Question 1

In which area did Japanese relations with the US become more strained in the 1970s and 1980?

Accepted Answer

In the 1970s and 1980s, US-Japan relations became more strained primarily due to trade issues, as the US faced a growing trade deficit with Japan and there were tensions over market access and trade imbalances.

Question 2

What was export 'dumping'?

Accepted Answer

Export 'dumping' refers to the practice of exporting products at a price lower than the cost to produce them, often to undermine competitors in the foreign market and gain market share.

Question 3

What did the 'Super 301' clause allow the US congress to do?

Accepted Answer

The 'Super 301' clause allowed the US to identify and take action against countries that were deemed to have unfair trade practices, specifically those that closed their markets to US imports.

Question 4

Why did The New York Times Magazine juxtapose images of a new Japanese plant with a rusting American one?

Accepted Answer

The juxtaposition was intended to highlight the economic threat posed by Japan's success, illustrating the contrast between Japan's modern, thriving industry and America's declining industrial sector.

Question 5

What happened after the 1985 Plaza Accords that contributed to the 'bubble economy'?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What happened after the 1985 Plaza Accords...

Question 6

Which of the following was NOT a reason for strained Japanese relations with its neighbour in Asia?

Accepted Answer

Japan is known for providing significant overseas development assistance, particularly in Asia, which is generally seen as a positive aspect of its foreign relations.

Question 7

With which countries did Japan have the most difficult relations in the 1970s and 1980s?

Accepted Answer

Japan had difficult relations with China and Korea in the 1970s and 1980s due to historical issues stemming from World War II, territorial disputes, and differing political ideologies.

Question 8

What was newly controversial about the Yasukuni shrine in the 1980s?

Accepted Answer

The controversy arose because the souls of fourteen Class A war criminals were enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine in 1978, which became widely known in the 1980s, leading to diplomatic tensions with countries affected by Japan's wartime actions.

Question 9

Which of the following was a factor behind a rise of revisionist attitudes towards World War II in the 1970s and 1980s?

Accepted Answer

Many Japanese felt ongoing criticism of their country was unfair and rooted in economic jealousy, leading to revisionist attitudes.

Question 10

Which of the following writers did NOT write in the vein of Nihonjinron ?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following writers did NOT...

Question 11

The Japanese economy did NOT experience _____ between 1975 and 1985

Accepted Answer

During 1975 to 1985, Japan experienced low unemployment rates, consistent economic growth, and robust exports, but not high unemployment.

Question 12

Which of the following prime ministers did not begin his careers as a bureaucrat?

Accepted Answer

Nakasone Yasuhiro did not begin his career as a bureaucrat; he started as a politician.

Question 13

How did the LDP (barely) manage to remain in power in the 1980s?

Accepted Answer

The LDP managed to stay in power by using a combination of strategies: gerrymandering to favor rural areas where it had strong support, gaining credit for Japan's economic growth, and adopting some progressive reforms to appeal to a broader electorate.

Question 14

Why were both the elections of 1976 and 1983 hailed as a new era of 'parity politics'?

Accepted Answer

The elections of 1976 and 1983 were significant because the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) failed to secure outright majorities, leading to a more balanced political landscape and the need for coalition governments, which was seen as a shift towards 'parity politics'.

Question 15

Which of the following was NOT a political priority for Nakasone Yasuhiro?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following was NOT a...

Question 16

What was so shocking to the older generation about the "aliens" (shinjinrui)?

Accepted Answer

The older generation was shocked by the "aliens" (shinjinrui) because they were perceived as lacking the company-centered diligence and loyalty that characterized the older generation's work ethic.

Question 17

To what sort of work-related tragedy did the term karoshi refer?

Accepted Answer

Karoshi is a Japanese term that translates to "death by overwork," referring to fatalities and health problems resulting from excessive work hours and stress.

Question 18

What were the 'micro-masses'?

Accepted Answer

'Micro-masses' refers to various subcultures and cultural interest groups that emerged within nominally homogenous Japanese society, highlighting diversity within the culture.

Question 19

What happened to voting rates in Japan in the 1980s?

Accepted Answer

Voting rates in Japan declined in the 1980s, reflecting a trend of decreasing political engagement during that period.

Question 20

Which of the following is the best characterization of what happened in Japan in the 1980s?

Accepted Answer

Japan in the 1980s experienced significant economic growth and increasing affluence, often referred to as the "Japanese economic miracle." This period was marked by a focus on economic development rather than political confrontation.

Quiz 16: Global Power in a Polarized World: Japan in the 1980s