Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0030, 1945-11-30.

Full translation:

Since the end of the war, there have been advances in the democratization of Japanese policies, economics, and thinking. This progress towards a democratic JAPAN may yet be rather unsatisfactory to the Allied General Headquarters, but generally speaking, our democratization is now getting on the right track.

On account of this sudden change, the general public appears to be somewhat perplexed at the flood of freedom, and some quarters seem to misunderstand the true sense of freedom. But both perplexity or misunderstanding are temporary states.

We have now awakened to find an end to the long years of oppression by the militarists and to find ourselves free. The gate to freedom, which our people had hitherto not been able to enjoy, is now opened before us. Accordingly, a bright, joyous atmosphere should be prevalent in our national life.

On the contrary, however, something melancholy clouds the minds of the public. Why is this so? The answer to this question is that the general public fears the coming bankruptcy in the near future. No, the reality now confronting us is already proving the truth of their anticipations, to say nothing of an absolute shortage of food, the fall in currency values, the unemployment problem, the housing problem, etc. A series of these facts obviously foreshadows the coming bankruptcy in our household economy. Under this severe reality the people are at present leading their everyday lives in gloom. Against our will, reality is speedily progressing towards the worst.

What steps should be taken to check further aggravation of the situation and to prevent its terrible effects upon our national life? Is there nothing left to be desired in the Government's policies in coping with the situation? Are the new political parties doing their best to work out effective plans? All the platforms of those political parties are aiming at the reconstruction of defeated JAPAN as a new democratic, peaceful JAPAN. But what concrete measures do they have for dealing with the stern fact that the majority of our nation is losing its livelihood? Are the people themselves aggravating the condition and encouraging inflation, either consciously or unconsciously?

When considering these matters carefully, we feel that some pertinent, effective steps should be taken immediately. The first requisite must

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be to establish comprehensive measures. Our Government must be aware of the fact that it is falling behind in its steps to keep pace with the existent reality. The present circumstances facing our people are growing worse and worse to the extent that aside from overall, inclusive plans, expedient measures are keenly needed for individual problems as they arise.

In this connection, what action is being taken by the local authorities who are responsible for such unforeseen occurrences? Are not the administrative authorities aggravating the situation by looking consistency and speed in their policies, which results in the rise of prices?

In order to avert further aggravation of circumstances, the Government should have full understanding of the existing situation and waste no time in establishing the most effective measures from a completely new standpoint.

Full translation:

I think it was not only I whose blood boiled at reading a press report about the cruel treatment by the authorities of the demobilized soldiers who returned to the homeland recently from far away southern islands. How could the soldiers be sinful when they would sacrifice themselves for the country by obeying orders for many months and years? How did the authorities feel when they saw that very warm treatment given by the American Army authorities to the demobilized soldiers at the old fronts?

Even recent belligerents showed such kindnesses. There is no room for argument on how we, as fellow countrymen should receive them now. What was the big idea of the authorities in letting them sleep on wooden floors on the first night of their landing without giving them any under wear?

We understood that the ships sent to the south were fully provided with clothes and foodstuffs sufficient for the personnel to be repatriated. What has become of these supplies? Supposing those things could not be given to them on the ships, why could they have not been supplied to them on land? Although the activities of both the War and Navy Ministries have been curtailed, it does not mean that they are freed from demobilization work. Who will take responsibility for such neglect of duty?

The authorities are responsible for announcing a reason for this to the public. War Minister SHIMOMURA repeatedly requested through radio that a warm reception should be offered for the demobilized soldiers and sailors. The nation fully agrees with him. A soldier who arrived at a port in YAMAGUCHI KEN from KOREA expressed heartfelt thinks with tears in his eyes for a cup of tea offered to him a woman.

We see very often at the station the ashes of the war dead are received by a crowd with supreme respect. We cannot help but ask formally how

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the authorities are going to explain their actions. There is no reason for neglect of condolences for our war dead because of defeat. We, in the name of the nation, should not forget to decorate magnificently the tomb dedicated to the souls of the Unknown Soldiers. I ardently advocate this so that such calamities as mankind has experienced will not be repeated

Full translation:

Another eleven persons, who are leading members of many circles of our country, were put in SUGAMO Prison, as war-criminals. Among them, six persons, are generals, two are diplomats, two are scholars and there is one business man with political affiliations.

This seems to represent the colors of the leading classes of JAPAN during the war. Almost all of these men shouted encouragement to our people at every opportunity, while they themselves controlled the national effort. It is not clear as to how many more persons will follow these men. But, among these so-called war-criminals, how, many are, in fact, truly innocent?

The strife between the two Chinese political powers presents serious phases, having its center in MANCHURIA and in INNER MONGOLIA. A special telegram from LONDON, through the N[illegible]U[illegible]ZURICHER ZEITUNG, reveals that "the key point of reconciliation of the two powers is not to be found in CHINA itself, but in WASHINGTON and ROSCOW." This certainly contains some truth. However, from the point of view of the defeated and peace-loving JAPAN, we can not out hope, in all cases, that discord and strife may disappear completely from every corner of the world. We should work in this direction, regardless of our lack of strength.

Summary:

The unemployment problem, keeping pace with the food problem, is becoming serious. the demobilized service-men or the unemployed who have lived in idleness, relying on their retirement allowances or savings, will gradually spend all their money. The unemployment problem is without doubt one of the most difficult problems in post-war management.

Our working power is the only surplus resource left to defeated JAPAN, but surplus human resources are extremely difficult to dispose of. To solve the unemployment problem, the Government should take final, not temporizing, measures. In the UNITED STATES, too, the unemployment problem has become serious politically and economically; but the UNITED STATES, compared with JAPAN, is a victorious country and is too big an economic power. Therefore its unemployment plan, is inapplicable to our country.

If the Government is considering unemployment plans with such an idea as the Full Employment Bill of the UNITED STATES, it does not understand the difference in conditions on both sides. It is as if JAPAN had imitated

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aimlessly the GERMAN economic controls till the day of defeat.

It goes without saying that the first essential point of an unemployment plan is to give work to the unemployed. The Unemployment Insurance System or other charitable relief is possible in AMERICA, but those plans cannot be applied to our country. In JAPAN, we cannot think of the unemployment problem, apart from the food problem. To give work to the unemployed, the Government, first of all, should abolish all the wartime controls in order to stimulate our economic conditions. Moreover, it should give work to a large number of the unemployed by setting up such public enterprises as rehabilitation.

Nevertheless giving work to many unemployed, if possible, to all of them, does not mean hiring more persons than necessary and wasting labor. There are many officials and civilians who have such an idea; if they try to solve the unemployment problem temporarily, they will have made a great mistake.

Regardless of the lowering of efficiency, to employ more men than called for is, in itself, an error, and is apt to give rise to many evils. Especially, in JAPAN today, labor efficiency has been very low because of the poor labor controls during the war, and the waste of labor not yet been reformed. Consequently, the improvement of efficiency and the saving of labor is of prime importance.

During the war the civil industrialists had greatly wasted labor, but they are now trying to reduce the number of persons to improve efficiency and increase economy in production. On the other hand, the Government and other public offices, or public bodies, have let this excess labor alone.

In the present JAPAN, there is still room for setting public enterprises on a large scale in post-war rehabilitation or other public projects. The unemployment plan should be aimed at such activities. To solve the unemployment problem by wasting man power is liable to leave the roots of the calamity untouched.

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