In 1960, Japan was rocked by the largest popular protests in its history, as citizens from across the political spectrum took to the streets to oppose the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty (known as "Anpo" in Japanese). Ultimately, the protests failed to stop the treaty, and U.S. military bases remained on Japanese soil. But they did force the resignation of conservative prime minister Kishi Nobusuke and the cancellation of a planned visit by U.S. president Dwight Eisenhower. As Nick Kapur explains in this conversation, they also helped facilitate a variety of transformations in Japanese politics, society and culture that endure to this day.

Speakers:
• Nick Kapur, Associate Professor of History, Rutgers University-Camden
• Ulrike Schaede, Professor and Director of the Japan Forum for Innovation and Technology, GPS UC San Diego