Projecting British socialism in occupied Japan: The United Kingdom liaison mission’s information activities

Abstract

This article examines the British government’s information activities in early post-war Japan, and explores the unique role they played in the history of the American-led occupation. In the early post-war period, the British mission in Tokyo could only act within the constraints set by the occupation authorities. However, its close relationship with American officials allowed it to project British achievements in Japanese society through a wide range of media, including publications, exhibitions and people-to-people contacts. A particular emphasis was placed on the theme of British socialism, which was believed to be more relevant to post-war Japan than the American and Soviet models of democracy, and therefore more effective in countering the threat of communism. As such, the British welfare state and its post-war reconstruction featured prominently in this approach. Confidence in the quality of British information underpinned Britain’s overt and covert information campaigns. Also, the British view that Japan was essentially an opportunistic country meant that post-occupation Japan’s pro-Western posture was not guaranteed. Accordingly, projections of British national achievements – possessing a unique anti-communist theme – were aimed at keeping Japan rooted firmly in the Western sphere.