# Japanese Basic Course, Lesson 134

Narration and the written language

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/132. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/132.json.

## Occupation, reforms and new constitution · Narration 1 of 2

### Directives for reform

*連合国最高司令官は、ポツダム 宣言に 基ずいて、華族制度の 廃止、財閥の 解体、農地改革、教育制度の 改革、司法制度の 改革、婦人の 解放などの 指令を 次々と 日本政府に 出し、間接に 政治を 行なった*. The Supreme Commander issued the Japanese government directives under the Potsdam Declaration.

The directives abolished the peerage system and dissolved the financial combines. They also reformed land, education, and the judicial system.

The directives emancipated women. The Supreme Commander governed indirectly through the Japanese government.

### Sovereignty passes to the people

*又 一九四七年に 発布された 新憲法によって、天皇は 日本国の 象徴とされ、主権は 国民の 手に わたされた* describes the constitutional change in 1947.

The Emperor became the symbol of Japan. Sovereignty passed to the people.

### Kanji: 領

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 基

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 他

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 指

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 連

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 去

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 思

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 失

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

**1** 一九四五年 九月 終戦と 同時に、日本は 連合軍の 占領下に おかれた。  
せんきゅうひゃくよんじゅうごねんくがつしゅうせんとどうじに、にほんはれんごうぐんのせんりょうかにおかれた。  
In September 1945, with the end of the war, Japan was placed under Allied occupation.

**2** 連合国最高司令官は、ポツダム 宣言に 基ずいて、華族制度の 廃止、財閥の 解体、農地改革、教育制度の 改革、司法制度の 改革、婦人の 解放などの 指令を 次々と 日本政府に 出し、間接に 政治を 行なった。  
れんごうこくさいこうしれいかんは、ポツダムせんげんにもとずいて、かぞくせいどのはいし、ざいばつのかいたい、のうちかいかく、きょういくせいどのかいかく、しほうせいどのかいかく、ふじんのかいほうなどのしれいをつぎつぎとにほんせいふにだし、かんせつにせいじをおこなった。  
Under the Potsdam Declaration, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers issued the Japanese government a series of directives, including the abolition of the peerage system, the dissolution of the zaibatsu, land reform, reform of the educational system, reform of the judicial system, and the liberation of women, and governed indirectly.

**3** ポツダム 宣言と 言うのは、簡単に 言えば、日本に おいて、一、軍国主義の 除去 二、戦争犯罪人の 処罰 三、民主主義の 確立、そのための 思想と 言論の 自由 ならびに 基本的人権の そんちょう、四、これらの 改革を 保証するための 日本占領と いう事である。  
ポツダムせんげんというのは、かんたんにいえば、にほんにおいて、いち、ぐんこくしゅぎのじょきょに、せんそうはんざいにんのしょばつさん、みんしゅしゅぎのかくりつ、そのためのしそうとげんろんのじゆうならびにきほんてきじんけんのそんちょう、し、これらのかいかくをほしょうするためのにほんせんりょうということである。  
In simple terms, the Potsdam Declaration called for the following in Japan: first, the removal of militarism; second, the punishment of war criminals; third, the establishment of democracy, and for that purpose freedom of thought and speech and respect for fundamental human rights; and fourth, the occupation of Japan to guarantee these reforms.

**4** 又 一九四七年に 発布された 新憲法によって、天皇は 日本国の 象徴とされ、主権は 国民の 手に わたされた。  
またせんきゅうひゃくよんじゅうしちねんにはっぷされたしんけんぽうによって、てんのうはにほんこくのしょうちょうとされ、しゅけんはこくみんのてにわたされた。  
Furthermore, under the new Constitution promulgated in 1947, the Emperor was made the symbol of the Japanese nation, and sovereignty was transferred to the people.

**5** 日本は 終戦と 同時に 朝鮮、台湾、その他の 領地を 失ない、北海道、本州、四国、九州と、それらに 付ぞくする 小さな 島々だけに なってしまった。  
にほんはしゅうせんとどうじにちょうせん、たいわん、そのたのりょうちをうしない、ほっかいどう、ほんしゅう、しこく、きゅうしゅうと、それらにふぞくするちいさなしまじまだけになってしまった。  
At the end of the war, Japan lost Korea, Taiwan, and its other territories, leaving it with only Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and the small islands belonging to them.

```
Occupation of Japan (1945-1952)

General MacArthur, who, as the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, had the primary responsibility for carrying out the terms of surrender, adopted a more moderate and less primitive policy than some of the Allies, especially the Soviet Union, favored.

In the administration of the country he preferred to act through the Japanese civil authorities, and he introduced reforms gradually.

In the exercise of his authority, General MacArthur was advised by the Allied Council for Japan in Tokyo composed of the United States, Great Britain, Nationalist China, and the Soviet Union, and he acted under nominal supervision of Eleven-nation Far Eastern Commission in Washington, D.C.

The demobilization of the Imperial Army, Navy, and Air Force under the supervision of the Allied troops was completed by early 1946.

Political reform began in late 1945.

In October SCAP issued the directive on civil liberties which came to be known as the ”Bill of Rights.”

It abolished the central police system, released political prisoners, and removed restrictions on civil liberties.

The directive was followed by a revival of political parties, among them the Communist Party, now legal for the first time.

The new constitution became effective on May 3, 1947.

The 1947 Constitution established a parliamentary system of government, the highest organ of which was a popularly elected bicameral Diet.

The Emperor was retained as titular head of the State, but sovereignty was transferred from him to the people.

Two land reform bills were passed by the Diet in October 1946.

They required large landowners to sell land to the government, which redistributed it to tenants at moderate prices.

More than three million farmers obtained some five million acres of land.

Police and educational reforms were introduced in 1947.

The punishment of those responsible for leading the country into war was called for by the Potsdam Declaration, and the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, composed of representatives of the Eleven Allied States, was established in Tokyo in Jan. 1946.

It tried and sentenced to death or imprisonment 28 high Japanese officials--among them, General Tojo--for having plotted the war.

The Communist takeover in China in 1949 impressed the United States with the need to hasten Japan’s economic recovery and to encourage the consolidation of a stable political order.

The Communist invasion of the Republic of Korea in 1950 heightened the sense of urgency, and the United States increased its economic assistance and formally included Japan in its northwestern Pacific defense perimeter.

Japan was helped in 1950 to organize a police reserve of 75,000, as an auxiliary to the regular police, which became the nucleus of the National Self-Defense Force with sea and air as well as land units.

The peace treaty was signed at San Francisco on September 8, 1951 by 48 allied nations and Japan over the objections of the Soviet bloc nations, which refused to sign it.

Under the Treaty, which came into effect on April 28, 1952, Japan was restored to the exercise of its sovereignty; it renounced claims to its overseas possessions inclusive of the Kurile Islands and southern Sakhalin (occupied by the Soviet Union since 1945), and it agreed to the United States trusteeship over the Ryuukyuu and Bonin islands.

The Treaty was followed by Japan’s signing the Security Treaty with the United States on September 8, 1951, which authorized American bases in Japan and the stationing of American troops there.
```

```
After 1952

In the nine years since the signing of the Peace Treaty, Japan has resumed its place as one of the great industrial nations of the world.

Its people enjoy a higher income than they have ever known and for the first time are themselves buying in significant quantity the consumers’ goods their factories once made almost solely for export.

The country remains closely allied to the United States and committed to the free world.

At every point, however, there are qualifying factors.

Japan’s burgeoning industry must depend for its raw materials on foreign sources, and it must export to survive.

This dependence is perilous in a world in which market fluctuations are unpredictable and trade barriers are used as political weapons.

The rise in income has not brought any general sense of economic security, and relatively few people seem to feel that they can rely on today’s prosperity.

The dominant conservative party must contend with a hypercritical and often hostile press and a determined Leftist opposition which has shown its ability to organize massive and violent public protest against fundamental conservative policies.

One such policy has been the military arrangements with the United States.

There is, moreover, widespread neutralist sentiment and an increasing desire to establish closer economic and political relations with Communist China and the Soviet Union.

Whatever the future may bring, Japan may be expected to assert itself more and more actively in the international area.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 一 | one |
| 九 | nine |
| 四 | four |
| 五 | five |
| 年 | year (See Grammar Notes) |
| 月 | moon, month (See Grammar Notes) |
| と | and (See Gram. Notes) |
| に、 | on (See Gram. Notes) |
| は | leaves |
| 軍 | army, military |
| の | See Grammar Notes |
| おか | hill; knoll |
| 国 | country, nation |
| 廃止、 | abolition |
| 財閥 | financial combines |
| 解体、 | dissolution |
| 婦人 | women |
| 解放 | emancipation |
| など | and so forth, etc. |
| 指令 | directive |
| を | particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill) |
| 政治 | government; adminis-tration; politics |
| 言う | to say |
| おい | nephew |
| 除去 | removal; elimination |
| 二、 | two |
| 人 | people |
| 処罰 | punishment; penalty |
| 三、 | three |
| 確立、 | establishment |
| 思想 | thoughts |
| 自由 | freedom |
| ちょう、 | intestines |
| で | --is and -- (See Grammar Notes) |
| ある。 | certain, some |
| 七 | seven |
| 憲法 | constitution |
| 天皇 | emperor |
| 象徴 | symbol |
| 主権 | sovereignty |
| 台湾、 | Formosa |
| ぞくする | belong (vi) |
| 小さな | small (See Gram. Notes) |
| だけ | only, just (See Grammar Notes) |

## Recovery, independence and world peace · Narration 2 of 2

### Industry and living standards

*そのため 経済的にも 一時は 苦しんだが、軍事費が ほとんど いらない事、アジア地域内の 事変の ぼっぱつなどのため 産業、特に 工業が 非常に 盛んに なって、国民の 生活程度も 大いに 向上して 来た* describes economic recovery after a period of hardship.

Almost no military spending was needed. Conflicts in Asia also helped industry, especially manufacturing, become very active.

The people's standard of living improved greatly.

### Independent and international

*一九五一年 サンフランシスコで 平和条約が 結ばれて、日本も 独立国として 認められ、国連にも 参加した* describes Japan's international status in 1951.

A peace treaty was concluded in San Francisco. Japan was recognized as an independent nation and joined the United Nations.

*日本は これからも なお、民主主義国家の 完成に 努力すると 同時に、世界平和のために つくそうとしている* states its aims of democracy and world peace.

### Kanji: 費

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

**6** そのため 経済的にも 一時は 苦しんだが、軍事費が ほとんど いらない事、アジア地域内の 事変の ぼっぱつなどのため 産業、特に 工業が 非常に 盛んに なって、国民の 生活程度も 大いに 向上して 来た。  
そのためけいざいてきにもいちじはくるしんだが、ぐんじひがほとんどいらないこと、アジアちいきないのじへんのぼっぱつなどのためさんぎょう、とくにこうぎょうがひじょうにさかんになって、こくみんのせいかつていどもおおいにこうじょうしてきた。  
As a result, Japan suffered economically for a time, but because almost no military expenditures were needed and because of the outbreak of conflicts within Asia, industry, especially manufacturing, became very active, and the people’s standard of living improved greatly.

**7** 一九五一年 サンフランシスコで 平和条約が 結ばれて、日本も 独立国として 認められ、国連にも 参加した。  
せんきゅうひゃくごじゅういちねんサンフランシスコでへいわじょうやくがむすばれて、にほんもどくりつこくとしてみとめられ、こくれんにもさんかした。  
In 1951, a peace treaty was concluded in San Francisco, Japan was recognized as an independent nation, and it also joined the United Nations.

**8** ソ連とは まだ 平和条約は 結ばれていないが、事実上は ソ連は 日本を 独立国と 認めている。  
ソれんとはまだへいわじょうやくはむすばれていないが、じじつじょうはソれんはにほんをどくりつこくとみとめている。  
A peace treaty has still not been concluded with the Soviet Union, but in practice the Soviet Union recognizes Japan as an independent nation.

**9** 日本は これからも なお、民主主義国家の 完成に 努力すると 同時に、世界平和のために つくそうとしている。  
にほんはこれからもなお、みんしゅしゅぎこっかのかんせいにどりょくするとどうじに、せかいへいわのためにつくそうとしている。  
Japan intends to continue striving to perfect itself as a democratic nation while also working for world peace.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| に | on (See Gram. Notes) |
| も | as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes |
| 一時 | for a time |
| だ | to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes) |
| が、 | but (See Gram. Notes) |
| ほとんど | almost (See Gram. Notes) |
| アジア | Asia |
| 事変 | incident |
| 産業、 | industry |
| 工業 | manufacturing industry |
| 程度 | degree, standard |
| 大いに | greatly |
| し | city |
| サンフランシスコ | San Francisco |
| 平和 | peace |
| 国連 | United Nations |
| ソ連 | Soviet |
| まだ | yet, still |
| い | stomach |
| いる。 | to need (See Gram. Notes) |
| から | from (See Gram. Notes) |
| 国家 | country, nation; a state |

## Occupation directives and constitutional change · Questions 1 of 2

### Changes under occupation

The questions ask about the occupation directives, the Potsdam Declaration, and the new Constitution.

*どんな 指令が 出されましたか* means "What kinds of directives were issued?" An answer names reforms such as abolishing the peerage system or dissolving the financial combines.

*新憲法は いつ 発布されましたか* means "When was the new Constitution promulgated?" Its answer gives the year.

**10** 日本歴史（四）  
にほんれきし（し）  
(1945-1965)

**11** 第二次世界大戦は 何年に 終りましたか。  
だいにじせかいたいせんはなんねんにおわりましたか。  
In what year did World War II end?

**12** 終戦と 同時に 日本は どうなりましたか。  
しゅうせんとどうじににほんはどうなりましたか。  
What happened to Japan when the war ended?

**13** 連合国 最高司令官は どんな事を しましたか。  
れんごうこくさいこうしれいかんはどんなことをしましたか。  
What did the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers do?

**14** どんな 指令が 出されましたか。  
どんなしれいがだされましたか。  
What kinds of directives were issued?

**15** 華族制度は どうなりましたか。  
かぞくせいどはどうなりましたか。  
What happened to the peerage system?

**16** 財閥は どうなりましたか。  
ざいばつはどうなりましたか。  
What happened to the zaibatsu?

**17** その 外 どんなに 変りましたか。  
そのほかどんなにかわりましたか。  
What other changes were made?

**18** ポツダム宣言というのは 簡単に 言えば どんな事ですか。  
ポツダムせんげんというのはかんたんにいえばどんなことですか。  
In simple terms, what was the Potsdam Declaration?

**19** 新憲法は いつ 発布されましたか。  
しんけんぽうはいつはっぷされましたか。  
When was the new Constitution promulgated?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| （四） | four |
| 二 | two |
| か。 | either--or-- (See Gram. Notes) |
| どんな | what kind of; what sort of |
| が | but (See Gram. Notes) |
| です | to be (See Gram. Notes) |
| いつ | when? |

## Sovereignty, recovery and foreign relations · Questions 2 of 2

### Japan after the war

The questions cover constitutional change, territorial loss, economic recovery, independence, and relations with the Soviet Union.

*主権は 国民の 手に わたされたのですか* means "Was sovereignty transferred to the people?" Its answer confirms or denies the stated change.

*平和条約は いつ、どこで 結ばれましたか* means "When and where was the peace treaty concluded?" Its answer gives a year and a place.

**20** 新憲法によって 天皇の 地位は どうなりましたか。  
しんけんぽうによっててんのうのちいはどうなりましたか。  
How did the new Constitution change the Emperor’s position?

**21** 主権は 国民の 手に わたされたのですか。  
しゅけんはこくみんのてにわたされたのですか。  
Was sovereignty transferred to the people?

**22** 日本は 終戦と 同時に どんな 領地を 失いましたか。  
にほんはしゅうせんとどうじにどんなりょうちをうしないましたか。  
What territories did Japan lose when the war ended?

**23** 経済的には どうでしたか。  
けいざいてきにはどうでしたか。  
How was the economy?

**24** 今日では どうですか。  
こんにちではどうですか。  
How is it today?

**25** なぜ 国民の 生活程度が 向上して 来ましたか。  
なぜこくみんのせいかつていどがこうじょうしてきましたか。  
Why has the people’s standard of living improved?

**26** 平和条約は いつ、どこで 結ばれましたか。  
へいわじょうやくはいつ、どこでむすばれましたか。  
When and where was the peace treaty concluded?

**27** 日本は 今日 独立国と 認められていますか。  
にほんはこんにちどくりつこくとみとめられていますか。  
Is Japan recognized as an independent nation today?

**28** ソ連と 平和条約を 結びましたか。  
ソれんとへいわじょうやくをむすびましたか。  
Did Japan conclude a peace treaty with the Soviet Union?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 地位 | position |
| 今日 | today |
| なぜ | why? |
| いつ、 | when? |
| ます | trout |

## Occupation and militarism words · Word list 1 of 4

### Occupation and its directives

These words name the occupation, its Allied command, its directives, and their political purposes.

*占領下に おかれる* means "be placed under occupation." *指令* means "directive," and *軍国主義* means "militarism."

**29** 連合軍  
れんごうぐん  
allied troops

**30** 占領下に おかれる  
せんりょうかにおかれる  
be placed under occupation

**31** 最高司令官  
さいこうしれいかん  
supreme commander

**32** ポツダム 宣言  
ポツダムせんげん  
Potsdam Declaration

**33** 基ずく  
もとずく  
be based on

**34** 指令  
しれい  
directive

**35** 間接に  
かんせつに  
indirectly

**36** 軍国主義  
ぐんこくしゅぎ  
militarism

**37** 除去  
じょきょ  
removal; elimination

**38** 戦争犯罪人  
せんそうはんざいにん  
war criminal

**39** 処罰  
しょばつ  
punishment; penalty

**40** 確立  
かくりつ  
establishment

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 連合軍 | allied troops |
| 占領下におかれる | be placed under occupation |
| 最高司令官 | supreme commander |
| ポツダム宣言 | Potsdam Declaration |
| 基ずく | be based on |
| 間接に | indirectly |
| 軍国主義 | militarism |
| 戦争犯罪人 | war criminal |
| 確立 | establishment |

## Democracy, rights and sovereignty words · Word list 2 of 4

### Rights and constitutional government

These words cover democratic rights, the Constitution, sovereignty, territory, and military spending.

*基本的人権* means "fundamental human rights." *憲法* means "constitution," and *主権* means "sovereignty."

**41** 民主主義  
みんしゅしゅぎ  
democracy

**42** 思想  
しそう  
thoughts

**43** 基本的人権  
きほんてきじんけん  
fundamental human rights

**44** そんちょう  
そんちょう  
respect; esteem

**45** 保証する  
ほしょうする  
guarantee

**46** 発布する  
はっぷする  
promulgate; publish

**47** 憲法  
けんぽう  
constitution

**48** 主権  
しゅけん  
sovereignty

**49** 占領地  
せんりょうち  
occupied territory

**50** 失なう  
うしなう  
lose

**51** 軍事費  
ぐんじひ  
military expense

**52** 象徴  
しょうちょう  
symbol

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 民主主義 | democracy |
| 基本的人権 | fundamental human rights |
| そんちょう | respect; esteem |
| 保証する | guarantee |
| 発布する | promulgate; publish |
| 占領地 | occupied territory |
| 失なう | lose |
| 軍事費 | military expense |

## Peace and independence words · Word list 3 of 4

### Peace and recognition

These words cover the peace treaty, independence, international recognition, the United Nations, and the Soviet Union.

*平和条約* means "peace treaty." *独立国* means "independent nation," and *国連* means "United Nations."

**53** 台湾  
たいわん  
Formosa

**54** その他の  
そのたの  
other

**55** 事変  
じへん  
incident

**56** ぼっぱつ  
ぼっぱつ  
outbreak

**57** 平和条約  
へいわじょうやく  
peace treaty

**58** 独立国  
どくりつこく  
independent nation

**59** 認める  
みとめる  
recognize

**60** 国連  
こくれん  
United Nations

**61** ソ連  
ソれん  
Soviet

**62** 事実上（は）  
じじつじょう（は）  
actually; in reality

**63** 努力する  
どりょくする  
endeavor

**64** 平和  
へいわ  
peace

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 台湾 | Formosa |
| その他の | other |
| ぼっぱつ | outbreak |
| 平和条約 | peace treaty |
| 独立国 | independent nation |
| 認める | recognize |
| 事実上（は） | actually; in reality |
| 努力する | endeavor |

## Social reform and emancipation words · Word list 4 of 4

### Institutions changed by reform

These words cover the social and institutional reforms carried out during the occupation.

*農地改革* means "farm-land reform" or "agrarian reform." *解体* means "dissolution," and *解放* means "emancipation."

The list pairs the peerage system with abolition, the financial combines with dissolution, and women with emancipation.

**65** つくす  
つくす  
serve; endeavor; made efforts

**66** 付ぞくする  
ふぞくする  
be annexed to, belong to

**67** 華族制度  
かぞくせいど  
peerage system

**68** 廃止  
はいし  
abolition

**69** 財閥  
ざいばつ  
financial combines

**70** 解体  
かいたい  
dissolution

**71** 農地改革  
のうちかいかく  
farm-land reform; agrarian reform

**72** 司法制度  
しほうせいど  
judicial system

**73** 婦人  
ふじん  
women

**74** 解放  
かいほう  
emancipation

**75** 次々と  
つぎつぎと  
one after another

```
Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise

1 Topics:

a Converse with your classmates on the following suggested topics in Japanese.

(1) The Potsdam Declaration.

(2) Social change as declared by the Supreme Commander.

(3) New Constitution.

(4) Post-war Economic Conditions.

2 Exercise:

(a) Match the words in Column (A) with those of Column (B) and insert the letters of Column (B) in the proper spaces provided in Column (A).

1 軍国主義

2 戦争 犯罪人

3 民主主義

4 財閥

5 農地改革

6 基本的人権

7 華族制度

a agrarian reform

b democracy

c independent nation

d peerage system

e peace treaty

f militarism

g sovereignty

8 平和条約

9 主権

10 独立国

h financial combines

i basic human rights

j war criminal
```

```
Homework

1 Study the Narration thoroughly and memorize the vocabulary.

2 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercises given.

3 Learn to read and write the new Kanji.

4 Read the Cultural Notes.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| つくす | serve; endeavor; made efforts |
| 付ぞくする | be annexed to, belong to |
| 華族制度 | peerage system |
| 廃止 | abolition |
| 解体 | dissolution |
| 農地改革 | farm-land reform; agrarian reform |
| 司法制度 | judicial system |
| 次々と | one after another |