The health status within Japan after the WW II was poor. Nonetheless, in less than thirty-five years the Japan’s life expectancy ranked the highest within the globe. Continuing health gains in Japan are associated with policies developed after the end of the WW II by the AOF (Allied occupation force) which formed a democratic government. The Principles of Confucian, which existed within Japan before the occupation were preempted in the war, and were re-instituted after the war, promoting subsequent health improvements. The current good health situation in Japan is not resulting from the health care system of the country or individual health behavior; instead, it is due to continuing economic equality, due to dismantling of the prewar hierarchy (Gordon, 2013).
In the opinion of Bridoux (2011), the levels of income are associated with mortality although that, in the end, is just a negligible portion of gains in life expectancy, which may be attributed to rise within income (Hidajat, Hayward & Saito, 2009, p. 7). What clarifies the increase in life expectancy for Japan, a state which begun behind health Olympics after the end of the WW II? Kawachi and Kennedy (2012) suggested three interdependent factors controlling the relationship of income-longevity: distribution and level of national income, efficiencies, as well as effectiveness of expenditures in management of mortality, and effectiveness of policies.
MacArthur, commander of the AOF, had unique control of the forces within Japan from 1945 to 1951. His main concern was to promote democracy, dismantle concentration of power and wealth by wartime elites in Japan, dismantle Japanese empire, promote development of new constituencies, and destroy structures, which wartime elites worked their evil ways (Griffith, Neighbors & Johnson, 2009, p. 7). MacArthur acknowledged the significance of citizens reprocessing self-respect. Establishing economic foundation dependent on social justice, removing Japan’s feudal structure, giving voice to labor unions and women, and establishing land reforms policies were achieved through the creation of new constitution as well as attendant legislation (Ward, 2010).
A significant dissimilarity between the constitution of America and Japan, is that, the constitution of Japan provides for the duties and rights of the citizen within 31 clauses. Three of the clauses force the government of Japan to improve health situation of citizens and reduce economic disparity. In every sphere of life, the government shall utilize its actions for the extension and promotion of social welfare as well as security, also of public health (Bridoux, 2011).
After the end of the WW II, even though over half of residents in Japan lived within agricultural villages, they possessed less than 10 percent of cultivable land. The land reforms, which were established after the WW II enabled tenants to buy their land at a fixed price depending on a formula involving prices of rice as well as production costs. Kosakunin purchased land, and were offered thirty-year low-interest credits to repay. Over 90 percent of the Japanese land was reallocated to Kosakunin within this duration. Many tenants paid cash for the land or repaid the loans/credits by 1948. Incidents of violence or war between tenants and landowners were minimal, and no cases of life loss were reported (Ward, 2010).
The discrepancy between the American and the Japanese populations within health achievement may be attributed to Japan not undergoing the levels of wealth polarization and income inequality found within the US (Griffith, Neighbors & Johnson, 2009, p. 6). The effectiveness of policy and political changes relies on a country’s culture, values, and history. Japan has higher levies on high incomes and higher tax threshold than the US. Managers and CEOs take pay cuts instead of retrenching employees, and ratio of wage between entry-level workers and CEOs remains very low, particularly as compared to that of the USA (Hidajat, Hayward & Saito, 2009, p. 3).
Lesson other nations may learn from the experience of Japan is that changes within a state’s economic hierarchy may have profound health impact. The example of Japan is notable. The Allied occupation offered Japan opportunity to create a peaceful, democratic, and economically egalitarian society. Economic recovery in Japan was assisted by a novel constitution promoted by Japanese values. The structural changes established social conditions favorable to longevity and health, and the gains of a growing life expectancy continue. Even though few countries experience forcible rebuilding of their governing structures, much may be learned from influences of such rebuilding within Japan on the State’s health.
References
Bridoux, J. (2011). Postwar Reconstruction, the Reverse Course and the New Way Forward: Bis Repetitas? Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, 2(1), 10-13. doi:10.1080/17502977.2011.541782
Gordon, A. (2013). A modern history of Japan: From Tokugawa times to the present. New York: Oxford University Press.
Griffith, D. M., Neighbors, H. W., & Johnson, J. (2009). Using National Data Sets to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Black Americans: Challenges and Opportunities. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 4(3), 6-7. doi:10.1037/a0013594
Hidajat, M. M., Hayward, M. D., & Saito, Y. (2009). Indonesia’s social capacity for population health: the educational gap in active life expectancy. Population Research and Policy Review, 2(1), 3-7. doi:10.1007/s11113-007-9025-x
Kawachi, I., & Kennedy, B. P. (2012). The health of nations: Why inequality is harmful to your health. New York, NY: New Press.
Ward, E. E. (2010). Land reform in Japan 1946-1950: The Allied role. Tokyo: Nobunkyo.
