Do the Japanese honor Douglas Macarthur?

Question

General Macarthur led the military defeat of Japan then ruled over them for years. But instead of abusing or humiliating the Japanese, his occupation set them on their feet as a new democratic society. He taught them the importance of that great American invention, separation of church and state, and showed them how to build a secular society and make it work, as James Madison had done for the USA, Kemal Ataturk for Turkey and Benito Juarez for Mexico.

Japan became prosperous and free, thanks to the good start given to them by the American occupation under Douglas Macarthur. Do they appreciate what he did for them? What do they teach in their high school history classes? Have they ever thought of erecting a statue of him or putting his image on a postage stamp?

Answer 1

I have lived in Japan for almost 7 years now, much of that in the Hiroshima area. From my experience most Japanese do honor Douglas MacArthur; at least in the way I have heard them talk about him.

You have to realize that the Japanese were expecting, and taught at the time, that if the Americans invaded that they would all be murdered, raped and basically put into a slave-like situation. That is why even the civilians were ready to fight to the death. If you look at the number of survivors in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and the like you are getting over 90% death toll of the native Japanese.

Why? Because they all fought to the death or committed suicide, which they thought was more honorable, and better for them in the long run compared to how the invading army would treat them.

They were that scared of what the Americans would do to them. However, when the Americans did land it was a whole different story. Thanks mainly to MacArthur.

The Japanese realize this and respect him very much for it. I have only heard good things about MacArthur from the Japanese. There is every so often a person who gets all angry about the war in general but for the most part they realize that their leaders were mainly at fault for all the bad that happened. They teach this in their schools (for the most part) and it is on TV all the time.

Now, having said that I have also never heard of someone debating whether or not to make a statue of MacArthur or anything. They are pretty Anti-war now and even though they respect and love MacArthur for what he did, I think it would be a little out of character for the Japanese to put up a statue of a modern war leader.

But just because I haven't heard of any push for some memorial doesn't mean it isn't going on. It would be cool if they did though, huh.

Answer 2

Macarthur Statue

Answer 3

I realize this is a 9 year old thread, but thanks to JapanMan and area52 for two great answers. About the statue, there is one at the Atsugi Naval Air Facility, the place where Douglas Macarthur first stepped on Japanese soil. A sign under the statue reads 日本の民主々義の生みの親マッカーサー which has been translated as “MacArthur parented the birth of Japan’s democracy”

Answer 4

For most of the Japanese, Gen. Macarthur is no more than the head of the U.S. Forces during the 5-year occupation. He is neither respected nor hated.

The Japanese understand that U.S. occupation policies were designed by the U.S. govt in D.C., not by Gen. Macarthur. In fact, he was not a ruler, he was just the commander of USF in Japan, which symbolized U.S. occupation.

The Japanese, speaking in general, appreciate the U.S. occupation policies for 1) the termination of Japanese militarism, which liberated the nation from their imperial army; 2) the democratization of post-war Japan; and 3) their educational reform, which includes the separation of religion and the state as you mentioned.

Most of the Japanese know that the "pacifist constitution" was written by the occupation forces under Gen. Macarthur. But, the constitution itself now prevents Japan from participating in UN and the multi-national armed operations. The ruling LDP is trying to revise the constitution due partly to live up to U.S. expectations; however, the Constitution has been firmly "protected" by the opposition parties, including the Socialist and Communist parties of Japan.

The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty for the defense of Japan is supported by the majority of the nation, but not the revision of the constitution. The meaning, significance and appreciation for the U.S. occupation as well as the evaluation of Gen. Macarthur, therefore, change according to the world situation.

Ironically enough, the U.S. govt cannot push GOJ to revise the constitution that was written by its own occupation forces in the post-war period. The the strongest supporter of the US-made constitution of Japan is the opposition parties who are deadly set against the deployment of Japanese Self-defense Forces overseas. The Socialist and Communist parties of Japan may be glad to erect a statue of Gen. Macarthur. What an irony!

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Answer 6

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Answer 7

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Answer 8

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