Notes for World History
JAPAN RECOVERS (2)
HURDLES IN JAPAN’S RECOVERY
- There was good deal of anti-American feelings in some quarters. For instance, the renewal of defence treaty with the USA in 1960 caused strikes; further, Japanese culture was seen to be decaying under American influence.
- There was working-class unrest at long working hours and overcrowded living conditions.
- During the early 1970s the high economic growth came to an end. One of the reasons was decline of Japanese competitiveness in certain industries such as shipbuilding and steel.
- Japanese exports had to face protests abroad in countries in such as USA, Canada and Europe since Japanese exports flooded foreign markets while refusing to buy comparable amount of imports.
JAPAN RECOVERS (3)
HOW WAS JAPAN’S RAPID RECOVERY POSSIBLE?
- American help was vital in the early years of Japanese recovery. The USA decided that an economically healthy Japan would be a strong bulwark against the spread of communism in south-east Asia.
- The Korean war gave an important boost to Japan’s recovery. Japan was used as base for the UN forces involved in Korea; Japanese manufacturers were used to provide materials and supplies.
- Much of Japan’s industry had been destroyed during the war; this enabled the new factories and plants to start afresh with all the latest technology
- Recovery was helped by a series of stable govts. Liberal Democratic party which ruled from 1952 to 1993 was pro-business.
