IB HL History – PP3: Impact of US Occupation on Japan
Area of Impact Impact Explanation
Politics The US occupation of Japan transformed the political structure of Japan to a large extent as Japanese politics were to
revolve around the Japanese people. This gave rise to a more democratic political system as compared to that of the
Taisho Democracy.
- According to the 1947 MacArthur Constitution, the Emperor had now become a ‘symbol of the state and of the
unity of the people’ rather than ‘the head of the Empire’, resulting in the Emperor taking a backseat in Japanese
politics.
- Institutions that previously held signifcant political power such as the Privy Council that advised the Emperor on
affairs concerning the state, and the military who dominated Japanese politics in the 1930s, were abolished.
- In turn, the Diet became the highest organ of power and the sole law-making body of the state. Furthermore, it
was to be compromised of the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives, where members of both
houses had to be elected into power by the Japanese people.
- The ban on the formation of political parties was also lifted, together with the granting of universal suffrage to all
Japanese adults. This allowed all Japanese adults to vote for one of the 363 political parties and many other one-
man delegates during general elections.
- Having the political system structured as such put political power was indirectly in the hands of the Japanese
people, as they could have the complete freedom to elect politicians into the Diet and could do so on one’s self-
interest, without the interference of external forces, such as the Emperor, Privy Council, and the military.
- In addition, these changes in the political structure were deemed successful as there were frequent changes in the
elected members of the Diet - an indication of Japanese participation in elections; the Liberal party won the most
seats in 1946, followed by the Socialists won the in the 1947, and an increase in seats won by the Communist
party in 1949 (from four to thirty-fve seats). Hence, the US occupation of Japan transformed the political structure
of Japan by transferring complete political power to the Japanese people, allowing for the development of a
democratic political system in Japan.
THE REVERSE COURSE CHANGED THIS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT:
The occupation however initiated a reversal of such a transformation in light of the growing threat of Communism in Asia
– with the USSR securing it spheres of infuence in Eastern Europe, the emergence of Communist China (1949) and in the
outbreak of the Korean War (1950). The American view on Japan began to change as a result- Japan was seen as a
deterrent against the spread of Communism In Asia. Therefore, the policies that were implemented hindered the
transformation of Japan’s political and social structure by restricting the powers of the people during the reverse course.
- The Red Purge (1948-1950), organised by SCAP, resulted in 13,000 people that were alleged to be part of the
Japan Communist Party to be ousted from their public or private sector jobs on the grounds that their political
activities were impeding the goals of the occupation.
- The Subversive Activities Prevention Law (1952) was legalised to restrict the activities or even dissolve
organisation involved in certain terroristic subversive activities.
- The trade union laws of 1945 were clamped down to prevent Communist takeover of these unions, which restricted
worker’s rights to strike and to exercise democracy.
- As such, this greatly undermined the democratic political structure in Japan, as well as the institutions that upheld
the social structures in Japan. They were reminiscent of the Peace Preservation laws passed in Imperial Japan in
1
Area of Impact Impact Explanation
Politics The US occupation of Japan transformed the political structure of Japan to a large extent as Japanese politics were to
revolve around the Japanese people. This gave rise to a more democratic political system as compared to that of the
Taisho Democracy.
- According to the 1947 MacArthur Constitution, the Emperor had now become a ‘symbol of the state and of the
unity of the people’ rather than ‘the head of the Empire’, resulting in the Emperor taking a backseat in Japanese
politics.
- Institutions that previously held signifcant political power such as the Privy Council that advised the Emperor on
affairs concerning the state, and the military who dominated Japanese politics in the 1930s, were abolished.
- In turn, the Diet became the highest organ of power and the sole law-making body of the state. Furthermore, it
was to be compromised of the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives, where members of both
houses had to be elected into power by the Japanese people.
- The ban on the formation of political parties was also lifted, together with the granting of universal suffrage to all
Japanese adults. This allowed all Japanese adults to vote for one of the 363 political parties and many other one-
man delegates during general elections.
- Having the political system structured as such put political power was indirectly in the hands of the Japanese
people, as they could have the complete freedom to elect politicians into the Diet and could do so on one’s self-
interest, without the interference of external forces, such as the Emperor, Privy Council, and the military.
- In addition, these changes in the political structure were deemed successful as there were frequent changes in the
elected members of the Diet - an indication of Japanese participation in elections; the Liberal party won the most
seats in 1946, followed by the Socialists won the in the 1947, and an increase in seats won by the Communist
party in 1949 (from four to thirty-fve seats). Hence, the US occupation of Japan transformed the political structure
of Japan by transferring complete political power to the Japanese people, allowing for the development of a
democratic political system in Japan.
THE REVERSE COURSE CHANGED THIS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT:
The occupation however initiated a reversal of such a transformation in light of the growing threat of Communism in Asia
– with the USSR securing it spheres of infuence in Eastern Europe, the emergence of Communist China (1949) and in the
outbreak of the Korean War (1950). The American view on Japan began to change as a result- Japan was seen as a
deterrent against the spread of Communism In Asia. Therefore, the policies that were implemented hindered the
transformation of Japan’s political and social structure by restricting the powers of the people during the reverse course.
- The Red Purge (1948-1950), organised by SCAP, resulted in 13,000 people that were alleged to be part of the
Japan Communist Party to be ousted from their public or private sector jobs on the grounds that their political
activities were impeding the goals of the occupation.
- The Subversive Activities Prevention Law (1952) was legalised to restrict the activities or even dissolve
organisation involved in certain terroristic subversive activities.
- The trade union laws of 1945 were clamped down to prevent Communist takeover of these unions, which restricted
worker’s rights to strike and to exercise democracy.
- As such, this greatly undermined the democratic political structure in Japan, as well as the institutions that upheld
the social structures in Japan. They were reminiscent of the Peace Preservation laws passed in Imperial Japan in
1
