The Occupation Forces and Reforms in Japan

The Occupation forces set about reforming Japan in terms of land holding, the constitution, education, and the economy. Land reform included a program for the dispossession of absentee landlords and the sale of land to tenants on easy terms. Land holding reform was also part of the constitutional reform. Under pressure from SCAP, the government sought to amend the 1889 Meiji Constitution, and on May 3, 1947 the new Japanese Constitution came into force, often called the "MacArthur Constitution." This document embodied constitutional reforms as well as economic reforms, including agricultural land redistribution, the reestablishment of trade unions, and severe proscriptions on zaibatsu. Educational reform meant rooting out the nationalist orientation seen in the system to replace it with a philosophy of democracy and individualism.

In the economy, SCAP operated on the assumption that Japan would be subjected to a series of "economic democratization" policies, and the initial intent was to see to it that Japan did not enjoy a higher economic level than any of the neighboring Asiatic countries that had been threatened by Japanese aggression. Economic recovery was not the primary intent of the occupying forces. Policy was implemented on four major fronts--restriction of zaibatsu-connected firms, dissolution of holding companies, elimination of excessive economic power, and the introduction of an anti-monopoly act. The reform was to be thorough, and the Japanese econo

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eserve the strength of the family. Work for the woman is not an alternative to the role of housewife but an extension of that home role. 4. The educational system in Japan reflects the fact that the Japanese have placed a high value on education throughout their modern history. Educational opportunities increased after World War II, and the system was then expanded and educational inequality was reduced. The student today is prepared for the highly competitive university entrance examinations, and this event occupies a great deal of the attention of both parents and students. The entrance examination is a major turning point in a young man's life, and it requires many years of planning and hard work to achieve success. Preparation begins early in a child's life as the parents seek to gain admission for their child in schools known for being successful at preparing students for the examinations. This first means gaining admission to an elite kindergarten, and at every level students also attend private schools after hours in preparation. The university system prepares young men for entrance into the professions and business, but in another way it serves more to rate them according to their ability and diligence. Young m

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