Power and Culture in Japan: Postwar History (3) Class 7: Oct. 29, 2002

Recovery of early 1950s mid-1950 Korean War boosts demand 1951 Peace Treaty - Japan gains autonomy following year Virtuous cycle: –Korean war increased demand, –profits to invest, –new jobs, consumption and savings – more investment

Growth, era of high speed growth preconditions for growth –occupational and demographic structures –skills and motivations of laborers –experience of war and reconstruction –corporate organizations primed for economic advance Tokyo 1945 and today

Occupational Structures Percent of Labor Force Employed in Agriculture, 1955 Japan 41% West Germany 18% US 9% England 4% Source: Allinson (1997: 84)

Demographic factors for growth abundant supply of young workers – Population growth rapid Million Million Million attributes of workers also contribute to growth

Political Processes triangle of government, bureaucrats and businesses gyosei shido (government advisories) - informal means of guiding policies LDP gains support of big business and rural farmers opposition, yes, but limited impact Jun'ichiro KOIZUMI Current prime minister of Japan

Economic Processes international environment – access to raw materials – currency exchange rate stability – open world markets – booming international demand domestic context –Integrate production with small, medium firms –high personal savings rate –keiretsu

Social Processes occupational and geographical mobility cities expand, suburbs grow new style of family life: “New Middle Class” Education system meets needs of employers Wealth distributed more evenly, sources of status change Is Japan’s education system still doing the job?

Value and Meaning in Life "Afterlife" -- What say about generational differences, and sources of value in life? Full Moon Lunch (1977) Family run business, what choices, what opportunties

High Growth: Occupations Occupational distribution change over high growth era primary (farm, fish, forest) 41% 14% secondary ( mining, construction, 23% 34% industrial) tertiary (commerce, service, 36% 52% professions, gov't) Source: Allinson (1997: 110)

Family life in transition salaryman = symbol of success kyoiku mama (education mother) birth rate drops 3 C’s: –cooler (air conditioner), –car, –color TV Actresses from Makiko’s New World taking a break

Affluence, Cornerstones of expanding economy crumble in early and mid-1970s – access to raw materials – stable currency exchange – free international trade – high global demand

Domestic responses consumer goods saturation structural adjustment agricultural change continues rise of retail and service sectors –Japan becomes affluent, post-industrial society during this period ( )