Quiz 2 Flashcards
What are the immediate impacts of Japan’s WWII surrender?
Bureaucrats erase evidence of wartime activities, “recreation and amusement centers”, economic opportunities and entrepreneurship, food shortages, major social problems: alcohol, drugs, robbery, theft
Who is MacArthur?
Supreme commander for allied powers (SCAP)
2 goals of american occupation
Demilitarize & democratize
How does the U.S. Demilitarize Japan?
Disband military, special police, Tokyo trial
How does the U.S. “Clean the soil of militarism”?
Smash authoritarian rule, equalize political rights, unionize, land reform
1946-47 peace constitution
Downgrade emperor, fundamental human rights, article 9 to renounce war
Zaibatsu
Large firms the U.S. Originally wanted to break up in Japan
LDP
Liberal party + Democratic Party merge in Japan 1955
JSP
Japan socialist party; had first plurality in 1947 election
US reverse course in Japan
Worry of communist expansion, shift in american policy: scaled back on dissolving zaibatsu, weaken labor movement, national police force, red purge
When does Japan surrender?
August 15 1945
Economic recovery in Japan
1949 dodge line: balance budget, abolish state subsidies to business
1950 Korean War: american military orders surged
When did american occupation end?
1952
Remaining problems after american occupation of Japan
Okinawa, ROC/PRC not present, Soviet Union walked out
Japanese diet
House of reps (more powerful) and house of councillors
House of reps before electoral reform
4 year term, can be dissolved; single non transferable vote (multiple seats)
What eroded Japan’s 1955 system?
Corruption scandals, economic bubble, welfare to aging society, momentum to electoral reform
Political issues in 1950s and 1960s
Constitution lost momentum, relations with US, labor movement, peace movement, US-Japan treaty
Problems with US-Japan security treaty
Japan is a military target, one sided obligation of Japan
Japan shifting focus 1960s-1970s
Constitutional revision & confrontation w/ unions, income doubling plan, LDP alliance w/ farmers, workers, Japan productivity center
LDP income doubling plan 1960
State guidance of market economy, economic miracle
Citizen movements of Japan 1960s
Anti-Vietnam war, student movements (–> corporate blacklisting), environmental activism, better welfare; LDP response: join in
Japan oil crisis
Economic growth halts 1973, GNP decline, prices increase 25%, panic buys, Japan–> less reliant on oil
Japan’s relations w/ US 1960s-1970s
Cornerstone of US asian policy, interdependence, Okinawa back to Japan, 1971 Nixon shocks, trade disputes
Japan-US trade disputes
Companies began to compete, compromise: Japan companies will produce in US; 1988 super 301 clause, 1985 plaza accord & bubble economy