Japan 1960 CE

What is happening in Japan in 1960CE

The Great Depression of the 1930’s created major economic problems for Japan, and undermined faith in civilian politicians. From 1932 the military dominated the government. They secured the take-over of Manchuria, drew up plans to create an “East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere” to give Japan the raw materials she needed, and from the late 1930’s, mounted a major invasion of China. Then, in 1941, they brought Japan into World War 2 on the side of Germany and Italy against the USA, Britain and Russia.

After spectacular initial successes, the war turned against the Japanese, and they fought a bitter retreat against ever more powerful Allied forces. The final phase of the war saw Japan pulverized by Allied bombing, culminating in the dropping of the A-bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

After the war, Japan was occupied by Allied forces until 1952. This occupation saw the setting up of strong democratic institutions, and the introduction of a raft of social reforms that have laid the foundations for a modern, egalitarian society. Since the end of the occupation, the Japanese have been engineering a dramatic economic recovery.

Next map, Japan in 2005