Americas Japan- time and again America has acted like a big brother to Japan. Its primary concern might have been to restrict Russian influence, to open up the naval frontiers, to engage in regular trade with Asia, to establish shipwreck assistance, and foster the spirit of Christianity among the Asians. In the course of the US occupation it led to deep rooted influence with regards to the politics, culture, economy as well as emergence of Japan as one of the main Asian powers in the world.
The footprints of America are quite obvious in modern Japan, starting from their socio-economic structure to their military expenditure- all garnished with a topping of American influence. It all started on July 8, 1953 when American Commodore Matthew Perry arrived at Tokyo Bay, trying to bind the ties between Japan and the Western world. That was the step to open the US dominance in Japan. Not only Americans, but the major wealth and strategic locale of Japan had lured many other European powers to invade its coast. Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch had already ventured in the land during the 16th and 17th centuries but their continuing unfair trade practices had forced Japan to close its doors to foreigners. According to Bakufus policy of driving away foreigners
We have issued directions on how to deal with foreign ships on numerous occasions up to the presenttwo years ago they forced their way ashoreStole livestock and extorted rice. Thus the have become steadily unruly, and moreover seem to be propagating their wicked religion on our people... (p.1)
For the next two centuries Japan limited its trade practices to Chinese and Dutch with special charters. So Perry could open the maritime borders between the two countries after about two hundred years of isolation.
The second US occupation was in 1945-1947 after the defeat of Japan in World War II, when it had to accept the US governance. The paper would highlight on the consequential importance of both the US occupations on Japan and through historical interpretation which one among the two occupations had been more influential would be evaluated.
In 1853, Admiral Perry was a lifetime naval officer dared to venture in the forbidden waters around Tokyo, and landed with a letter from the US president addressed to the emperor of Japan. However, real power at that time was vested in the hands of Tokugawa Shogunate. The modern warfare and advanced firepower threatened Japan, and they receded under the pressure of Admiral Perrys Black Ships to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa on March 31, 1854. According to the treaty, Japan would protect the shipwrecked seamen and open two ports for the refuelling of American ships. Moreover, each of these ports could have the US appointed consuls and above all the US would be granted any future concessions that are made available to other foreign powers. This scope opened the doors of commerce between the two countries. Under Townsend Harris, the first US consul in Japan, the commercial treaty of Harris Treaty took place in 1858.
The treaty and the open co-ordination with America was a boon in disguise. Japan got the opportunity to modernise its military, strengthen its position in the Asian map and develop its economy with modern commercial transitions with America and other European countries. It also led to the fall of Shogunate and the formal gain of power by the emperor. Thus, there was long term and substantial influence of the US occupation in Japan which led to the overall development of Japan. It is also worth mentioning the US occupation as a great recourse to commercial interest of America as well as being handy in barring Russian advance and superiority.
While in the second phase (1945-47), it is synonymous to logical and streamlined development of Japan and its people
After years of antagonism between the US and imperial Japan and the massive destruction of human lives on both sides, World War II finally ended with Japans unconditional surrender on 15 August, 1945. Immediately, General Douglas MacArthur and his occupation forces, invaded bombed-out Japan, and occupied it until 1952Many Japanese feared American reprisal. MacArthur declared that his intention was to reorient and rehabilitate Japan into a peaceful and democratic nation. (Dower, 1986 Political Reorientation of Japan, n.d)
During the first phase of American occupation, they were more of traders searching for coal reserves, and trying to place Japan as a suitable refuelling station. Harris and Perry came and assumed the role as sailorstraders under the governance of Japanese authority. They could only pressurize for treaties and had no control over the country or the people. While in the second phase, America had gained an upper hand, as it was in total control of the government machinery. Japan was defeated and had to surrender its all political power to America and allies. Hence America had profound scope and time to shape it as a nation. The American policy was quite a success here in Japan
Judged on its own terms, the occupation had been unexpectedly amicable and despite the so called revere course, that marked the shift in US policies from reform to rehabilitation of Japan Some of the most dramatic and consequential reforms carried out under the early democratization program, such as sweeping land reform of 1946-47, and the new constitution promulgated in 1946as a whole was fundamentally progressive. (Dower, 1986)
Thus, political, economic and cultural influences were more profound in the latter era of the US occupation in Japan.
Japan owes its advancement to American occupation. American influence triggered industrial growth in Japan, and eventually the industrial sector of Japan became the second largest in the world after the U.S (Tetsuo and Dower, n.d.) Moreover, America helped Japan to democratize and form a stable form of government. It pressurized Japan to create a strong military base to the extent that Japan has now become the sixth major country in spending on warfare. Thus, true to the fact that the second interlude of America in Japan is more noteworthy and influential than the earlier one in the 18th century.
The footprints of America are quite obvious in modern Japan, starting from their socio-economic structure to their military expenditure- all garnished with a topping of American influence. It all started on July 8, 1953 when American Commodore Matthew Perry arrived at Tokyo Bay, trying to bind the ties between Japan and the Western world. That was the step to open the US dominance in Japan. Not only Americans, but the major wealth and strategic locale of Japan had lured many other European powers to invade its coast. Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch had already ventured in the land during the 16th and 17th centuries but their continuing unfair trade practices had forced Japan to close its doors to foreigners. According to Bakufus policy of driving away foreigners
We have issued directions on how to deal with foreign ships on numerous occasions up to the presenttwo years ago they forced their way ashoreStole livestock and extorted rice. Thus the have become steadily unruly, and moreover seem to be propagating their wicked religion on our people... (p.1)
For the next two centuries Japan limited its trade practices to Chinese and Dutch with special charters. So Perry could open the maritime borders between the two countries after about two hundred years of isolation.
The second US occupation was in 1945-1947 after the defeat of Japan in World War II, when it had to accept the US governance. The paper would highlight on the consequential importance of both the US occupations on Japan and through historical interpretation which one among the two occupations had been more influential would be evaluated.
In 1853, Admiral Perry was a lifetime naval officer dared to venture in the forbidden waters around Tokyo, and landed with a letter from the US president addressed to the emperor of Japan. However, real power at that time was vested in the hands of Tokugawa Shogunate. The modern warfare and advanced firepower threatened Japan, and they receded under the pressure of Admiral Perrys Black Ships to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa on March 31, 1854. According to the treaty, Japan would protect the shipwrecked seamen and open two ports for the refuelling of American ships. Moreover, each of these ports could have the US appointed consuls and above all the US would be granted any future concessions that are made available to other foreign powers. This scope opened the doors of commerce between the two countries. Under Townsend Harris, the first US consul in Japan, the commercial treaty of Harris Treaty took place in 1858.
The treaty and the open co-ordination with America was a boon in disguise. Japan got the opportunity to modernise its military, strengthen its position in the Asian map and develop its economy with modern commercial transitions with America and other European countries. It also led to the fall of Shogunate and the formal gain of power by the emperor. Thus, there was long term and substantial influence of the US occupation in Japan which led to the overall development of Japan. It is also worth mentioning the US occupation as a great recourse to commercial interest of America as well as being handy in barring Russian advance and superiority.
While in the second phase (1945-47), it is synonymous to logical and streamlined development of Japan and its people
After years of antagonism between the US and imperial Japan and the massive destruction of human lives on both sides, World War II finally ended with Japans unconditional surrender on 15 August, 1945. Immediately, General Douglas MacArthur and his occupation forces, invaded bombed-out Japan, and occupied it until 1952Many Japanese feared American reprisal. MacArthur declared that his intention was to reorient and rehabilitate Japan into a peaceful and democratic nation. (Dower, 1986 Political Reorientation of Japan, n.d)
During the first phase of American occupation, they were more of traders searching for coal reserves, and trying to place Japan as a suitable refuelling station. Harris and Perry came and assumed the role as sailorstraders under the governance of Japanese authority. They could only pressurize for treaties and had no control over the country or the people. While in the second phase, America had gained an upper hand, as it was in total control of the government machinery. Japan was defeated and had to surrender its all political power to America and allies. Hence America had profound scope and time to shape it as a nation. The American policy was quite a success here in Japan
Judged on its own terms, the occupation had been unexpectedly amicable and despite the so called revere course, that marked the shift in US policies from reform to rehabilitation of Japan Some of the most dramatic and consequential reforms carried out under the early democratization program, such as sweeping land reform of 1946-47, and the new constitution promulgated in 1946as a whole was fundamentally progressive. (Dower, 1986)
Thus, political, economic and cultural influences were more profound in the latter era of the US occupation in Japan.
Japan owes its advancement to American occupation. American influence triggered industrial growth in Japan, and eventually the industrial sector of Japan became the second largest in the world after the U.S (Tetsuo and Dower, n.d.) Moreover, America helped Japan to democratize and form a stable form of government. It pressurized Japan to create a strong military base to the extent that Japan has now become the sixth major country in spending on warfare. Thus, true to the fact that the second interlude of America in Japan is more noteworthy and influential than the earlier one in the 18th century.
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