JAPANESE HISTORY
Unit #2 EAST ASIA
Lesson #5
Modern Japanese History
Post-war Japan
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Japan utterly destroyed
All cities flattened
Millions homeless
Japan had to rebuild
Best hope: Japanese
would survive, but
Japan would remain
mediocre
Recovery from destruction
1. Japan worked hard to
rebuild
2. USA occupied Japan
(military control)
3. Japan forced to restructure
government
4. Emperor replaced by
democratic government
5. Had to surrender all
colonies
Economic Recovery
1. Japan retooled factories
2. Built cars, instead of tanks
and planes
3. American money poured into
Japan
4. Reason: an economically
strong Japan won’t need to
attack neighbors
5. Recovery was amazing:
called THE ECONOMIC
MIRACLE
New (Post-war) Japan
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A DEMOCRATIC nation
PACIFIST people
Devoted to BUSINESS SUCCESS
Recovery started with auto industry
Moved on to technical “things”
HIGH QUALITY
Current PM:
Youngest PM ever
Shinzo Abe
Modern Japan
Toyota Hybrid
Bullet Train
Modern Cities
The paradox of the Japanese:
Japanese Attitude
1. Quiet, peaceful, art
loving, nature loving
2. Ferocious, determined,
never quit, must win
Culture based on Samurai
Click – first 30 sec
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Warriors
Ruling class
A full 10% of society
Absolute control over other 90%
Demanded respect and honor
Samurai are NOT Ninja
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Ninja are assassins
Ninja are sneaky
Samurai do not hide
Samurai WANT to
be seen in battle
A ninja never wanted to be
seen
A Samurai always wanted to
be seen
The Geisha
click
1.
2.
3.
4.
Only found in Japan
Only women
Purpose: entertain men
Goal: make men feel
good
5. NOT prostitutes