The post-world war II occupation of Japan by American and allied forces included the censoring of Japanese media from October of 1945 and November of 1949. A few weeks after Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces, General MacArthur's General Headquarters of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers issued a ten-point Press Code for the Japanese news media on September 21st, 1945.
The objective of this ten-point Press Code was to establish freedom of the press in Japan and emphasized the elimination of propaganda. It also monitored and censored all publications in Japan. Notably, the effects of the bomb on civilians were censored. Interestingly, the document states, “3. There shall be no false or destructive criticism of the Allied occupation of the Allied Powers.” However, it is important to note that this code was implemented two weeks into occupation after Japanese press began reporting on rapes and looting. This is explained by a need to control information and intelligence gathering for America. …show more content…
The American collectively supported the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Illustrative information and scientific data of the bomb was censored. The censorship of Japanese media had implications on Japanese survivors. The individual stories of the “hibakusha” were erased and some never released to the public. The United States led the occupation of Japan and enacted numerous military, political, economic, and social reforms. Japanese media went through a tremendous transformation during the occupation. Japan began enacting Public Security Preservation Laws in 1894 to suppress political dissent in media. These laws restricted freedom of speech. The ten-point press code would bring the ideal of freedom of the press to
The objective of this ten-point Press Code was to establish freedom of the press in Japan and emphasized the elimination of propaganda. It also monitored and censored all publications in Japan. Notably, the effects of the bomb on civilians were censored. Interestingly, the document states, “3. There shall be no false or destructive criticism of the Allied occupation of the Allied Powers.” However, it is important to note that this code was implemented two weeks into occupation after Japanese press began reporting on rapes and looting. This is explained by a need to control information and intelligence gathering for America. …show more content…
The American collectively supported the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Illustrative information and scientific data of the bomb was censored. The censorship of Japanese media had implications on Japanese survivors. The individual stories of the “hibakusha” were erased and some never released to the public. The United States led the occupation of Japan and enacted numerous military, political, economic, and social reforms. Japanese media went through a tremendous transformation during the occupation. Japan began enacting Public Security Preservation Laws in 1894 to suppress political dissent in media. These laws restricted freedom of speech. The ten-point press code would bring the ideal of freedom of the press to