I. "Impact of the US Occupation"

At the end of WWII, the United States sent a force to Japan to occupy and restructure Japan. This has been called by some as "an experiment in guided social change."

DO NOW: Explain what the above quote means.

Read the worksheet and answer the following questions:
1. What does the dialogue tell us about the American occupation of Japan?
2. What changes in Japan did Americans enforce?
3. Why did the Americans want to make Japan a democracy?
4. How was the Macarthur Constitution different from the constitution of the Meiji period?
5. Which of the provisions of the Macarthur Constitution do you think had the greatest impact on Japan? Explain.
6. During the postwar period Japan changed significantly in many ways. Does American occupation deserve credit for the changes? Or would the great change have occurred in Japan anyway? Explain.
7. Would you have supported the American occupation of Japan? Explain.

II. "Hirohito Takes a Bow as Oldest Emperor"
1. What does this article tell us about the position of the emperor in Japan today?
2. What does it suggest about the way that Japan is governed today?
3. Why was a national celebration scheduled for Emperor Hirohito's birthday in April of 1986?
4. Why did some Japanese object to a ceremony honoring the Emperor?
5. How has the role of Emperor changed since 1947? Do the Japanese people support this new role? Explain.
6. As a Japanese citizen today, how would you feel about the imperial system? Write an editorial to the Japan Times about your feelings about this system.