eli5 How did Japan become a technology superpower after WW2?
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Basically, a combination of forward-looking US policy and early cold war fears of Japan turning to communism, plus income/influence from US bases.
>This economic miracle was the result of post-World War II Japan and West Germany benefitting from the Cold War. The American government reformed Japanese society during the occupation of Japan, making political, economic and civic changes.[1][2] It occurred chiefly due to the economic interventionism of the Japanese government and partly due to the aid and assistance of the U.S. aid to Asia.[3] After World War II, the U.S. established a significant presence in Japan to slow the expansion of Soviet influence in the Pacific. The U.S. was also concerned with the growth of the economy of Japan because there was a risk that an unhappy and poor Japanese population would turn to communism and by doing so, ensure Soviet control over the Pacific.[1]
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>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_economic_miracle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_economic_miracle)
It had the knock-on benefit of making Japan a staunch US ally in the region… “the only way to truly defeat an enemy is to make him your friend.”
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