The American Occupation of Japan

1. The American Occupation of Japan On Sept. 2, 1945, Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu formally signed the surrender documents on board the USS Missouri in front of General Douglas MacArthur, who would then lead the Occupation forces.

2. Details of occupation • Begins in September 1945 and lasts until 1952 • Forever connected with General Douglas MacArthur. • Elections are held in 1947

3. Details of the occupation • Considered a very successful occupation

4. Details of the occupation • Japanese, who had forever been adept at adapting foreign concepts as their own, now adopted the American model of government From China, with the ideas of Confucianism to the United States, with ideas of Western business and government

5. Punish Japan or Rebuild Japan? • Learn from the lessons of Germany in WWI • If you punish, you will fight them again

6. Punish Japan or Rebuild Japan? • If you rebuild, Japan becomes an ally • Korean War begins during American occupation of Japan • The U.S. needed Japan as a strong Cold War ally • China was leaning towards Communism

7. Punish Japan or Rebuild Japan? • Japan had lost 2.3 million soldiers and 800,000 civilians in the war. • We had dropped 2 atomic bombs • Japan had been punished enough • The United States decides to rebuild Japan

8. Goals of the occupation • Make sure Japan can never return to the battlefield. Peace • MacArthur believed democratic countries are more peaceful than dictatorships.

9. General MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito What do you do with the man in who’s name the war was fought?

10. Emperor was the living embodiment of the Japanese people MacArthur - Why needlessly anger the Japanese by destroying the sacred symbol of their emperor.?

11. MacArthur and Hirohito • Russia and Great Britain wanted Hirohito tried and hanged as a war criminal • MacArthur "...I would need at least one million reinforcements should such an action be taken ... Military government would have to be instituted throughout all Japan, and guerrilla warfare would probably break out." • MacArthur steadfastly protected the Emperor. MacArthur needed him for a smooth transition.

12. MacArthur and Hirohito • At first meeting with MacArthur, Hirohito assumed full responsibility for the wartime actions of Japan knowing that this admission could mean his execution. • Eventually it is agreed that Hirohito would not be tried as a war criminal, but one condition was mandated: He must announce that he is not divine

13. To Americans: Symbol of war becomes symbol of peace. Accepted history : Hirohito was a peace-loving man who was held hostage by the military men of the country. (reality was more complicated, but this history served MacArthur well).

14. Hirohito’s Legacy • Hirohito remains Emperor until his death in 1989. • By the time his 62-year reign came to an end, Japan had risen like a Phoenix out of the postwar rubble to become one of the world's richest countries.

15. Hirohito’s Legacy • It was in demonstrating this remarkable capacity for change that Hirohito truly became the living symbol of his people.

16. Legacy of the occupation • How can other Japanese war criminals be pursued if the Emperor is not? The war was fought in his name. • Makes it difficult for Japanese to take responsibility for their actions in war. • Where’s the responsibility?

17. The Japanese Constitution Compare the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States to the Preface of the Japanese Constitution. What are the similarities and differences?

18. The Japanese Constitution • MacArthur first gives the Japanese the opportunity to rewrite the Meiji Constitution. • Four months' work, by February 1, 1947, only minor word changes. (Emperor became "supreme" rather than "sacred" as in the old constitution). • MacArthur refuses, tells his people to quickly write a "model constitution" (before elections) • Test of whether the Japanese people would accept democratic changes.

19. The Japanese Constitution • Written in 6 days by a team of military officers with government training, using a book on world constitutions. • Japanese government leaders shocked by the radical idea of "rule by the people“. Conflicted with the Japanese tradition of absolute obedience to the emperor. • Cabinet went to Hirohito, who ended the deadlock by commanding that the "model" become the basis for the new constitution of Japan. Japanese cabinet then accepted the new constitution. • "MacArthur Constitution" has never been revised or amended

20. Changes with the new Japanese Constitution • BIGGEST CHANGE – power rested with the people, not the emperor. Basis of democracy. • The emperor was symbol of Japanese unity and culture, but without any political authority whatsoever. • The supreme political institution was now to be Japan's parliament, the Diet.

21. Changes with the new Japanese Constitution • Women given equal rights, including the right to vote. • Local governments were strengthened. • Many new civil liberties like free speech • The powers of the police were weakened and closely regulated.

22. Changes with the newJapanese Constitution Article IX – • military forces were completely abolished and Japan will never maintain an army or go to war again.