Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0197, 1946-01-23.

Author Supreme Commander for The Allied Powers. Allied Translator and Interpreter Section.

Date23 January, 1946

translation numbereconomic-0903

call numberDS801 .S81

Persistent Identifier
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS
ALLIED TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER SECTION
PRESS TRANSLATIONS
No. 903 Date: 23 Jan 46

ECONOMIC SERIES: 197

ITEM 1 A Discussion On The Replacement Of the Leaders Of The Newly Organized Industrial Bodies - Nippon Sangyo Keizai - 21 Jan 46. Translator: K. Sato.

Full Translation:
The SCAP directive purging political circles had its influence even upon the industrial world, resulting in the apprehension of GODO, Takuo, president of the Central Association of the Commerce and Industry Union (SHOKOKUMIAI CHUO KAI KAICHO) and the resignation of FUJIYAMA, Auchiro, president of the National Commercial and Industrial Finance Association (ZENKOKU SHO KOKEIZAIKAI KAI CHO). It is believed that the retirement of MATSUMOTO, Kenjiro, who is president of both the JAPAN Financial Federation (NIPPON KEIZAI RENMEI KAI) and the Major Industries Council (JUYOSANGYO KYOGIKAI) is inevitable.
In view of the spirit of the above-mentioned directive, it is necessary that the prompt renovation of the various industrial bodies be organized in each section of industry. In spite of hope for the speedy dissolution of the control associations and the autonomous re-organization of industrial bodies to cope with the new situation in post war JAPAN, the number of control associations which completed the legitimate procedure of dissolution was only one out of 19 during last December, and that was the Railway Control Association (TETSUDO KIDO TOSEI KAI). The dissolution of the others was postponed until the New Year.
It may be acknowledged that this is partly due to the delay in securing permission from SCAP and other unavoidable circumstances, but it is a pity that the organization of the new bodies and the beginning of work have not been very prompt as a result of industrial sabotage. In particular, the actual status of the new industrial bodies is betraying the hopes of the general public by its lack of novelty and of the spirit required for the financial re-construction of JAPAN.
The main industrial bodies which have completed organization or preparations are, as follows (brackets after the names signify former or subsidiary offices held):
  • 1.The JAPAN Steel Council (NIPPON TEKKO KYOGIKAI) established 1 December 1945, president: WATANABE, Bisuke (President of Steel Control Association (TEKKO TOSEAKAI).
  • 2.The Railway Rolling Stock Industry Association (TETSUDO SEARYO KOGYO KAI), established 28 February 1945; president; SHIMODA, Ringo (President of the KAWASAKI Rolling Stock Company).
  • 3.The Railway Signal Safety Apparatus Industry Association (TETSUDO SHINGO HOAN SOCHI KOGYOKAI), established 30 NOVEMBER 1945; chief director: TOMOMATSU, Yuji.
  • 4.The Motor Car Council (JIDOSHA KYOGIKAI), established 15 November 1945, president: TOYODA, Kiichiro (President of the TOYODA Motor-
  •   ECONOMIC SERIES: 197 (Continued) ITEM 1 (Continued) Car Company).
  • 5.The JAPAN Electric Wire Council (NIPPON DENSEN KYOKAI), established 7 November 1945; representative director: NAKAGAWA, Suekichi (president of the Metal Industry Control Association (KINZOKU KOGYO TOSEIKAI).
  • 6.The Copper Industry Association (SHINDO KOGYOKAI), established 1 November 1945; chief director: SAEGI, Masayoshi.
  • 7.The Light Metal Pressing and Expansion Industry Association (KEI-KINZOKU ATSUEN KOGYOKAI), established 10 November 1945; chief director: ASADA, Chohei (Director of the KOBE Steel Industrial Co. (KOBE SEIKO)).
  • 8.The Shipbuilding Joint Association (ZOSEN RENGOKAI), established 31 October 1945; president: TAMAI, Takasuke (president of the MITSUBISHI Heavy Industries).
  • 9.The JAPAN Railway Industry Association (NIPPON TETSU DOKAI), established 20 December 1945; president: MURAKAMI, Giichi (president of the Rails Control Association (TEKKI TOSEI KAI)).
  • 10.The JAPAN [illegible]Control Union (NIPPON HIKAKU TOSEI KAI), established 26 December 1945; president: NAKAGAWA, Iryo (President of the Leather Control Association (HIKAKU TO SEIKAI)).
  • 11.The JAPAN Rubber Control Union (NIPPON GOMU TO SEI KUMIAI), established 7 December 1945; president: KAWASE, Kayunuki (president of the Rubber Control Association (GOMU TOSEIKAI)).
  • 12.The JAPAN Fiber Association (NIPPON SENI KYOKAI), established 20 December 1945 president: SEKI, Keizo (President of the Fiber Control Association (SENI TO SEI KAI)).
  • 13.The Petroleum Refinement Industry Joint Association (SEKIYU SEI SEIGYO REN GOKAI), established 20 December 1945; president: MIZUTA, Masakichi.
  • 14.The National Mining association (ZENKOKU KOZASKAI), (Completed inaugural meeting; under application for permission from SCAP) president: SUGARE, Inosuke (president of the National Mine Cultivation Association (TEIKOKU KOHATSU)).
  • 15.The Cement Industry Association (S[illegible]NTO KOGYOKAI), (Expects to be established at the end of January l946) president: ASANO, Saichiro (president of the Cement Control Association (SEMENTO TOSEIKAI)).
In reviewing the above list of names, it can be clearly seen that there have been hardly any changes in leading personnel. Each organization is presenting a facade of industrial democratization in opposition to the old structure of control association which had a sycophantic attitude toward wartime bureaucratic control. They also emphasize the reduction of the president's authority, the shortening of the official's term, the simplification of the business oureau, and the establishment of the participation system which aims at the security of the right of free speech concerning the management of the industrial world by medium industrialists. Moreover, as opposed to the interference and supervision of the Government, they manifest the intention of establishing the management of industry and fundamental principles of service to meet the people's demands by free and fair competition. It is merely the reappearance of the old cartels. Future industry should be guided by the basic principles held by such long established industrialists who outwardly endeavored to compromise the profits raised by the large wartime industries.
This is the evidence of unscrupulousness in the discharge of responsi-
- 2 -
ECONOMIC SERIES: 197 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
bility by the sectional industrial bodies given by the Heavy Industrial Association during last December in the recommendation presented to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This recommendation concerned the new industrial organization in the important industrial department, and it is as follows, "The sectional industrial bodies firstly should not degenerate into mere exploiting bodies, out should strive to clarify their respective public characters. Secondly, they should also endeavor to have the necessary selfcontrol over industrial circles from the standpoint of unity in national finance. Thirdly, they should exert themselves to facilitate the fair and just management of each industry and prevent the evil of monopoly." But their attitude is far from SCAP's intention to replace the leading personnel of Japanese industrial circles and substantially democratize their internal management, as well as the democratization of the whole attitude of the industrial world towards national finance.
Those industrial bodies which are now preparing for their establishment namely the JAPAN Coal Federation (NIPPON SEKITAN RANMEL), the Precise Instrument Industry Association (SEIMITSU KIKAI REN GOKAI), the Electric Machinery Association (DENKIKIKAI KYOKAI): the Industrial Machinery Association (SANGYO KIKAI DOGYOKAI), the JAPAN Light Metal Association (NIPPON KEIKINZOKU KYOKAI), the Chemical Industry Federation (KAGAKU KOGYO RENMEI), the JAPAN Gas Industry Association (NIPPON GASU KOGYO KAI), differ slightly from the established bodies. A strong demand is felt for leadership by the medium class of each industrial department and retirement of the old industrialists. This is the opportunity for the purification of the political world and the resignation of the staffs of the four joint financial bodies.

ITEM 2 Federation of Automobile Transporters Associations to be Organized Shortly - Nippon Sangyo Keizai - 22 Jan 46. Translator: S. Kinoshita.

Full Translation:
With regard to the organization of a federation of Automobile Transportation Associations, the Ministry of Transport is contemplating a single organization, including associations from all branches of motor transport, while business circles concerned insist on three organizations, grouped according to the kind of transport; namely, freight cars, buses and touring cars. To cope with this, the Ministry of Transportation summoned directors of associations of bus and touring car transporters', and directors of freight car transporters' associations from all over the country, on 11 January and 16 January, to discuss the matter.
Seeing that general opinion is consistently against the single federation plan, the Ministry decided to withdraw its draft plan. After deliberations by the officials concerned within the Ministry, it was decided that, along with the organization of three federations grouped according to business categories, a council will be organized as their co-ordinating body. This council will be given powerful authority in dealing with matters both inside and outside the transport business. The Ministry has long intended to establish a powerful organization and this is the reason why it insists on a single federation.
The three federations, as well as their co-ordinating body, will be organized very shortly. The name of the co-ordinating body has not yet been decided upon.

ITEM 3 Sale of Rice, Barley, Wheat, and Manufactured Goods to be Prohibited in Tokyo - Yomiuri - 22 Jan 46. Translator: S. Iwata.

Full Translation:
In spite of the prohibition of the sale of rice, barely, wheat, and
- 3 -
ECONOMIC SERIES: 197 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
manufactured goods, not only restaraunts but unlicensed tradesmen and stall-keepers are publicly dealing in them. At a time of food crisis, the diversion of large quantities of there goods is harmful to the smooth working of the distribution system.
The Metropolitan Police Office called the leaders of the Restaraunts' Association and the Stall-keepers' Association to a meeting with the chiefs of the Economic Section at police stations in TOKYO KOMATSU, Chief of the Welfare Section (SEIKATSUKA), gave strict orders regarding this problem. The police office will carry out the regulations.
According to the regulation, some 700 licensed restaraunts, and 20,000 unlicensed tradesmen and stall-keepers, will be unable to deal in bowls of rice with fried fish, vinegared rice and fish, balls of vinegared rice and fish, rice-cakes, curry and rice, macaroni, chinese buck-wheat noodles, and bread. Stocks will be confiscated for the Food Dealers' Association.

ITEM 4 KANTO Metal Workers Labor Union Inaugurated - Nippon Sangyo Keizai - 22 Jan Translator: T. Mitsubashi.

Full Translation:
An inaugural meeting of the KANTO Metal Workers' Labor Union (KANTO KINZOKU RODO KUMIAI) was held on 20 January at the SHIBAURA Hall. Representatives of more than 20 factories, such as subordinate works of the MITSUBISHI Heavy Industry Co. (MITSUBISHI JUKOGYO), the DAIDO Steel Co. (DAIDO SEIKO), the FUJIKURA Industry Co. (FUJIKURA) and others attended the meeting. Under the chairmanship of Mr. ARAHATA, Kanson, proposals for increased wages and an eight hour working day were submitted. The question of "rehabilitation of manufacturing industries' one of the important missions of the labor union, was also deliberated. They reached the conclusion that a combined committee, consisting of employers, technical experts and workers, should be organized for the practical movement. The Union is also fighting for the abolition of Class A Earned Income Tax (KOSHU KINRO SHOTOKUZEI) in collaboration with other labor unions. Diplomatic steps will be taken by the union in order to import essential materials. The union will be headed by Mr. ARAHATA, Kanson.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
- 4 -
Loading...