labor
Standards Law, which stated that people should receive equal pay for equal work, many
companies maintain separate polices for men and women. Men and women receive
different treatment pertaining to promotions and salary. Without the efforts of the SCAP,
As stated earlier in this paper, the US Occupation also had a lasting effect on the
modern education system of Japan. One of the reforms that were imposed by the
occupation was the organization of school levels. To illustrate, the 6-3-3-4 system was
introduced to Japan. This represents six years of elementary school, three years each for
junior and senior high school, and four years for universities. It also established a board
The US Occupation of Japan had an effect on the Art in Japan. This change in art
is a direct reflection of the effect that the US involvement had on Japanese society.
15
This can be easily understood due to the profound participation in almost every aspect of
Japanese life.
Moreover, many of the reforms imposed by the United States on Japan indirectly
helped the economy grow. After the war the military disbanded, thus eliminating
military expenditure. This elimination of the military helped the economy grow by
alleviating the strain on Japan’s economic resources. Military personnel joined the labor
force after the disarmament and aided in the recovery of the economy. However, Japan
has a rather strong military today. This may violate the Japanese constitution but this
military force is not considered an army but rather a “self defense force”.
Conclusion
the country. This occupation has affected Japan socially, economically, and militarily. If
it wasn’t for the US Occupation, Japan may have developed differently following the
war. Overall, the Japanese have benefited from the control of the SCAP. The US was a
voice of organization during a time of chaos. Instead of punishing Japan for the war, the
US aided Japan in its recovery thus creating a strong US partner. This Occupation
End Notes
1. Finn, P1
2. Schaller, P4
3. Finn, P5
4. Schonberger, P40
6. Schonberger, 42
7. Finn, P35
14. Kiyoko, P1
16. Lexus-Nexis, P2
References
1995. “America’s occupation of Japan began on a day of peace for former enemies.” The
Detroit News, August 13.
Http://www.detnews.com/menu/stories/13409.htm
1995. “Beginning of allied occupation marked start of Japan’s postwar recovery.” The
News and Observer Publishing Co. and Associated Press.
http://www.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/world/083095/world219_17.html
1995. “Japan was beaten, but American GIs occupied with class.” The Detroit News,
August 13.
http://www.detnews.com/menu/stories/13398.htm
Buckley, Roger. 1992. US-Japan alliance diplomacy. New York: Cambridge University
Press
LaFeber, Walter. 1997. The clash: a history of US-Japan relations. New York: W.W
Norton & Company.
Nester, William. 1996. Power across the Pacific: a diplomatic history of American
relations with Japan. Washington Square, N.Y.: New York University Press.
Schaller, Michael. 1985. The American occupation of Japan: the origin of the Cold War
in Asia. New York: Oxford University Press.
Schonberger, Howard. 1989. Aftermath of war: Americans and the remaking of Japan.
Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press.
18
“The Confusion Era- Art and Culture of Japan during the Allied Occupation.”
http://educate.si.edu/migrations/sackler/saltfore.html
Ward, Rober Edward. 1974. The Allied Occupation of Japan. Chicago: American Library
Association.
The Cambridge encyclopedia of Japan / editors, Richard Bowring, Peter Kornicki. 1993.
New York: Cambridge University Press.