Shadow of the Rising Sun: How Japanese Culture was Transferred to the United States via Foreign Policy

Abstract

Post-World War II U.S. economic foreign policy towards Japan aimed to revitalize the war-torn country’s economy and spread democracy to the East. The economic foreign policy enacted by the United States to revitalize the Japanese economy resulted in an increase and “normalization” of Japanese culture in America. This thesis explores the connection of post-war American foreign policy to the increase of American exposure to Japanese culture that sparked normalization. By focusing on the efforts of U.S. policymakers and the positive media coverage of Japanese culture in the United States, a clear correlation between economic foreign policy and the normalization of Japanese culture is evident.

Date of Award	2026
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	Eastern Illinois University
Supervisor	Edmund F. Wehrle (Supervisor)