WI Republic of Japan

What if after the japanese surrender the american occupation authority abolished the japanese monarchy by force in the 1948 constitution, and to prevent the japanese from bringing back the monarchy later they executed the senior members of the royal family for war crimes and stripped the younger ones from any nobility title?

Of course would have a horrible public backlash in japan, but could this stabilize with the time and turn japan into a succesfull republic?
 
The Japanese would probably rebel, or at least try to.

Besides,its not in the interest of the US to ever do that and MacArthur was firmly against doing anything like that. The Soviets on the other hand, probably would.
 
Unlike many others who may disagree, I think it'd work out quite well. I mean, how do the Japanese plan on rebelling? The US has every right and justification to remove the position of Emperor, along with State Shinto. Sure there'll be protests, but there were many protests in the 1945~1955 period and the pro-Emperor riots will just be one of many. It'll do loads in changing Japanese history however.
 
1948 is *way* too late for this. By that time, the US was already worried about communism in Japan and was discreetly modifying the "excesses" of the early phases of the Occupation. Anyway, even in the earlier phases, the US did not want the monarchy abolished, just to have its role radically redefined: "In early 1946, just months after the surrender, the American occupation authorities settled the monarchy's fate by pressuring a conservative Japanese government to accept a draft constitution...that ensured the throne's survival but radically redefined the Emperor's position." https://books.google.com/books?id=aE4tpq4D2RAC&pg=PA5
 
I could see it causing a rift in post-occupation Japanese politics, between those who support the new status quo, and a right-wing minority fighting for the restoration.
 

trurle

Banned
What if after the japanese surrender the american occupation authority abolished the japanese monarchy by force in the 1948 constitution, and to prevent the japanese from bringing back the monarchy later they executed the senior members of the royal family for war crimes and stripped the younger ones from any nobility title?

Of course would have a horrible public backlash in japan, but could this stabilize with the time and turn japan into a succesfull republic?
Not much unrest if done gradually. After the Imperial Household Act of 1947, the position of Emperor was much weakened. US have actually already stripped majority of the imperial family of nobility by this act.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Household_Act
 
Top