Japan in the post war era

I think Japan got a great deal out of World War II. They became a great economic power and produce high quality electronics goods. In the 1860's and 1870's, it was incredible how they cought up quickly with industrialization and catching up to the western world. In one generation they moved from feudalism to industrialization. During feudal times the power constantly shifted between the samurais and the emperors and when the Emperor Meiji finally took control int eh late 1800's they became a power to be reckon with. They became a colonizing power specially in Northern China and Korea. After WWII they became an ally of the US and they are benefitting from the relationship. They get to exporst a lot of their stuff to us and we have a hard time selling our stuff to them. Even with video games for example. They have that market cornered. They control almost all the video game makers and the new games and system come out there first. I think we should start exporting more there and take pride with American made products

Don't think the Japanese people don't work their asses off to get where they are today. And the U.S. economy is in much better shape currently than the Japanese one. At least until our energy crisis worsens. <IMG SRC="smilies/mad2.gif" border="0"> Much of the credit for Japan and the U.S. friendship and rebuilding has to go tho the Marshall Plan and President Truman. The intent was not to punish Japan for losing the War, but to help it rebuild as a Democracy and become a strong, stable allie. Same for Germany. One of the smartest thing the U.S. has ever done and makes me proud of this country. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

Well and the rebuilding of Japand and Germany helped in the Cold War against the Soviet Union.

Theman, thank you for giving us a brief lesson on the 'Meiji Restoration' of which the Japanese military reformation was modeled after Germany whose unification was finally completed in the year 1870 at the Franco-Prussian war led by her chancellor, Bismarck.

The imbalance of the import and export trade between USA and Japan in elctronic goods and VCR is due to the fact that USA sold the computer chips and VCR copy rights to Japan for a few dollars.
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Originally posted by koolking:
<STRONG>Well and the rebuilding of Japand and Germany helped in the Cold War against the Soviet Union.</STRONG>

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Yes It helped the U.S. but it helped Germany and Japan so much more. People risked their lives for years trying to cross the Berlin wall. Why? Freedom. West Germany was far better than East and I am sure that %99 of Germans would agree. People in Germany at that time never forgot the kindness of the U.S. personel when they needed it most. Same for the British personel. A British officer helped rebuild the Volkswagen factory which gave Germans jobs, income , and hope. Now look at VW one of the world's top car makers! (I should know!) All in all, getting Cold War Allies for the U.S. (Japan and Germany) was small potatoes compared to what the U.S. did to help out these countries when they needed it most.

Bravo! Laserblast

For one thing, I think that Japan's present state is because of Chairman Mao and the Communist takeover of Mainland China in October of 1949. This forced McArthur and SCAP (the governing body responsible for running Japan)to rethink Japan's role in the post war era and then and there it was determined that they were going to be a buffer state against the Communist East just like Taiwan and Israel both of which are buffer states and even Germany to a certain extent. Before the Communist takeover of China, the US had no problems with Chiang-Kai-Shek's government but then he was forced to flea to Taiwan and now we support Taiwan since it was basically China pre-49.

Your history is correct and MacArthur may have thought that way to some extent, but not Truman. Considering Japan and Germany and Taiwan nothing more than buffer states to halt Communism does a dis-service to these countries and the people that made them what they are today. History is too complex to single out individual factors as driving influences.