Japan After World War II

Wars in Modern Asia

• World War II

• Korean War

• Vietnam War

What are the types of conditions which affect a country after a

war ?

• Physical Conditions (ex. land)• Buildings Destroyed• People Killed• Crops Destroyed

• Political Conditions • Change of Government• Economy Change

World War II

• September 1939- War Breaks out in Europe• United States did not enter the war in Europe until after war declared

in Asia.• War in Europe lasted from 1939 -1945

• December 7, 1941- Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor

Why do you think Japan Attack Pearl Harbor?

Conditions which lead to War

• What do you we know about Japan in relation to their physical geography?

• Lack of Natural Resources• Very Mountainous• Island Nation• Limited Land• Overpopulated

Based upon these conditions what do you think Japan would try to do to

improve their economy?

• Trade

What country in the Asia is a large country with lots of natural resources?

• China

What if other countries are not willing to trade, what may the Japanese do?

Japan Invades China

• In 1937 Japan invades China to secure control of China vast raw

material.

Japanese control over China in 1940

United States and Western Involvement

• The US and other countries start embargos against Japan on items such as oil , steel and other materials to push Japan to leave China.

• What is an Embargo?

• Prohibits trade between certain countries in order to isolate them and to suffer economically.

Start of World War II in Asia

• Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Why did Japan attack the United States?

• Pressure for Japan to withdraw from China• Embargos by the US and other countries on

products to Japan.• Negotiations did not work • United States fire bombs Tokyo and other Japan

cities. • United States drops atomic bombs on two Japanese

cities 'in 1945.

Effects of War on Japan

Tokyo Before the War

Fire Raids on Tokyo

Atomic Bombs

United States Drops Two Atomic Bombs

• Hiroshima - August 6, 1945• Nagasaki - August 9, 1945

Why did the United States drop the Atom Bombs on Japan?

• War in the Pacific had lasted 4 years.• United States want to end the war to

limit the loss of life.• Russia was negotiations with Japan for

peace.• The United States did not want to share

control of Japan with Russia.

End of War

• Japan surrender on August 15 , 1945• Treaty signed September 1945 – official surrender.• United States occupies Japan until 1952.

• What does it mean to occupy?

What were the changes in Japan politically and

economically?

Japan’s Government After WWII • 1947 – New Constitution• Constitutional Monarchy with Parliamentary

Government.• The Diet is highest law making body.• Emperor was head of government prior to 1945, now a

symbolic head of state or figure head.

• In April 1952, Japan became a fully independent nation.

• What is a figurehead?

• Article 9Japan no longer can be a aggressor of war. Can not use land, sea, or air power to settle international disputes.

How did they recover?

Japan’s infrastructure was gone.

What is infrastructure? • Transportation systems• Industry• Housing• Services• Communication

Japan’s Economy After the War

• Free Enterprise System or Capitalism• After World War II fast growing economy in

the world• 2nd Largest Economy in the World Today• Government and Industry still close relationship

Japan’s New Economy

Japan brought in raw materials to make goods to export.

Name items which Japan exports.• Cars• Computers• Electronics• Motorcycles

Working Women in Japan

• With United States occupation of Japan after the war, women were given more rights.

• Women priority to family was a changed to the individual.

• Equal Pay for Equal Work• More women working outside the home starting

during the war.• Women worked as part of war effort.

Japan Today