In September 1945, with the surrender and occupation of Japan, drastic changes took place that altered the way of life for the Japanese people. Within an incredibly short period of time, Japanese society experienced a complete social revolution. The revised Meiji Constitution that came out of the Occupation enfranchised the people of Japan, but most particularly, the women of the country with the inclusion of Articles 14 and 24. Women who had been denied enfranchisement were suddenly equal partners in the reemerging nation. General Douglas MacArthur was a vocal supporter of Japanese women’s rights and later explained: “Of all the reforms accomplished by the occupation in Japan, none was more heartwarming to me than this change in the status of women.” This podcast will explore the development of women’s rights in Japan during the Occupation.

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