The Japanese Economic Miracle After World War II
The Japanese economic miracle is divided into three main parts: the conditions following the war that allowed the miracle to take place, the factors which contributed to the miracle, and the aftermath of the miracle in modern times.
End of World War II
World War II ended in August of 1945, when the United States unleashed its’ new tool of destruction; the nuclear bomb. On August 6, 1945 the United States dropped the first nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, 80,000 people were killed and almost the entire city was destroyed. The next target of the nuclear bomb was Nagasaki just three days later, August 9th. In three days, two major cities, and more 120,000 people massacred, and even more dying later from radiation poisoning; Emperor Hirohito announced …show more content…
The SCAP focused on convicting Japan of their war crimes for their past actions. In addition, MacArthur banned former Japanese officers from holding any office in politics. Also, their military was extinguished by MacArthur and this was later reinforced by their new constitution. Article 9 of the Japanese constitutions prevents Japan from rearming, and to this day less than 1% of their GDP goes to their military (Lin D. 2002). The disarming of Japan after World War II lead to the creation of a new Constitution, which of course SCAP …show more content…
SCAP was aiming for a more capitalistic market economy and took several steps in that regard. The United States was donating $500 million a year to sustain the economy during the years succeeding World War II (Lin D. 2002). MacArthur wanted to break up the concepts of Zaibatsus, to stimulate competition. Zaibatsu, like a monopoly in the United States, with the key difference being that they are family owned (Lin D. 2002). Eliminating these powers was done to promote freer flowing trade within the country. The SCAP also focused on eliminating the power that was held by wealthy landowners; as many of these owners advocated entering World War II (Occupation and Reconstruction of Japan, 1945–52 n.d.). As a result, land was not owned, it was rented to benefit smaller farmers and to encourage them to produce and stimulate the economy (The American Occupation of Japan, 1945-1952 n.d.). The hasty economic and political changes began to take a negative effect on Japan and put them in a
End of World War II
World War II ended in August of 1945, when the United States unleashed its’ new tool of destruction; the nuclear bomb. On August 6, 1945 the United States dropped the first nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, 80,000 people were killed and almost the entire city was destroyed. The next target of the nuclear bomb was Nagasaki just three days later, August 9th. In three days, two major cities, and more 120,000 people massacred, and even more dying later from radiation poisoning; Emperor Hirohito announced …show more content…
The SCAP focused on convicting Japan of their war crimes for their past actions. In addition, MacArthur banned former Japanese officers from holding any office in politics. Also, their military was extinguished by MacArthur and this was later reinforced by their new constitution. Article 9 of the Japanese constitutions prevents Japan from rearming, and to this day less than 1% of their GDP goes to their military (Lin D. 2002). The disarming of Japan after World War II lead to the creation of a new Constitution, which of course SCAP …show more content…
SCAP was aiming for a more capitalistic market economy and took several steps in that regard. The United States was donating $500 million a year to sustain the economy during the years succeeding World War II (Lin D. 2002). MacArthur wanted to break up the concepts of Zaibatsus, to stimulate competition. Zaibatsu, like a monopoly in the United States, with the key difference being that they are family owned (Lin D. 2002). Eliminating these powers was done to promote freer flowing trade within the country. The SCAP also focused on eliminating the power that was held by wealthy landowners; as many of these owners advocated entering World War II (Occupation and Reconstruction of Japan, 1945–52 n.d.). As a result, land was not owned, it was rented to benefit smaller farmers and to encourage them to produce and stimulate the economy (The American Occupation of Japan, 1945-1952 n.d.). The hasty economic and political changes began to take a negative effect on Japan and put them in a