Page 65 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

THE HIST OR Y OF JAP AN  63

general strike was canceled and communists
were purged from government jobs.
By 1952, when the occupation end ed, the
war in Korea had turned into a boon for the
Japanese economy. Industrial production
surged as the average household set its
sights on obtaining electrical appliances.
In 1960, massive protests against the
ratification of the US-Japan Security Treaty
Aftermath of the bombing of Tokyo in 1945 rocked Japan, leading to the cancellation
of a visit by President Eisenhower.
When the US cut off Japanese access to oil, The prime minister re signed.
Tokyo made the desperate decision to seize Prosperity based on exports like
Pacific territory in a sneak attack on automobiles and tech nological
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in December pro ducts made Japan one of the
1941. A few months later, Japan world’s richest nations and helped
took Southeast Asia. keep the Liberal Demo cratic Party
By 1944, American bombers were the dominant force in politics
decimating Japanese cit ies, but since its creation in 1955. In the
the Japanese army was determined 2009 general election, they were
not to surren der unconditionally, Akihito, who was made finally defeated by the Democratic
opting instead for a suicidal defen- emperor in 1989 Party of Japan. In March 2011,
sive strategy. In August 1945, the US Tohuku, in northeast Japan, was
dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and hit by the largest recorded earthquake in
Nagasaki, and the Soviet Union entered the Japan’s history. The subsequent tsunami
war in the Pacific. Emperor Hirohito ordered caused massive destruction along the
the cabinet to sue for peace. northeast shore line, and considerable
damage to the Fuku shima Daiichi nuclear
Japan Since 1945 power plant. Despite suffering major
Although World War II ended in disaster, the damage and loss of life, Japan is recovering.
experience mobilized the Japanese people
toward self-discipline and cooperation. The
Allied Occupation force began arriving as
millions of homeless Japanese returned to
bombed-out cities. The emperor renounced
his divine status and land reform was imple-
mented. Against the back drop of escalating
Cold War tensions, the reformist ardor of
the occupation leadership soon cooled; a High-tech games in Roppongi, Tokyo

1997 Economic recession in Southeast 2001 Baby girl born to Crown
1937 Second Sino-Japanese war begins;
140,000 Chinese massacred in Nanjing Asia, spreading to Japan Prince Naruhito
1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake
1945 Atomic bombs dropped on in Kobe; fanatical cult releases 2014 Consumption
Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Japan surrenders sarin gas on Tokyo Subway tax rises from 5 to
8 percent
1925 1940 1955 1970 1985 2000 2015
1964 Tokyo Olympics; first “bullet 2011 Major earth-
train”; government begins to quake and tsunami
Prayers of promote computer industry causes destruction
a soldier to Northern Honshu
1923 Great Kanto 1989 Emperor Hirohito (Showa)
Earthquake 1941 Japan enters World War II dies; Akihito is new emperor Shinkansen (“bullet train”)

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