Japan after World War II

After World War II, Japan was devastated and heavily affected from war. In all major cities (except Kyoto) Manufacturing and transport network suffered serious damage. There was also a serious shortage of food, which was one of the major problems after the arrival of American troops to Japan.

The occupation of Japan by U.S. forces began in August 1945 and ended in April 1952, General Douglas MacArthur was the first commander in chief. All operations were carried out mainly by the USA. Basically, Japan has lost all the territories acquired before 1894. In addition, the Kuril Islands were occupied by the Soviet Union, and the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa by the U.S. Okinawa reverted to Japan in 1972, but the territorial dispute with Russia concerning the Kurile Islands still remained unresolved.

Remnant of Japan's war machine had been destroyed, and the criminals responsible for war atrocities were held for justice. About 500 officers have committed suicide after Japan's surrender, and have carried out hundreds of war crimes. Emperor Showa was the unofficial war criminal (Zeiler, pp. 23-33).

Cooperation of Japan and the enemy proceeded relatively smoothly. The criticism increased when the U.S. began to increase its intentions in the Cold War persecution of leading Communists, which was more and more in Japan.

Japan wanted to have their own strength despite the anti-war articles in the constitution. Many aspects of the occupation, called "opposite course", which was promoted by some politicians. The peace treaty, which entered into force in 1952, ended the occupation.

Japanese defense forces was created in 1954. This was accompanied by large disturbances. The great social was created due to the renewal of the US-Japan defense treaty in 1960. After the war in Korea, the Japanese market economy picked up. It caused a rapid increase in living standards, changes in society and political stability, which found its culmination in the formation of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its governments. In addition, economic growth seriously threatened the environment.

After the World War II, Japan recovered magnificently. There is hardly any country in the second half of the 20th Century, who had showed such a brilliant economic rise such as Japan. The Japanese growth miracle could not keep up even the European states.

The war crimes tribunal was held in Tokyo in 1946 and was comparable with the Tribunal in Nuremberg. A large number of military and political leaders were sentenced to death. The emperor, in whose name all the war crimes had occurred, however, if the Americans continue to sit on his throne. However, it was Emperor Hirohito to his 'divine status' and was deprived of his position to more reduced ceremonial tasks.

After years of war, Japan was totally destructed in 1945 and faced total bankruptcy. The great cities lay in ruins and Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by atomic bombs. General Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Allied Commander was in charge of the country. MacArthur wanted the Japanese police state in a democracy transform.

General Douglas MacArthur had a liberal constitution ...