Post-war Japan
Japan, 1947 to today.
The 1947 constitution made Japan a parliamentary democracy that renounced war. Rapid growth made it the world's second-largest economy by 1968, and its popular culture spread worldwide.
Seat of power: Tokyo
Rulers
Shigeru Yoshida
Prime Minister, 1948–1954
Led Japan during the American occupation. The 'Yoshida Doctrine' relied on the US alliance for security so that Japan could focus on economic recovery.
Portrait of Shigeru Yoshida: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Akihito
Emperor (Heisei), 1989–2019
A symbolic monarch with no political powers. He travelled widely to express regret for the war and to comfort disaster victims, and became the first emperor in two centuries to abdicate.
Portrait of Akihito: Malacañang Photo Bureau, Public domain, file
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Naruhito
Emperor (Reiwa), 2019 to today
The current emperor and symbol of the state. Political power lies with the prime minister and the Diet.
Portrait of Naruhito: Presidencia de Guatemala, Public domain, file
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Culture
- The Shinkansen bullet train opens in 1964, just before the Tokyo Olympics.
- Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy (1952) helps launch modern manga and anime.
- Akira Kurosawa's films, such as Seven Samurai (1954), influence cinema around the world.
Picture
The original 0 Series Shinkansen, in service from 1964.
Image: ナダテ at Japanese Wikipedia (Nadate), CC BY 3.0, file
