TALES FROM HISTORY

The Old Woman of Odawara

And how Japan retained its writing system after WWII

After World War II, when the Allied Forces under General MacArthur occupied Japan, the country was in dire need of food, infrastructure, and all-around rebuilding. Specialists were brought in to help with every sphere of government, including American officials with expertise in education.

When these officials saw the Japanese writing system, they were dumbfounded by its complexity. Three different alphabets?! How could…