last highlighted date: 2024-11-14
Highlights
- apanese Foreign Affairs Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signs the Japanese Instrument of Surrender aboard the USS Missouri as General Richard K. Sutherland watches. (September 2, 1945)
- After Japanese military officials ignored an ultimatum issued by the Allies on July 26, 1945, the decision was made to deploy a new and terrible weapon.
- Between 70,000 and 80,000 people were killed instantly by the blast, and another 70,000 were injured. Many more would die from burns and radiation sickness in the coming weeks.
- Japanese military leaders concluded that the United States had used their only atomic weapon (or, at worst, had only one or two more). Japan chose to continue fighting.
- On August 15, (V-J Day), President Truman appointed General Douglas MacArthur Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP). MacArthur was tasked with organizing and implementing the occupation of Japan. Unlike the occupation of Germany, which was shared between the four victorious Allies, the United States dominated the occupation of Japan.
- At the surrender ceremony on the deck of the USS Missouri, one person was conspicuously absent: Japanese Emperor Hirohito.
- His thesis, The Psychology of the Japanese Soldier, explained in detail the Shinto Japanese belief that the Emperor, as a descendent of the sun goddess, was considered a living deity to be worshipped by his people.
- When Colonel Fellers came to Tokyo to work as Chief of Psychological Operations under SCAP, he drew heavily from his thesis to develop a Wedge Theory. Specifically, he proposed that a wedge be driven between the Emperor and Japan’s military leadership in the minds of the Japanese people.
- General Douglas MacArthur with Emperor Hirohito.
- Nevertheless, the “Emperor as Peacemaker” narrative was embraced. The Chrysanthemum Throne remained intact, but the Emperor was humanized.
- In 1979, Hirohito became the world’s last living Emperor, although the title was symbolic. He died in 1989, making his reign the longest in Japanese history.
- The judges spent fifteen months reaching a verdict. Seven defendants were sentenced to death by hanging. Two died during the trial proceedings, and one was found incompetent to stand trial. Sixteen defendants were sentenced to life in prison.
- Three judges publicly objected to the immunity granted Emperor Hirohito.
- In separate trials, 5,700 lower ranking personnel were tried for war crimes throughout Asia and the Pacific. Of these, 984 were sentenced to death, and 475 received life sentences.
- In another controversial decision, MacArthur granted immunity to all personnel from the notorious Unit 731 (biological warfare and human experimentation), in exchange for their data.
- In December, 1945, the Shinto Directive was issued, abolishing state support for the Shinto religion.
- The first election was held on April 10, 1946. The first Prime Minister, Shigeru Yoshida was elected.
- MacArthur began to draw down the powers of SCAP in 1949, transferring more power to the Japanese government. The Treaty of San Francisco was signed on September 8, 1951, and went into effect on April 28, 1952, officially ending the occupation.
- By 1954, the military was reorganized as the Self Defense Forces. In reality, the defense of Japan was shouldered by the United States, much like Western Europe depended on NATO during the Cold War years.
- The educational reforms implemented during the occupation received a great deal of credit for the economic miracle of postwar Japan. Japan achieved the world’s highest literacy rate, and placed an emphasis on academic achievement, which contributed to their technological advancement.
- The Westernization of Japanese culture began during the occupation, and continued throughout the the 20th century. American books, movies, and music gained popularity in Japan. Meanwhile, Americans became interested in touchstones of Japanese culture such as anime cartoons, monster movies, and martial arts.
- Japan was welcomed into global community in 1956, when Japan joined the United Nations, and again in 1964, when Tokyo hosted the Olympic Games.