Week 4- Kristina Ou

      After World War II, Japan had to reconstruct their broken society back together again. They developed the Yoshida doctrine that focused on recovery and growth. They tried to build up the industrial area first so that jobs and goods could be provided once again. Japan was able to build up this economic stability and even went past the previous economic advancements through recovery.  Instead of focusing on power and trying to be a large country once again, they focused on trying to feed citizens and provide jobs as the foundation of what had been destroyed.  The Yoshida doctrine also made sure that there was a limited amount of militarization involved in the rebuilding of Japan. After being stricken with war that completely destroyed a society, it was in their best interest to hinder the amount of guns and defense both in economic and image wise. They had support in terms of defense, so they focused less in the aspect of military. This doctrine turned Japan into a powerful country that was able to pick itself back up from its war ridden state. 

     Japan was also able to take from the American culture their fashion and integrate it into their society to increase economic development. By taking inspiration from American fashion, Japan was able to become a huge hub for fashion through clothing brands such as Uniqlo an A Bathing Ape. It was through the textile culture and focusing on it to enhance exports out of Japan that was one of the factors to rehabilitate Japan.

Question: Would the Yoshida doctrine be able to help all war stricken countries? 

Tang, Siew Man. "Japan’s Grand Strategic Shift from Yoshida to Koizumi: Reflections on Japan’s Strategic Focus in the 21st Century."Akademika 70 (2007): 117-136.

Fernandez, Chantal. “How American Style Fueled Postwar Youth Fashion In Japan.” Fashionista, 2 Dec 2015.