The Confusion Era

The subtitle is Art and Culture of Japan during the Allied Occupation, 1945-1952.

The defeat of Japan was a major blow to the Japanese people. Many of Japan's cities lie in near-total ruin. The number of dead was staggering, and on top of all that their country was being occupied by the victors. The Japanese had major fear about the U.S. military, but it turned out that the relationship between the American military and the Japanese people was, overall, quite good and far better than the Japanese civilians had been led to believe would be possible.

This book covers how Japanese arts bloomed during the occupation, and covers various arts, movies, posters and so on. v

One of the interesting things is about Japanese painters who had openly supported the militaristic policies of the Japanese government. They, like many others, were never arrested or tried for their part in the war. v

The book talks about the censorship imposed by the U.S. on Japan. It was not total censorship at all, although criticism of the occupation was forbidden. Kabuki was somewhat censored, but more modernistic dramas were not. Only some literature was censored. Noh and Bunraku were also okay, but Kabuki wasn't.

One of the movies that a lot of time is spent discussing is MacArthur's Children (which is available apparently only on VHS.)

Strikes were another thing prohibited, and, of course, anti-Communism was a major goal.

There are lots of photos from movies, posters, and other pieces of art. Overall an interesting book.



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