During World War II, Japan suffered an onslaught of air raids, fire bombs, and atomic bombs leaving the nation all but destroyed. Despite this widespread devastation, Japan was able to reconstruct itself in order to become one of today’s leading industrialized economic superpowers. In class, we briefly discussed the United States’ occupancy in Japan between the years 1945 and 1952 as well as the economic miracle that took place during and after the Korean War, which helped launch the country into democratization and modernization. I have thus chosen to gain a more in-depth knowledge of this post-war era, in which I argue that the rapid reconstruction of the Japanese economy during the United States’ occupation and economic miracle was due largely
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In turn, the Trade Union Law of 1945 was enacted, granting workers in private industries the right to organize, to collectively bargain, and to strike. In addition, the law forbid employees from committing unfair labor practices, permitted democratic proceedings within all union activities, and instituted the labor relations commission. With the establishment of these new democratic entitlements and principles, there were drastic improvements in real wages and working conditions. Additionally, labor unions managed to persuade businesses to accept a lifetime employment system, in which employees agreed to work for a company until he reached his retirement age, and in exchange, the employer would not fire his employee even during a depression. At first, Japanese management was hesitant to accept the system, but workers took advantage of their newly granted democratic rights, going on strike. Fearing that prolonged striking would drive them into bankruptcy, companies agreed to the terms entailed in the lifetime employment system. With the acceptance of this new system came the ingrained relationship between labor unions and management. As a result, working conditions improved and wages increased, which in turn expanded the domestic consumption markets and facilitated the development of the Japanese
In turn, the Trade Union Law of 1945 was enacted, granting workers in private industries the right to organize, to collectively bargain, and to strike. In addition, the law forbid employees from committing unfair labor practices, permitted democratic proceedings within all union activities, and instituted the labor relations commission. With the establishment of these new democratic entitlements and principles, there were drastic improvements in real wages and working conditions. Additionally, labor unions managed to persuade businesses to accept a lifetime employment system, in which employees agreed to work for a company until he reached his retirement age, and in exchange, the employer would not fire his employee even during a depression. At first, Japanese management was hesitant to accept the system, but workers took advantage of their newly granted democratic rights, going on strike. Fearing that prolonged striking would drive them into bankruptcy, companies agreed to the terms entailed in the lifetime employment system. With the acceptance of this new system came the ingrained relationship between labor unions and management. As a result, working conditions improved and wages increased, which in turn expanded the domestic consumption markets and facilitated the development of the Japanese