Occupied Japan

After Japan surrendered, the U.S. Army recruited linguists to participate in almost all the activities of the Occupation. They participated in the military government, disarmament, surrenders, civil affairs, and intelligence. Not only did their language abilities contribute to the effort, but their cultural sensitivity and ethnic heritage helped smooth out differences between US occupiers and Japanese people.

Most of the 4000 linguists based in Northeast Asia passed through Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) in Tokyo.

Highlights:

The ATIS team in Manila translated all of MacArthur’s terms for the surrender. They had to clear all bypassed areas and secure the surrenders of troops in Japan and in China. Over 6 million civilians and soldiers needed to be repatriated to Japan.

New Constitution: Linguists helped write the new constitution of Japan.

War Crimes Trials: The U.S. Army assigned 70 linguists to work as defense attorneys and monitors.

Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC): Nisei working for the CIC detected and prevented "subversive" activities directed against Occupation forces in Japan.

Civil Censorship Detachment (CCD): Linguists working in the CCD censored all mass media communication in Japan.

Repatriation Program: As repatriates returned to Japan from all parts of Asia, MIS linguists screened soldiers and civilians. As the Cold War began, the U.S. Army suspected the Soviet Union recruited Japanese POWs to work as intelligence agents. MIS linguists screened the POWs as they returned.

At local levels, Nisei linguists worked as the primary liaisons between the Occupation Forces and Japanese officials. Everyday, they interpreted and translated for the U.S. officials, and helped bridge cultural differences between the two nations.