FOREIGN OFFICE FILES FOR JAPAN AND THE FAR EAST
Series Two: British Foreign Office Files for Post-War Japan, 1952-1980
(Public Record Office Classes FO 371 and FCO 21)

Part 4: Complete files for 1960-1962
(PRO Class FO 371/150561-150654, 158477-158541 & 164958-165033)

Part 4 provides the files for 1960-1962, years that witnessed Japan’s continued rapid economic growth and emergence on the world stage as a major economic power.

As well as regular features such as files on Japan: Annual Review, Fortnightly reports on political situation, Japan’s foreign trade, Political relations between Japan and Soviet Union, Political relations between Japan and the United States and Political relations between Japan and the UK there are files on the following subjects:

1960:
- The new Security Pact
- Vociferous opposition to the new Security Pact from the Socialists which turned into a personal campaign against the Japanese Premier Kishi. Removal of Kishi’s opponents from the Diet corridors by the police followed by mass demonstrations.
- Assassination of Asanuma Inejiro, Secretary-General of the Socialist Party, by a right wing fanatic
- The Ten Year Plan for doubling wages

1961:
- Motor Industry, Engineering and Industrial Growth
- Agriculture and Rice Production
- Education
- Prime Minister Ikeda’s visit to the United States
- Calmer political situation in Japan under Ikeda

1962:
- Treaty of Commerce between Japan and Britain, signed in November when Ikeda visited London
- Relations with China, Britain and the United States (including resumption of Trade relations between Japan and Communist China)
- Liao-Takasaki Memorandum on Trade
- Ikeda’s Election success
- Political developments and notes on Political Factions
- Sino-Soviet dispute
- Continued influence of Yoshida Shigeru, the remarkable veteran aged 84 in 1962, who lived in retirement at Oiso. He remained such an important factor in the shaping of Japanese state affairs that politicians and journalists coined the phrase "government by remote control from Oiso".
- Yoshida’s statement at a meeting of the America-Japan Society in July that "Japan as a member of the Free World should be prepared to arm itself with nuclear weapons if it is to tighten its partnership with the United States". This certainly proved embarrassing for the Japanese cabinet.