May 3 - Japan's Post-War Constitution Comes Into Effect

This Day in History: 3 May 2020

 

3 May 1947

 

73 years ago, today, Japan's post-war constitution went into effect, granting universal suffrage, and stripping Emperor Hirohito of all but symbolic power. A bill of rights was also stipulated, peerage was abolished and Japan's ability to make war was outlawed. This document was largely comprised by Supreme Allied commander Douglas MacArthur, and his occupation staff. They had prepared the draft in February 1946, after a Japanese attempt was deemed unacceptable. MacArthur was the most acclaimed American general in the war effort against Japan, as he presided over the official surrender of Japan. For the next five and a half years, he supervised the reconstruction of Japan from the American embassy in Tokyo.

 

The most important post-war reform seemed to be the establishment of a new constitution. Japan's government's draft was rejected for being too conservative, so MacArthur ordered his staff to draft a new version in one week. The new document protected the country's new civil liberties, preserved the emperor, and forbade the Japanese to ever wage war again. Before the war, Emperor Hirohito was regarded as a quasi-divine figure and an absolute ruler, however his authority was limited in practise. He was worried that he would be accused of being a war criminal, and the Japanese imperial house would be abolished, but MacArthur prevented this. The new constitution was endorsed in elections that allowed Japanese women to vote for the first time, and on this day, it came into force. Afterwards, Japan saw political stability and rapid economic growth. The Allied occupation came to an end in 1952, as Japan once again assumed full sovereignty.

 

Want to find out more about the post-war constitution of Japan? Click here for more information.