RELATED TOPIC:
THE PRIME MINISTER

RELATED TOPIC:
THE JAPANESE BUREAUCRACY

RELATED TOPIC:
THE JAPANESE DIET (PARLIAMENT)

RELATED TOPIC:
INTEREST GROUPS IN JAPANESE POLITICS

RELATED TOPIC:
ELECTION LAWS

RELATED TOPIC:
THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Gerald L. Curtis :: The American Occupation authorities that ruled Japan for six-and-a-half years after the Second World War, from 1945, wanted to change the system and make it impossible for any groups to claim power by speaking on behalf of the emperor. And so they adopted this — they had Japan adopt — a constitution in which the emperor is the symbol of the Japanese people and the Japanese state. He is kind of a living flag for Japan. So it’s a fundamental change in the political system. And the power was put in the hands of those whom the sovereign people elected — namely the members of the Japanese Diet.