The Remaking Of Japan Scratchy: The Pacific Story (December 31, 1945)

The Pacific Story, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“The Remaking Of Japan Scratchy” is an episode of The Pacific Story, the old-time radio show, first broadcast December 31, 1945. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

Play The Pacific Story free: the episodes out so far, or subscribe in any podcast app.

What happens

Yoshio, a moderately educated Japanese white-collar worker, lives through the occupation of Japan after the Second World War. He sees the Japanese navy and high command dismantled, the great industrial family combines broken up, and the press placed under new rules. A visit by the Emperor to General MacArthur stirs public bewilderment, and the Emperor's personal fortune is seized for reparations. Land reform, changes to education and the separation of state Shinto from government follow. This episode of The Pacific Story, first broadcast on December 31, 1945, is narrated as the remaking of Japan.

Tokyo and Japan, 1945, during the American occupation after the surrender

Characters: Yoshio, General MacArthur, Emperor Hirohito, Premier Higashikuni

Listen for: The announcement of the Potsdam Declaration and the order abolishing Japanese Imperial General Headquarters

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.