Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0142, 1946-01-09.

Full Translation:

The Commerce and Industry Ministry in making a thorough and detailed study to determine the basic on which financial reconstruction should be accomplished. It is doing this in the course of dealing with the various problems of the war profits and property taxes to pay reparations, and the plan for the production of collateral goods for essential imports—problems naturally facing the Government in the worse of industrial reconstruction of post war JAPAN. The decision as to the basic for financial reconstruction depends on the question of what type of industrial structure JAPAN should assume in order to make a new start as a peaceful JAPAN and what the national standard of life should be to maintain peace-time industry. If the solution to these problems is found, then "An Industrial Five Year Plan" will be based on it, and the Government is now preparing for this.

However, present financial condition is such that there are too many difficulties, such as the food crisis, decrease in coal production and the shortage of salt, steel, and metals other than iron, to build up any concrete program. [illegible]en among the authorities concerned the feeling is growing that the plan falls under the same category as "A Financial Five Year Plan" projected by the Finance Ministry sometime ago, and that such a plan should be made only after the solution of such basic problems as the form or reparation, the whole question of property tax, and the food and coal crisis. Hence, it would be foolish to undertake such a project under the present chaotic conditions.

After every aspect of these problems has been clarified, the national standard of living to be maintained within JAPAN proper, should be decided on. By this is meant not the food necessary per capita, but the standard of the civil life of the people. Hitherto the standard of life of the Japanese has been far too inferior to that of other nations, and this is particularly so in rural farming villages. First of all there must be the modernination of life with, at the very least, the provision of equipment such as Singer sowing machines and the installation of gas and electricity throughout urban and rural areas. In planning peacetime industries, this must be the first consideration; the second should be steel and metals other than iron.

Full Translation:

The members of the JONAM Labor union of TOKYO (TOKYO JONAN RODO KUMIAI) held a general meeting in the building of the ISHII iron-works (ISHI-I TEKKOSHO), OMORI-Ku on 6 January and agreed to send messages of support to three labor unions, which are engaged in desputes with the management of the Electric Industry Company (DENGYO SHA), JAPAN Crane Manufacturing.

ECONOMIC SERIES 142 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

Company (NIPPON KIJUKI) and the local factory of the Tobacco Monopoly Bureau in TOKYO. They decided further to organize an associative body of employees in ten factories including such firms as the NIPPON Electric Co. (NIPPON DENKI), OKI Electric Co. (OKI DENKI), etc., under the name of the JONAN Labor Union Council (JOKAN RODO KUMIA KYOGIKAI), in order to obtain mutual co-operation and understanding among the members. The organization aims among other things, to set up a wage system on the basis of living costs, to endeavor to living about one greater united labor union and through close connection with other similar agrarian organizations to solve the food problem and overcome the menacing crisis. The JONAN Labor Union Council, will in the near future appeal to other labor unions to be found in and on the outskirts of the city of TOKYO to organize a greater associative body, namely, the Labor Union Council of the KANTO Area (KANTO CHIHO RODOXKUMAI KYCGIKAI).

Full Translation:

The NAGANO Ken Central Agriculture Association plans to manufacture homespun cloth chiefly from the wool obtained from the 15,000 sheep. These sheep are bred in the same prefecture. Cloth is also to be made from the hair of Angera rabbits and feathers. They will commence business in 1946 and will establish the NAGANO Ken Central Committed, and Gun Committees, which will make plans for collection and production of wool in proportion to the numbers of sheep in each gun.

The manufactured goods are made in farm villages and in the five government-operated factories. The sheep will be distributed to the manufacturers, who are to supply wool to the association.

Summary:

In greeting the New Year, actual progress in the rebuilding of TOKYO is reported here. The building of simple houses, which were offered to the public by the authorities last year, seems to have produced poor results. On the other hand, the new houses made of a light metal, durallumin, which were recently introduced to the public have not yet appeared. In addition, the conversion of damaged-buildings for use as dwellings for citizens is also not progressing. The other type of simple houses, designed by civilian producers in the building trade, are only thriving now because of their quick construction in spite of their rather high price. The number of these houses built already totals 200,000 in the entire country, including about 50,000 or 60,000 in TOKYO, compared with a total of only 20,000 of the standard simple house promised by the authorities. The difference is largely due to the various lumber control laws and other difficulties created by the government.

The rehabilitation of the shopping center in TOKYO, has not yet passed beyond the stage of discussion, and the only people taking action seem to be the street-vendors. This is largely due to difficulties brought about by lack of capital and the complexities of surface rights. The Commerce and Industry Economic Association of TOKYO (SHOKO-KEIZAIKAI) intends to make a detailed plan in the near future to help deal with this problem. But the rehabilitation of shopping center seems to present many difficulties.

The rehabilitation of amusement centers, theatres, cinemas etc., appears to have begun already. Most of these places being opened in rapid succession owing to their large capital. The KABUKI Theater, the If M[illegible]IJI Theatre, and the SHINBASHI Playhouse, which were damaged in air raids, are being quickly repaired.

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ECONOMIC SERIES 142 (Continued)

Full Translation:

In order to unify local administration of commerce and industry, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has established a Local Bureau of Commerce and Industry (CHIHC SHOKO KYOKU in every local administrative district, replacing the local commerce and industry management department (CHIHO SEOKO SHORIBU) and the local mining bureaus (KOSANKYORU. The new bureaus are reported to have started operating on 7 January. They are under the supervision of the local administrative districts and of HOKKAIDO. They deal with local commercial and industrial matters under the supervision of the Minister of Commerce and Industry.

They handle matters relative to mining, electric power, and alchol and petroleum. Each bureau consists of three sections namely the commerce and industry sections, electricity section and mining section. Now bureau chiefs were appointed on 7 January as follows: TOHOKU district- NIYAWAKI, Sanze KANTO and SHINTETSU - YOSHIDA, Teyire HODDAIDO— ARAI, Shigeru, TOKAI and HOKUROKU - YAMAMOTO, Shigeru, SHIKOKU - HATANKA, Daisuke CHUGOKU - ISHIDA, Yujiro.

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