Modern Japan
Nationalism and Internationalism
- Political protest drops to minimal levels from regular people and intelligentsia
- End of the Vietnam war
- First recession - mostly due to fuel prices and OPEC
- Continued problems with Russia over disputed islands
- Okinawa returned to Japanese sovereignty
- Yukio Mishima (1925-1970)
The "Economic Miracle"
- Ruled by a single political party
- strength and stability allowed economic steadiness
- Extensive govt and US investment in production
- Labor Relations
- Manufacturing Automation
- GNP growth twice that of nearest competitor, US
- US encouraged growth as opposition to communist China, but chafed at their success
The Lost Decade
- Heavy speculation
- Overinflated land values/Low interest rates = credit cheap and available
- 1989 - Nikkei had highest index ever (39,000)
- 1991 - Nikkei dives (15,000) and the bubble bursts
- Labor markets change, as old workers are protected but younger ones are not
- Sound familiar?
1995
- Great Hanshin Earthquake
- AUM subway gassing
Outside Sources
Asanuma assasinated
Mishima on Japanese Culture
Mishima on nationalism
Mishima's last moment
Traditional vs. Modern Japan
Japanese Nationalists
2001 article
Earthquake footage