week 4 Bin Xiao

The Yoshida Doctrine was a crucial part of rebuilding post World War II Japan. This doctrine’s namesake was Yoshida Shegiru, one of Japan’s most notable diplomats of the era -- who served as prime minister from 1946-47 to 1948-54 (Man, 2007). The first tenet of the doctrine placed Japan’s “economic rehabilitation” as the main national objective – which would require full cooperation with the US (Man, 2007, p. 118). The second tenet stressed that Japan should be only lightly armed, a strategy that would allow Japan’s resources to be used for “productive industrial development”, thereby lowering the odds of “divisive internal struggles” (Man, 2007, p. 118-119). The last cornerstone of the Yoshida Doctrine, in a diplomatic move that offered protection from Japan’s enemies, offered bases for the US air force, army, and navy (Man, 2007). Thus, the stage was set for an unprecedented economic development in Japan, fueled by American influence. Such American influence opened Japan’s door to the West in ways previously unimagined. For example, new middle-class men (and women) were outfitted in American-style clothes by notable Japanese fashion designers such as Kensuke Ishizu and his clothing line called Van Jacket, which was patterned after Ivy League style. Later, Ametora, or “American Tradition”, became the Japanese version of American-style clothing such as denim wear – in its own right (Fernandez, 2015, p. 1). Japan has become such a hotspot for fashion that the country has, in turn, influenced America, especially with the ascent of menswear blogs (Fernandez, 2015). Thus, Japan has come full circle – from being an isolated island nation to a global player in the fashion market – a major turnaround. In my opinion, Japan, by its intiative, has already achieved its own well-deserved notoriety and national aesthetics status. Certainly, there is more that can be done. For example, in the world of fashion alone, Japan could remake some of its traditional garb in the image of contemporary wear. Traditional Japanese values and textiles could be intertwined, resulting in a more global hipness for Japan in the world of fashion. Important questions about the American influence on Japan remain. For example, should Japan abandon its print fashion magazines in favor of a more internet-dominated approach?

Courtesy of Nippaku. Retrieved on 14 Oct. 2017.

References

Fernandez, C.  (02 Dec. 2015).  How American style fueled postwar youth fashion in Japan. 

Fashionista. 

Man, T.S.  Japan’s grand strategic shift from Yoshida to Koizumi: reflections on Japan’s

strategic focus in the 21^st century. Academic,70: Jan 2007, pp. 117-136.

Nippaku.  (05 May 2013).  Tokyo street fashion and Belgian designers.  Retrieved from 

https://nippaku.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/tokyo-street-fashion-and-belgian-designers/