eli5 How did Japan become a technology superpower after WW2?
In: Other
The government encouraged the development because they realized it would be the next growing industry. They were also helped by a favorable relationship with the US after WWII as a democratic Japan was seen as a defense against the spread of communism. so they benefited from favorable terms in trading with the biggest consumer of the new technology, the US.
With a lot of American intervention. When the American forces occupied post war Japan a main priority was to get their industrial base humming again. The US identified major industries and companies that they felt could be instrumental in rebuilding their economy for the century and beyond. Cars, optics, electronics, and airplanes were particular areas of focus. It is no shock to anyone that the Shikansen started in 1964, as high speed transit was quickly identified as a ‘must have’ post world war 2. In short, they didn’t really have any other choice.
American policy in Japan after world war 2 was strangely progressive. General MacArthur (a deeply flawed character) was insistent on treating the mustered out Japanese army with respect and dignity, and that civil society was to be rebuilt fairly for the Japanese people.
During reconstruction, they were able to improve a lot of infrastructure and that helped speed up some of the modernization of the country
I forgot the start, but there was a guy who tried to show the American automotive big 3 how to make factories more efficient. Specifically quality control.
If a bad product comes off the line, it can be scrapped and there’s lost time/labor, or it could be shipped as is and lose customers.
But he was blunt, and very much an engineer, zero rizz all math. So when he talked to executives it would be like Sheldon from big bang telling a boardroom they’re stupid because they allow waste in a language they didn’t understand. If the did understand, they’d get mad at him for insulting them and kick him out.
The Japanese listened, and so all products Japan makes meet the highest standard each step of the way to reduce waste and keep customers.
They were already a technology wonder before the war. They continued what they had been doing by focusing on education and learning from other countries. In 1860 Japan was still in the middle ages. By 1940 they were building aircraft carriers.
The Korean War helped a lot to kick-start the Japanese economy. A lot of American money went into Japan over the war years and shortly thereafter to establish a local military infrastructure in that part of the world.
They were already one in WW2, just no one really noticed.
There were lots of places where they had technological advantages, but they couldn’t match the US industrial production or population advantage, and they were overextended, so it all came to nought.
They never had a chance really.
After the war they continued to develop.
Dare I say commitment and patriotism?
Because the government under the emperor before the war was all about war for expansion and oil etc.
When the United States took over Japan and installed the Constitution war wasn’t a priority it was all about capitalism. A lot of the companies that you see today were around before the war Mitsubishi etc.
Japan took off money wise, same thing happened with South Korea when the United States got involved. South Korea did a lot of its rebuilding by itself though
As there’s some good answers already, a question to add to it – did the fact Japan’s military spending was so severely restricted after WW2 help? So they just dumped money into technology development instead?
Latest Answers