Tokyo's Post-WWII Rebuilding and Cultural Transformation

Between November 1944 and August 15, 1945, Tokyo faced extensive bombing, leading to more than 100,000 civilian fatalities and leaving millions without homes. The most catastrophic attack, known as Operation Meetinghouse, occurred on March 9-10, 1945, claiming an estimated 88,000 to over 100,000 lives. Following Japan's capitulation on September 2, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur oversaw a US-led Allied occupation that introduced a new constitution in 1947, set up war crimes tribunals, and executed former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo on December 23, 1948, while also providing food assistance. Reconstruction efforts were largely driven by private businesses, reminiscent of the rebuilding after the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake. By the early 1960s, Tokyo had grown to become the most populous city globally, with a population of 20 million.