The Antimonopoly Law of Japan and Its Enforcement

The Antimonopoly Law of Japan became effective in July 1947, less than two decades ago. The act was extravagantly endorsed by the U.S. occupation forces as a charter for the economic future of Japan. It was indeed a significant undertaking, designed to implant democratic practices where none had existed before, and it required basic, almost revolutionary, changes in the economic structure of the nation. Equally important was the circumstance that this law was neither sought nor desired by the Japanese. It was imposed upon a defeated people, a device entirely alien to the history and culture of those who were expected to make it work. The purpose of this article is to examine the act and to attempt an evaluation