Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0088, 1945-12-14.
Date14 December, 1945
translation numbereditorial-0313
call numberDS801 .S82
Persistent Identifier
EDITORIAL SERIES: 88
ITEM 1 The first consideration is to awake the nation - Yomiuri Hochi - 10 Dec 45. Translator: H. Arai.
Full Translation:
The history of defeated JAPAN which has been published by the Allied Forces, makes
us marvel at how thoroughly and
methodically it was prepared. If JAPAN's Army and Navy leaders had studied at least
one-tenth as much about the state of
affairs in AMERICA, the stupid war would not have taken place.
There are some sections of this history, however, of which we cannot approve. For
example, it says that those candidates which
the Government backed in 1933 met with utter defeat in the general election, clearly
disclosing the indignation of the
Japanese Nation over the Manchurian Incident.
In 1932 an election was held by the INUGAI Ministry, and among those candidates who
were supported by the Government, 303 were
elected. Thus they formed the largest Government party that we had seen since the
establsihment of the Diet.
In 1933 at the time of SAITO's non-party Government, the Government party was not
thoroughly defeated, because no election was
held. To tell the truth, before and after the Manchurian Incident, the whole nation
was indifferent to war, politics, and
diplomacy, and the people were occupied with the serious depression facing them at
that time.
It was the GUMATSU who aimed at a break between the people and politics. If the people
had been conscious enough of the issues
at stake in the general election to completely defeat the Government party because
of the Manchurian Incident, the tragedy of
war might have been checked. It was only from the last years of the CHINA Incident
up to the World War, after they were forced
to come face to face with military affairs, politics, and diplomacy that the Japanese
people began to consider in earnest how
serious the matter was. Taking advantage of this indifference, the GUMBATSU and the
officials had established a perfect
despotic system. It may well be said that the root of JAPAN's tragedy lay in her national
unconsciousness.
As to the subject of a general election, a foreign problem seldom became the principal
issue, and even if it did, the voters
were not interested in it. In spite of the importance of such a subject as the settlement
of the Manchurian Incident, emphasis
was laid on the removal of the gold embargo and the depression in the general election
of 1932. The people were interested in
domestic problems.
EDITORIAL SERIES: 88 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
Now, the coming general election Seems a thing apart from domestic problems. It is
a new starting-point to decide upon the
international position of JAPAN in the future. In order not to repeat mistakes caused
by militarism, the first consideration
must be the awakening of the nation.
ITEM 2 Don't Be Optimistic - Tokyo Shimbun - 10 Dec 45. Translator: M. Kawanabe.
Full Translation:
Optimism which rests on mere wishful thinking and not on a scientific observation
will result in a dreadful state of affairs.
The result of this war furnishes the best example of that fact. However, we are afraid
that such optimism is still prevalent
among the Government and people. One talks easily of a dark prospect for the future,
but thinks in his mind it may become
somewhat better. Is there any one who can deny the prevalence of such lines of thinking?
Taking up the food problem, for instance, some say the crisis will be in February
next year, and others say they will have the
hardest time of it next May or June. Meanwhile they are all harboring absurd hopes
that they may manage the difficulties
somehow. If one recognizes the crisis in its reality, one must devote all one's efforts
to tide it over. Are the government
authorities ready to take sufficient measures to combat the crisis? The extreme shortage
of coal products has brought about
the suspension of transportation on a large scale, causing a panic not only among
school boys but also among industrial
circles. Yet some are optimistic with a vague hope that it will turn better by next
January.
Could the lukewarm steps taken by the Government, at present, secure the minimum
possible amount of coal necessary for general
operations? Granting that the shortage of labor be fully covered, it would be premature
to consider the necessary amount of
coal as already secured. It is entirely idle to think lightly of this problem at a
time when the authorities are still busy
calling out coal miners.
The plan of the reparations has been clarified before the Nation's eyes. Fair as
it may be, its influence over our national
economy is deep and intense. Neverthless it could not be said that there is no one
who is optimistic about it remembering the
failure of its imposition on the German people after the First World War.
Further, as for the inflation problem there are those who think that the policy for
returning to deflation recently decided on
by the finance authorities would bring immediate results. As if deflation would come
in a few days[illegible]Administrative plans based on such fancy will be to no avail.
In analyzing phenomena, social, economic or otherwise, if wishful thinking is involved
and optimistic conclusions be deduced
accordingly lukewarm steps will be taken. Such an attitude of mind causes unexpected
confusion especially when things are not
running their normal course as at present. Our economic foundation has been greatly
undermined during the past eight years of
war, especially during the half year before the war's end.
Disadvantageous conditions are easily seen all over the country. We require of the
authorities the fullest cognizance of the
current
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 88 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
situation, and advise them to analyze the reality coolly without underlyingin any
wishful thinking and then make a scientific
and drastic plan for the reconstruction of JAPAN.
ITEM 3 Education Criminals. Answer on High Class Cigaretts - Yomiuri Hochi - 10 Dec 45. Translator: K. Ketel.
Summary:
The seeking of war criminals has already entered into the field of education. In
S[illegible]DAI a middle
school director was forced to retire because he secretly continued the teaching of
KENDO (TN: Japanese fencing). The
Occupational Forces sentenced two directors of SHIOTAKA after discovering secret training
with wooden guns and long spears,
called NAGINATA. There facts have shaken the whole educational world. Surely we must
hold the Education Ministry responsible
for such acts. Minister of Education MAEDA has assured us that nationalism has already
been repealed, but his failure to
abolish all military education is not understandable.
The existing school system with military drill as a main educational factor can be
found nowhere else in the world. This was
not a reform but a great set back for the Japanese educational system. The National
School System was an imitation of those in
GERMANY and MANCHURIA. I was an art-destroying plan of the TOJO-militaristic and Manchurian
sycophants and an intri[illegible]ue to lower the level of Japanese education.
For the revival of Democracy we must abolish the National School System and return
to the Primary School System of old JAPAE.
One must understand that the National School System is considered a war crime, especially
when surveying the list of members
of the Educational Consideration Society which has introduced the system. KONOYE,
Tumimara; KIDO, Koichi: AOKI, Kazuo; UMEZU,
Bijiro; YAMAMOTO, Isorohu; INO, Takaya; TOGO, Minorn; MINAMI. Hiroshi; ABE, Nabuyuhi;
OKOCHI, Masaharn; SHIMOMURA, Hiro; and
HASHIDA, Kunihiko have already been announced as war criminals by Allied Headquarters.
However, there are others who may be
called education criminals, and they are KAZAMI, Takao; SAKUDA Shoichi; YAMDA, Shira;
YASUI, Eiji; and HAYASEI, Hakutaro.
Chief of the Education Bureau ARIMITSU received severe punishment for his text book
on militarism discovered by the Americans.
The MAEDA isn't to be placed on the war criminals list he had better promote more
effectively education in democratic
directions. Even on the radio, the program "JAPAN's Peace and Democracy" by KINOSHITA,
Kazuo, who formerly advocated military
science in Education, is being brodcast on the higher school hour. Can't we be made
to feel the ardent desire of the Ministry
of Education to democratize education? (Letter by UEDA, Shozahuro).
(Answer to "High-class Cigarettes")
I want to reply to the criticism about the "high class cigarette" appearing in this
column in the 30 November issue. The
productive ability has dropped because many factories have suffered air-raids, still
one may observe a slight revival. We are
intending to increase cigarette distribution from the present 90 per month up to 120
per month. Of course we are aware that
120 is not much for a smoker. Therefore we are planning a system of selling cigarettes.
These cigarates, as it has been
announced, are not yet fixed at ten yen per package. The price will be settled after
completing all
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 88 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
arrangements. We will further make efforts to raise the amount of cigarettes to be
distributed. In accomplishing this we have
to consider that we must increase incomes and prevent inflation.
We regret that we were unable to distribute along with the NOZOMI tobacco the necessary
cigarette paper. This will be remedied
in the future. We will also try to reduce the width of the MINORI tobacco along with
the increase of productive ability.
(Letter from the tobacco section of the Monopoly Bureau).
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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