The Shadow of World War II in Modern Japan: Professor's Manual Main Menu How to Use this Module Abstract An introduction to this module Module Materials Terminology Schedule Introduction to Japan Japan and World War II Community Dragon Head 『ドラゴンヘッド』 Discussion: Dragon Head "Victim's History" Grave of the Fireflies 『火垂るの墓』 Discussion: Grave of the Fireflies Hiroshima Barefoot Gen 『はだしのゲン』 Discussion: Barefoot Gen Godzilla 『ゴジラ』 Discussion: Godzilla Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack!『ゴジラ・モスラ・キングギドラ　大怪獣総攻撃』 Discussion: All-Out Attack! Godzilla Resurgence 『シン・ゴジラ』 Discussion: Godzilla Resurgence Module Wrap Up

Japan and World War II

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In 1940, Japan agreed to sign the Tripartite Agreement with Italy and Germany, solidifying their place within the Axis powers.  Spurred by the perceived necessity of colonialism, Japan invaded Korea and parts of China in order to expand their empire.  However, due to sanctions placed upon the Axis powers by the United States and her allies, the Japanese slowly started to weaken due to lack of supplies.  This prompted the Japanese to attack the United States at Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941, initiating the official U.S. entry into World War II.  
 
As the war raged on, Japan’s position grew dire.  Spurred by unrivaled nationalism, the Empire of Japan fought tooth and nail on each front.  Nevertheless, the average citizen of Japan was starving and enduring a near endless onslaught of firebombing.  Indeed, more people were killed and more damage to property was sustained due to the extensive firebombing than the atomic bombs.  
 

The indomitable spirit of the Japanese continued to fight the war.  In response to this, the United States dropped the first atomic weapon on the city of Hiroshima at 8:15 a.m. on the morning of August 6th, 1945.  What followed is what some describe as a living hell.  In addition to the physical destruction of the bomb, the resulting fires, irradiated “black rain,” and the lingering radiation would kill tens of thousands of people.  Those exposed to the bomb, called hibakusha, would assume a special place in Japanese society, for better or worse.  

 
On August 9th, 1945, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki which led to the ultimate surrender of Japan on August 15th after a public declaration by the emperor of Japan.
 
Subsequently, Japan was occupied by Allied forces who helped to rebuild the country, but would have a profound effect on the future of the Japanese.  The Japanese government and schooling system was restructured to more closely match a democratic Western model.  Furthermore, the divine nature of the emperor (a lineage that can supposedly be traced back to the sun goddess, Amaterasu), was denied in the Humanity Declaration on January 1st, 1946.  Japan was, officially, no longer a nation led by a living god.
 
While post-war Japan saw a period of incredible resurgence on the world stage, the mindset of the Japanese people had been irrevocably changed.  With every advancement (women’s rights, technology, etc.) came an increasing sense of bitterness and apprehension towards the government and military which had led them to this point.  During this post-war boom, the industry of comic books and animation began to grow. 
 
In a rigid society where the expectation is that the individual is lesser than the community, it can be difficult to express one’s anxieties.  Thus did comics and animation become one of the major tools for the Japanese to express themselves without public censure.  
 

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  1. Terminology Bradley J. Wilson

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