Looking Both Ways: Gi Songs and Musical Exoticism in Post-World War II Japan

Abstract

GI songs orshinchū-gun songuin Japanese are legacies of the U.S. occupation of Japan, which started in 1945 with Japan's defeat in the Pacific War. Although the occupation officially ended in 1952, many American soldiers continued to arrive and remained in Japan even after 1952. This was due to the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-53), which made Japan America's advance base. GI songs generally refer to compositions addressed to American soldiers stationed in Japan during this occupation period and through the 1950s.