Japanese History Exam

Old Japan Hands

U.S. diplomats (e.g., Joseph Grew) with long prewar experience in Japan, generally sympathetic to preserving Japan’s elite institutions after WWII.

Progressive Coalition

Group of reformers pushing democratization, labor rights, and social reforms in occupied Japan.

New Deal Liberals

American officials influenced by FDR’s New Deal; emphasized social welfare, unions, and progressive economic policies in Japan.

Progressive Specialists

Experts like Canadian historian E.H. Norman who supported democratic reforms and warned against restoring prewar conservative power.

China Crowd

Asia experts (e.g., Owen Lattimore) advocating closer ties with China and skeptical of conservative pro-Japan policy. Believed in holding Japanese accountable for war crimes and imperialism

Production Control (1945-1947)

Workers taking over factories to maintain production and demand reforms during food and goods shortages.

May Day 1946

Workers’ rallies demanding better wages and democratic reforms. Evolves into protests specifically about food shortages and hunger. Workers directly petitioned Emperor Hirohito for relief from food crisis.

Nosaka Sanzo (1892-1993)

Communist leader known for advocating a “lovable” Communist Party adapted to Japanese conditions. Spends the war exiled in Communist China.

Tokuda Kyuichi (1894-1953)

Communist, jailed 1928–1945, later became major leftist figure in postwar politics. Appeal to the people in October 1945 lies out manifesto for the JCP including democratization and social reforms

Yoshida Shigeru (1878-1967)

Prime Minister (1946–47, 1948–54); conservative leader, architect of postwar recovery and U.S.-aligned foreign policy. One of the few powerful conservative remaining following anti-nationalist purges.

Feb 1, 1947 General Strike

Publish list of 10 demands in December 1946. Mass strike planned by unions; banned by Occupation authorities, marking turning point in U.S. policy and start of “reverse course.” Postwar shortages and economic chaos led to hyperinflation and labor unrest.

Reverse Course

Shift (1947–48) in U.S. Occupation policy away from leftist reforms toward conservative stabilization and anti-communism. Characterized by de-purges of former conservative politicians, a crackdown on the power of labor unions, and economic stabilization to build a strong capitalist economy.

Toho Strike (1948)

Major film industry strike, suppressed as part of anti-leftist “reverse course.” US Army forces intervene to break strike.

Sanbetsu (Japan Congress of Industrial Unions, 1946-1958)

Radical labor federation aligned with leftist politics. Led a series of militant strikes

Nikkeiren (Japan Federation of Employers’ Associations, 1948)

Employer group founded to counterbalance union power.

NSC 13/2 (Oct 7, 1948)

U.S. policy directive: emphasized economic recovery, political stability, and alignment with Cold War containment. Main points included an end to the purge policy, preparation for the end of the occupation, and the retention of Okinawa by the US

George Kennan (1904-2005)

U.S. diplomat, author of the 1946 “Long Telegram,” architect of Containment policy. Sent to Japan by George Marshall to begin the reverse course and crackdown on communism

Joseph Dodge (1890-1964)

Detroit banker; architect of “Dodge Line” economic stabilization plan (1949–50).

Dodge Line / Dodge Plan (1949-1950)

U.S.-imposed austerity program: ended deconcentration of big business, promoted fiscal retrenchment, export-led growth.

Zaibatsu to Keiretsu

Big prewar conglomerates ran by major families reorganized into corporate groups under Dodge reforms centered around banks with companies holding shares in each other.

MITI (Ministry of Int’l Trade & Industry, 1949)

Key Japanese ministry guiding industrial policy through “administrative guidance.” Orchestrated export strategy for keiretsu by preventing competition among companies for foreign exports. Facilitated patents, licenses, and instructed companies to focus on certain products for exports

International Military Tribunal for the Far East (1946-1948)

A war crimes tribunal held in Tokyo to prosecute Japanese leaders for crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Prince Konoe Fumimaro (1891-1945)

Former Japanese Prime Minister involved in wartime decisions; committed suicide in 1945. Drafts constitutional reforms revolving around 

1. Clarifying the Emperor's authority and its connection to the people's support,

2. Abolishing the Privy Council,

3. Adding basic rights for citizens, such as freedom,

4. increasing the powers of the National Diet.

1947 Constitution (May 3rd, 1947) 

Japan’s postwar constitution establishing democratic governance, civil rights, and renouncing war (Article 9).

Matsumoto Joji (1877-1954)

Japanese diplomat and bureaucrat involved in prewar and wartime foreign policy. His constitutional draft emphasized

1. Maintain the Emperor's sovereignty. 

2. Expand the Diet's (Parliament's) powers. 

3. Increase ministerial responsibility to the Diet.

4. Strengthen the protection of the people's rights and liberties. 

MacArthur’s “Three Principles”

General Douglas MacArthur’s guiding principles for Japanese reconstruction: democratization, demilitarization, and economic reform.

Beate Sirota (1923-2012)

American-Japanese assistant to the SCAP who contributed significantly to drafting women’s rights provisions in the 1947 Constitution.

Article 9: "peace article"

Clause renouncing war and prohibiting Japan from maintaining armed forces for aggression.

"deconcentration" of zaibatsu

Policies to break up large family-controlled business conglomerates (zaibatsu) and promote economic fairness.

Land reform (Oct, 1946)

Redistribution of land from landlords to tenant farmers to empower smallholders and promote democracy.

“Wedge” policy

Allied tactic to politically separate the emperor from Japanese militarists in order to preserve his legitimacy and innocence from war crimes

Declaration of Humanity (Jan 1st, 1946)

Emperor Hirohito’s statement renouncing divine status, emphasizing humanity and constitutional role.

Constitutional Committee (Feb 1946)

A committee convened under the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) to draft and advise on Japan’s new postwar constitution, incorporating democratic principles, civil rights, and reforms such as the renunciation of war.

Potsdam Declaration (July 26th 1945)

Allied ultimatum calling for Japan’s unconditional surrender during World War II, promising prompt destruction if ignored.

August 15th: Surrender "Jeweled-Voice Broadcast"

Emperor Hirohito’s radio announcement accepting the Potsdam terms and ending World War II.

"Bamboo shoot existence" (takenoko seikatsu)

Postwar Japanese phrase describing the sudden, precarious emergence of people and enterprises in the chaotic early occupation period.

GHQ

Supreme Allied command structure overseeing the occupation and administration of Japan.

SCAP

Allied-appointed authority, led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, overseeing Japan’s occupation and reform.

FEC

Allied oversight body providing guidance and approval for occupation policies in Japan. Primarily led by the US.

Civil Liberties Directive (SCAPIN-93, Oct. 1945)

Directive guaranteeing civil liberties, freedom of speech, the release of political prisoners, and political rights under occupation.

Purge Directive (SCAPIN-550)

Policy to remove militarists and ultranationalists from positions of power in government and industry. Bans them from holding or running for office

Kyodatsu

Term describing widespread postwar exhaustion, disorientation, and despair among the Japanese population.

Kasutori culture

Postwar Japanese popular culture characterized by cheap, sensational magazines, alcohol, the black market, and a sense of moral decline.

Sakaguchi Ango (1906-1955)

Japanese writer and critic who documented and commented on postwar culture and social decay.