Documents with Commentaries Part 5 Enactment of the Constitution of Japan
On the day before the new Constitution of Japan came into effect, Prime Minister Yoshida and General MacArthur exchanged these letters regarding the Japanese national flag, which required permission to be displayed. In his letter to Yoshida, MacArthur wrote that he believed that with the effectuation of the new Japanese Constitution, to mark this historic ascendancy of democratic freedom, that the Japanese national flag be unrestrictedly displayed within and over the premises of the National Diet, the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister's residence, as representative of the three main branches of constitutional government, and within and over the residence of the Emperor, who is symbol of the State and of the unity of the people. In his reply, Yoshida expressed his gratitude regarding permission to display the national flag, and, borrowing MacArthur's expressions, wrote that the effectuation of the new Japanese Constitution signaled the entry into "a new and enduring era of peace." He also noted that approval to raise the Japanese national flag on this historic occasion would inspire the people of Japan as they strove to become a truly democratic and peaceful nation.
| Actual Title of Source | Letter from Douglas MacArthur to Prime Minister dated May 2, 1947 |
|---|---|
| Date | May 2, 1947 |
| Document Number | Diplomatic Records A'1.0.0.1 "Correspondence and Records of Meetings of SCAP and his Staff with Japan Prime Minister and Other High Japanese Officials" <GAI-1, Reel No. A'-0055> |
| Repository (reproduction) | National Diet Library |
| Repository | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Note | Microfilm |
| Actual Title of Source | Letter from Shigeru Yoshida to General MacArthur dated May 2, 1947 |
|---|---|
| Date | May 2, 1947 |
| Document Number | MacArthur Memorial Archives, RG 5: Records of General Headquarters Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP), 1945-1951, SCAP Box No. 62 "WO-Z" <MMA-3, Roll No. 55> |
| Repository (reproduction) | National Diet Library |
| Repository | MacArthur Memorial |
| Note | Microfilm |
