The Early Years of the American Occupation of Japan

America didn't take its post war occupation of Japan lightly, in fact, it took the occupation very seriously. General MacArthur; the major figurehead of the U.S military, and the general that had led U.S troops to take Manilla, Philappenes back from the Japanese (a major turning point in the Pacific war, laid down a very rock solid list of 3 goals referred to as the 3d's. The 3d's were Demilitarization, Democratization, and Decentralization; and each of these d's served a very specific purpose in the effort to bring Japan back into the international community as a respectable and reformed member.

Demilitarization included stripping Japan of its wartime spoils, including territories in China, Korea, Taiwan, Manchuria, and Sakhalin. Stripping Japan of these territories also meant recalling the thousands of Japanese citizens, both soldiers and civilians, back to the redefined Japanese territories (the main Japanese islands). Additionally, this phase of reformation called upon an international panel of judges to try Japan's war criminals. Nearly 6,000 Japanese found themselves on the docket in 1946, and around 900 were sentenced to death for their participation in the atrocities of the war (McClain, 2002). Further reforms geared toward ridding the country of wartime supporters left more than 200,000 without jobs, booted from their positions for militaristic and ultra-nationalist beliefs (McClain, 2002).

Democratization found a complicated path as General MacArthur demanded a new political structure from Japan. Although the emperor was allowed to remain a prominent figure in Japan, he was to become a figurehead for ceremonies and Japanese society, rather than the sovereign and sacred figure he'd once been. Each of these initiatives were completed via the new constitution.

Although the constitution had been drafted by the Japanese, they were rather threateningly coaxed into using an American model drafted for them by a MacArthur appointed committee. This was done after the initial Japanese drafted constitution received both occupation and Japanese citizen reprimand. The new constitution adopted a great deal of what the American model offered; a list of new personal rights, a powerful bicameral Diet, and a vow of peace. With this, democratization was, to General MacArthur and the occupation, well on its way.

While the constitution was rather forcefully written, it remains in place today with pride. One reason for this is the widespread support the constitution received from the Japanese public. The new list of civil liberties were desperately desired by postwar citizens devastated and depressed by the war. These citizens were eager for reform, and are a main reason why the constitution went over so well. Additionally, the Japanese were able to create the final draft, offer suggestions for change, and keep the imperialistic figurehead that symbolized Japanese tradition.

Lastly, MacArthur undertook Decentralization. Within Japan there was a great centralization of power which MacArthur believed prevented smaller businesses from profiting from success. The monopolization of power and industry by large corporations (zaibatsu) had the contacts, power, and money, to keep business in their hands, and out of the hands of entrepreneurs. The decentralization of power also hit landowners hard. In an effort to bring economic stability and monetary resources to rural communities, MacArthur set about breaking up the concentration of landownership. The SCAP (Supreme Commander of Allied Powers)* bought land from monopolizing landowners and sold that land back to the people for reduced costs. Needless to say, wealthy landowners took a huge hit as their incomes went out the door and tenant farmers took on landownership of their own. This arrangement also forced former "landlords" to work their own land, a task they were long out of practice with.

Education reforms were widespread during this particular phase. Educational emphasis had previously been on areas which MacArthur and the SCAP believed encouraged militancy and ultra-nationalism. The occupation, with the support of the Japanese government and its citizens, devised a new focus on the education areas which brought about the type of learning that had benefited the industrialized West. Additionally, emphasis was put on peace within the nation and with international relations as a means of building and maintaining a better Japan.

Decentralization was a huge undertaking, and highly ambitious, but these ideals in their purest form wouldn't survive past 1948. Some of the initiatives taken were reversed or tossed out within each of the 3d's, most coming from decentralization. The most significant back-peddling was done in the "zaibatsu busting" department, or the area focused on breaking up and getting rid of Japan's large monopolizing corporations. Even MacArthur realized, in the face of harsh criticism, that doing away with all Japan's zaibatsu would only create a nation full of "small shopkeepers" (McClain, 2002), a characteristic that would economically disadvantage the recovering nation.

Of all the reforms, the most lasting and significant was the new constitution. Not only did it ride out the storm of reversals during 1948, but it also remained firmly in place after the American pull-out. The strength of the constitution can be seen in the legacy that lasts today.

*SCAP refers to both MacArthur and the organization that he built to undertake the occupation.

McClain, J. (2002). Japan: A Modern History. Norton and Company, Inc. New York, NY.