ating international trade policy for Japan and in assisting the development of domestic industry and protecting it from foreign competition. The authority of MITI gradually decreased as private industry and other ministries took more responsibility on themselves.
Through MITI, the Japanese government exerts pressure on behalf of various industries and institutes protectionist policies with regard to such businesses as automobile importation, thus preventing U.S. and other foreign automakers from gaining a foothold. The Japanese government exercised control over inward foreign investment and limiting imports of large vehicles during the formative years of the industry and at least into the 1970s. This created a sheltered market for domestic auto producers. Japanese cars have become a major success story in the United States, much to the chagrin of U.S. automakers. There were several reasons for this, including the higher price of oil, but the efforts of MITI must also be seen as contributory. In addition, the Japanese saw a need for smaller cars and filled it while American automakers tried to continue producing bigger cars for as long as possible, believing that the market would turn around.
3. In 1911 the concept of the "new woman" came into being through the efforts of playwright Ihara Seiseien, and the term was soon taken up by others writing about women's new roles. During the Taisho period there was a challenge to redefining women's roles, and a major forum for the debate was a l
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