1. What accounts for the enormous economic growth of Japan after 1955?

Following WWII Japan experienced an economic boom in which it managed to

become one of the most productive countries in Asia. Government support, higher
education, foreign policy, and Japanese culture all account for this economic growth.
After WWII Japan’s economy was severely crippled, as they had just lost a major
war and were stripped of all of their colonies. Yet by 1983 the total national product
production in Japan was staggeringly high, equivalent to the combined totals of Korea,
China, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, and Brazil. Japan not only became known for its huge
volume of exports, but also for its innovativeness and high quality products. Several
factors helped contribute to this economic boom and the first and most important were
the system of government encouragement. The government played an active role in
sponsoring corporations and businesses and rewarded those who were successful in
hopes that it would revitalize the economy. Another important factor in the economic
stimulation was the improving and expansion of the education system in Japan. A better
and more widespread education meant that more engineers and businessmen were
being born in Japanese schools and going into the different industries. This is one of the
main reasons for Japan’s innovativeness in their products and product quality. Better
education meant better thinkers and innovators, and more thinkers equaled to better
ideas and manufacturing, which led Japan to make better products. Another thing that
helped Japan’s economic spur was a very unlikely factor. Since their defeat in WWII,
Japan was not allowed to have an army or navy and instead relied on the US for
protection. This meant that the money that was previously being poured into the military
was now being spent on economic growth. One of the last reasons for the Japanese
rebound after WWII was the mindset and culture that the Japanese employed. There was
a strong sense of competition, yet at the same time a fierce loyalty to the company. Labor
unions made sure that their affairs did not interfere with their corporation, while social
activities and group exercises promoted a sense of company loyalty and unity. Managers
and leaders made sure that they took their employees and their suggestions seriously
and the overall system made the labor force less class-conscious than the rest of the
West. All of these factors led to a strong Japan economically in the years following 1955.
2. What was the political structure of Japan after 1955?

The Japanese government structure was democratic, yet it also exhibited signs of
an oligarchy. A single political group was in power up until 1993 and helped Japan get
back on its feet after WWII.
Prior to WWII Japan had a very imperialistic government that promoted a fascist
ultra-nationalism. This made sense as Japan needed natural resource for its
industrialization and therefore needed the colonies that would give them these resources.
After their defeat in WWII, Japan’s government collapsed and a new system had to be
formed. The Japanese established a unique democracy; it was based on the Liberal
Democratic party and despite the fact that it was a political group, it managed to stay in
power from 1955 to 1993 and it created an almost oligarchy-type government. Leaders
were frequently changed out, yet the change was not directly based on the population’s
shift in voting. It was instead mainly (but not solely) based on decisions made by elites in
the Liberal Democratic party, copied techniques used by the oligarchy of Meji Japan.
The government played a large role in the economy. As discussed above they
supported businesses and corporations and rewarded those that did well. The state
would set production goals and then lend public resources in order to support the
business. They also took steps to limit dependence on foreign imports, which helped to
wean the economy of its foreign dependence and make them self-sufficient. The
governments role in the economy helped lead to an economic boom after 1995. The
Japanese government also actively promoted birth control and abortion, which helped to
stall the rapid population growth. The government focused on the future health of Japan,
much more so than the old Japanese government did.
3. What themes were common among the states of the Pacific Rim?

Countries along the Asian coast that were often referred to as the Pacific Rim all
had similar themes of rapidly expanding populations, economies, and a Confusion like
mentality that was employed.
The countries of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, and the “little tigers”
of Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong all were known as the Pacific Rim countries and they
all had similar themes in their growth following WWII. All of these countries had a rapidly
expanding population that always benefited from an expanding education system. All of
the Pacific Rim realized that better education meant that better innovations and ideas
would be born, leading to better manufacturing and industrialization. All of the Pacific Rim
countries also featured expanding exports and industrialization, which led to their rapid
growth. All of these countries also had similar cultures and belief styles, which all
centered on the Confusion idea of state above self. Workers were expected to be fiercely
loyal to their companies and coworkers, and they were all taught that what they did was
for the greater good of the country. The government was heavily involved and actively
participated in industry and the economy, often times giving support to the private
companies, much like in South Korea where the government supported the large growth
of Hyundai, a major car manufacturer that brought many jobs and boosted its economy.
This “didacticism” soon began spreading to other areas of Southeast Asia and they too
began to experience rapid land, population, and economic growth.
All of the states in the Pacific Rim also focused on product manufacturing and
improving that manufacturing process. Countries like Taiwan developed high tech and
specialized manufacturing plants, which was helped by the higher education provided by
the government. One of the biggest and most common themes though among all of the
Pacific Rim states was the fact that the economic and political success of the country
rested on the shoulders of the working class, who were often under-paid and overworked.
In countries like Taiwan and South Korea, innovations and the economic growth would
not have been possible without the long hours put in by the dedicated and government-
serving working class. They were so willing to do so because of the whole Confusion
mentality discussed above.
4. What accounts for the common theme of growth in the Pacific Rim?

The countries of the Pacific Rim countries all had similar themes in their growth
following WWII. All of these countries had a rapidly expanding population that always
benefited from an expanding education system. All of the Pacific Rim realized that better
education meant that better innovations and ideas would be born, leading to better
manufacturing and industrialization. All of the Pacific Rim countries also featured
expanding exports and industrialization, which led to their rapid growth. All of these
countries also had similar cultures and belief styles, which all centered on the Confusion
idea of state above self that led to a dedicated and hardworking working-class. Workers
were expected to be fiercely loyal to their companies and coworkers, and they were all
taught that what they did was for the greater good of the country. The government was
heavily involved and actively participated in industry and the economy, often times giving
support to the private companies, much like in South Korea where the government
supported the large growth of Hyundai, a major car manufacturer that brought many jobs
and boosted its economy. This “didacticism” soon began spreading to other areas of
Southeast Asia and they too began to experience rapid land, population, and economic
growth. All of the states in the Pacific Rim also focused on product manufacturing and
improving that manufacturing process. Countries like Taiwan developed high tech and
specialized manufacturing plants, which was helped by the higher education provided by
the government.