History of Contemporary Japan

Day One: Items to Stimulate Questions

“People of the Southern Region” Osaka Puck December 1942

Wartime US images

From John Dower, War Without Mercy

U.S. Occupation, 1945-1952

U.S. Occupation: 1945-1952

Misora Hibari, 1937-1989

Prewar vs. Postwar“Peace Education”

1960: Pivot Year in Economics and Politics

1960-1989

• High growth• LDP dominance in politics• Growing affluence and growth of “middle

mass”• Trade friction• Post “oil crisis” Japan• Consumer society

1989-present

• Showa to Heisei• Decade of recession• Liberalization in Economy and Society• Post Cold War security issues• Conservative political rebirth:– LDP – New conservative political parties