Japan Politics Essay, Research Paper

In 1960 Japan was ruled by the conservative LDP. Nabuski Kitchie ran the LDP, a

man who had been jailed as a war criminal during the occupation. His comeback

can be attributed to his pre-war contacts in big business. Kitchie believed to

survive Japan?s economy had to grow. I order to do so Japan’s businesses had

to be disciplined. Kitchie gave directives to the ministry to pass on to the

heads of big business. These directives were much like orders from a general.

Some Japanese people began to rebel against the growing central control the

nation was taking. They feared that democracy was being overridden for the sake

of economic prosperity. Other groups began to voice opinions regarding the

direction they felt Japan should move in. There were many forces pulling at

Japan, political demonstrations, walkouts and strikes in Japan?s largest

industries. This was a time of crisis in modern Japanese history. The Japanese

had signed a treaty with the United States, which scattered military bases and

nuclear weapons throughout Japan. Fearing the United States would use Japan as a

battleground for the Cold War, they were against the renewing of the treaty.

Kitchie however, believed with the Americans responsible for their national

security, they could use their resources to build their economy. Kitchie met

with President Eisenhower and assured him the treaty would be passed by the time

of his visit to Japan. Fearing the protests could affect the passing of the

treaty Kitchie used his power in nefarious ways to insure the passing of the

treaty. As a final attempt to stop the passing of the treaty, the Socialist

politicians tried to barricade the speaker in his chambers to prevent the vote.

Kitchie sent in troops to escort the speaker to the Diet Chamber to proceed with

the vote. Because there were no Socialists in the Chamber at the time of the

vote the treaty was ratified. Upon hearing the news, Japanese students attacked

the government in a huge protest. During this protest a student was killed. Due

to the anti-American theme of the time President Eisenhower cancelled his visit

to Japan. Kitchie was completely embarrassed and resigned just five days after

the treaty was ratified. Labor unions became a thorn in the side of big

business. Despite legal agreements between the unions and business to the

contrary 1200 workers were laid off. Picket lines made national attention after

a man in line was stabbed. To further complicate national matters, a right wing

fanatic assassinated Umajio Asanuma, the leader of the Socialist Party at the

podium of the Diet Chamber. This forced Japan to realize that they had to unite

the people to insure economic growth. To bring unity to Japan enters a

bureaucrat Ikeda Hayato. At this time big business and the government were on

the same team. MITI, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, was the

primary Japanese government agency charged with the formulation and execution of

industrial policy (Pacific Century, page 257). MITI decided Japan?s future was

dependent on electronics. Supported by the government, the Japanese were able to

invent new products. The government let big business form kaitsu, grouping of

banks, manufacturers and distributors. These kaitsu would violate anti-trust

laws in the United States, but worked for Japan?s economy. Japanese companies

shared technology and resources to accelerate the economy. Japanese products

entered the American markets, and began to affect American companies. Japan

concentrated on technological advantages and low prices, where the United States

concentrated on customer service; as a result Americans lost jobs. Between 1985

and 1992 the United States spent over 30 billion dollars on military bases to

defend Japan. During that same period Japanese companies spent more than one

hundred billion buying American businesses and real estate. They went on to buy

over 41 million dollars of the United States growing debt. They are 120 million

people working in harmony for the sole purpose of building economic power for

Japan Inc., which have succeeded in making Japan a world economic power.