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The Vestiges of the U.S. Occupation and the Redefining of the Japanese Woman

Journal of Historical Sociology

Published online on

Abstract

This article addresses the construction of Japanese womanhood toward the end of the U.S. occupation of Japan (1945–1952). In the early 1950s, the Japanese people were conscious about independence and envisioned a new, positive image of the nation. However, the actual image was overtly sexualized by the presence of numerous women consorting with U.S. servicemen during the occupation. This article explores how the Japanese government attempted to eliminate any sexualized elements from Japan. While focusing on Japanese women who had relationships with foreign men and mixed‐blood children, I argue that they served as the “Other” in redefining post‐occupation femininity.