My Global Studies Capstone project is centered around the development of Japan from World War II to today. The uniqueness of Japan's history lies in its relationship to the United States. Before the war, Japan was an imperial nation that had rapidly developed in the aftermath of having its ports opened after centuries of seclusion. The post war era saw Japan becoming a pacifist nation with no official army and a major economic power. In the development of Japan's modern culture, many aspects of American culture were borrowed. One example of this is jazz music, of which Japan is currently the top global consumer. In the process of transforming a wartorn nation into an economic power, Japan developed a strict work culture. Due to this, Japan also has a unique set of socioeconomic problems. Overworking, the aging of the population, the prevalence of part time workers, the lonely deaths of the elderly, and the abundance of young recluses are some of the main problems in Japan. The goal of my project is to understand how Japan has developed for the modern age.