Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II

by John W. Dower

The demonstrations of May 1946 did not go anywhere near this far. There was some disorderly conduct. Both the prime minister’s residence and his dignity suffered a bit of damage. The imperial kitchen was contaminated by the entry of hoi polloi. Although several million individuals ultimately were involved in rallies and protests nationwide, there was no mayhem, no serious violence, no death or serious injury, virtually no destruction of property, and not even a discernible whisper of incitement to revolt. There was not the slightest threat whatsoever to the security or authority of the occupation forces. Nonetheless, on May 20 MacArthur saw fit to warn the Japanese people “that the growing tendency towards mass violence and physical processes of intimidation, under organized leadership, present a grave menace to the future development of Japan.” The supreme commander’s warning went on to condemn “excesses by disorderly minorities”—a phrase that was rendered as bōmin demo in Japanese and carried with it chilling memories of the language in “peace preservation” legislation that SCAP had ordered abrogated only a half year previously. The dictionary definition of bōmin is “mob, rioters, insurgents,” while demo is borrowed English for “demonstration.” With this ominous phrase, the popular turbulence of April and May—full of contradictions but also representing an historic expression of popular defiance of corrupt and inept government—became tarred as a mere step toward mob rule.