Garren Burgess
Dr. Clayton D. Brown
History-3560: Final Essay
04 April 2023
Enemies to Allies: The History of America and Japan
The current relationship between the U.S and Japan is a strong and diplomatic one.
Looking at the history between these two countries, one can see that the United States played a
huge role in the development of Japan and how these two countries went from enemies to strong
allies in the East. The United States has shaped Japan by providing influence, conflict, and
eventually protection and aid. In this essay we will discuss mostly the 20th century, however,
some references will be made to Japan’s previous history and will be needed to fully cover this
topic.
Before the arrival of America and other western countries, Japan had copied and modeled
their culture after China. This is shown through writing systems, religion, and infrastructure. This
continued until the arrival of Western countries like America. With the arrival and influence of
America, East Asia started to divide. Although at first, all of East Asia was intrigued by the
arrival of the west. However, all of them eventually did not approve of the western ways. This is
shown through Aizawa Seishisai’s “New Theses” of 1825. This text shows Japan’s views of their
cultural superiority and then compares Japan to the top of the earth and America to the bottom
(Week 3 presentation). Although American history is very large in East Asia, we will specifically
look at arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry. Perry’s arrival is important because America was
trying to establish a trade and provision route with the Japanese to ultimately make it to China. In
the letter Perry was delivering, written by President Fillmore, the Americans made no hesitation
to emphasize the strength of the American navy. Later when the Americans returned it ultimately
led to the Kanagawa Treaty of Friendship of 1854 (Week 3 presentation). This would open two
ports for the United States and pave the way for other treaties in Eastern Asia. Through time
civilians of Japan grew tired of American involvement and influence. This would lead to what is
called the Meiji Revolution. The Meiji Revolution would change the cultural landscape of Japan
and from it Japan would create and execute a plan to copy and catch up to Americans. The
revolution was based on the idea of “rich country, strong military …and caused Japan to become
more egalitarian and more centralized” (Week 3 presentation). This led Japan to modernization,
rapid industrial growth, and their rise to power in Eastern Asia.
As Japan grew a stronger and more militarized government they would engage in the
Sino-Japanese war. This war would force the Treaty of Shimonoseki. This treaty would force
China to recognize Korea as an independent state and give Japan the ability to create factories
within China. This would eventually lead to Korea being under Japanese control. Shortly after
this China would start to have internal conflicts and engage in a civil war between the GMD and
CCP causing China to become a weaker state. Japan would capitalize on this weakness and
invade Manchuria and move further into China. This invasion was an attempt to get resources
needed to fuel the Japanese’s industrial growth.
Now we must refocus on American involvement in this issue. The American government
is a democracy and at this time we would support the Nationalists or GMD in China. Most
importantly we gave financial aid to Chaing Kai-shek of the GMD but also would give other
resources. This angered Japan in their attempt to gain control of China. In addition to helping
China regain its strength we engaged in economic warfare with Japan. Japan was very resource
poor and very reliant on the United States for imported goods. Over the course of a few years,
America would restrict financial services, aircraft parts, iron, steel, gas, and oil from the
Japanese (Week 7 Presentation). This economic warfare in addition to helping their enemy in
China would eventually lead to the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941.
After the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, America would enter the war in both the Pacific and
European campaigns. The American involvement would last for more than four years and would
eventually lead to numerous deaths on both the American and Japanese side. America would
engage in terror bombing cities like Tokyo and numerous civilian casualties would be
accumulated for the Japanese. Japanese Americans would undertake injustices and be sent to
internment camps in the name of national security. In addition to the brutalities of war, The
Pacific campaign would come to an end by the dropping of two atomic bombs. The first uranium
bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, August 6th, 1945. The second bomb was a plutonium bomb
that was deployed three days later in Nagasaki on August 9th. Both bombs indiscriminately
killed 100,000 Japanese (Week 7 presentation). This would eventually lead to the emperors
surrender speech on August 15th and later September 2nd would be Japan’s official surrender.
As the war was over and the U.S and Japan were no longer immediate enemies.
Following Japan’s surrender, Japan was unable to sustain resources and was going to struggle
economically. America took this opportunity. America sent General Douglas MacArther and he
began to implement SCAP policies. These policies included purging rightists (nationalists),
freeing leftists, redistribution of land, and the Showa Constitution (Week 8 presentation). The
Showa Constitution was drafted by foreigners and very similar with our American Constitution.
Unlike other Axis powers in WW2, Japan’s emperor Hirohito, was not tried for crimes but
instead was allowed to stay in power. This policy by the Americans aided the Japanese transition
to become allies and eventually lead to the American - Japanese Security Treaty of 1951. This
treaty is still in place and leaves Japan under the protection of the United States Military.
As we look at this summary of history between the U.S and Japan we can see how these
two countries who were once enemies are now strong allies. The United States and other Western
influences changed the course of Eastern Asia. Specifically in Japan, we can see that through
influence, conflict, and eventually aid. The U.S played a major role in shaping Japan’s history,
economy, and state.