Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0128, 1945-12-19.

Summary:

How fast the poison of defeat takes effect! What comes into sight is a chaotic state of life. All regulations have become paralysed and controversy, conflict, egotism and exclusionism, all blended with one another, have brought about a completely chaotic state of affairs. The poison of defeat has stripped the Japanese of the ability of speculation, paralyzed their morality and decomposed their actions. An old proverb saying "Good news goes on crutches and bad news goes apace" becomes true of this state of life. Black markets in large cities are so rapidly developing that even here, in TOKUSHIMA, they are very prevalent. The Government is talking itself hoarse in appealing to the public to "Be quick to deliver a bale of charcool to a war victim". The bales remain untouched, their packings on verge of decay, waiting for the time of delivery. A laborer engaged in delivering charcool is said to eat up one sho a day, which would cost the equivalent of 40 yen in a black market, while he can get only 12 or 13 yen for his hard work. He is reasonable when he says that he had better do nothing and sleep at home, living on a 2.3 go ration, rather than go out to work only to lose 27 or 28 yen. We feel and to see popular morality decaying in the muddy stream of such evil.

Then, is there not any way at all of saveing us from such misery? Yes, surely there are ways. First, we must liquidate the black market dealers in the streets, correct the malpractices on the part of producers and prevent the people from having in hand so much money which is the essence of poison. This would purify the origin of the muddy current.

Second, we ourselves must wake up. If we do not open our eyes now, there lies only a way to ruin before us. The torture of defeat is an overture of the greater ones. We must realize that here at the threshhold of rehabilitation or ruin the sign-board for the Japanese people does show a way to the restration of morality.

Full Translation:

The preliminary campaign for the coming election has already begun in our prefecture. It is reported that about 40 candidates stood for

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the first district which has 11 representatives, and 13 for the second which has seven. Among these candidates, 15 belong to the Progressive Party, eight to the Liberal, (TN: Illegible) the communist, one to the Agrarian Party (NOHON), four to the Reformist Party (KAKUSHINTO), one to the Constitutional Reformist association (KOSEIKAI) and over ten to other parties. We find it refreshing to see that such newly-born parties as the Reformist Party and the Greater JAPAN Party (DAINIPPONTO) are prepared with a comparatively large number of candidates. However, should we support the new parties merely because they are helpless at present and the times demand new things. If the new candidates possess suitable qualities for the times, we should of course back them up. However, are they really worth our support? We are rather inclined to answer in the negative.

At the same time, we must be stern in judging the old ones. The present Diet members are delighted at the revival of democracy, acting as if it means the regaining of their influence. It is true that democracy in the sphere of politics means parliamentarianism. In spite of that their expectation, are quite wide of the mark, in view of their untrust worthy conduct in the Diet during the past war years. Their silent obedience to the militarists must be distinguished from the compulsory subjugation of the press. The Diet was ignored by the whole nation because of its inefficiency and conventionalism, while the press was forced into silence by the authorities although the public never wanted this.

We can remember how ardently the mission of the Diet, was asserted and how bitterly they were accused for inactivity and backwardness. Now they reveal their ambitions to take advantage of the flow of democracy. Under such circumstance we can never expect a bright future for JAPAN. Some one asserts that the present Diet members should be disqualified as candidates in the coming election. Although it may look like more flattery, we find it quite naturally stands to reason. In this connection, we suspect that it is highly probable that Supreme Allied Headquarters issue a directive for such purpose. If they were to be elected again, we fear that JAPAN would step towards parliamentary dictatorship.

The reported candidates are far from ideal. They include ones who are the favorite followers of the present Diet members, and ones who want to spend abundant profits obtained from war before it is confiscated in the form of property tax levies, and ones who are set up by the will of their followers. The first cannot, of course, got rid of the conventionalism, and are rather proud of it. The second merely convent reputation. There are many others who are in disguise. We must discern gems from bricks.

Summary:

The present session of the Diet which is the first one for the SHIDEHARA Cabinet is drawing to a close now that the important bills

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introduced by the Government are gaining Diet approval. The prolongation of the session will be decided to meet the pending business in the Upper House. The extension will be much shorter than had been expected.

Much concern was centered on Diet proceedings because of the vital importance of the three major bills closely connected with the reconstruction of a new JAPAN. These three major bills are the bills for revision of the Election Law, the Form Land Reform Bill, and the [illegible]Bill. These are to be the basis of a peaceful JAPAN. C[illegible]to our expectation, the debates in the Diet on these bills were lacking in earnestness and positiveness while the response of the cabinet Ministers and the Premier's speeches were very disappointing to us.

Both the Ministers and members of the Diet were conservative. The SHIDEHARA Cabinet revealed the weakness inherent in transitory cabinets, lacking statesmanship, in handling the state affairs. The members of the Diet could be charged with devoting themselves only to self-advertisement and self-protection. Their attitudes were luke[illegible]and face saving. However, an opportunity for self-reflection presented itself when the Allied Supreme Commander issued a directive for the arrest of suspected war criminals. This created a great sensation among the members of the Diet since their leaders wore included among the suspects.

Prior to this issuance of the directive a movement for clarification of the war responsibility for the members of the Diet was started in the Diet. The consequences were far from our expectations. Happily, however the issuance of a directive for the liberation of farmers by the Allied Headquarters spurred the Diet towards democratic reform. The Diet, involuntarily, is treading its way in the right direction. The expected passage of the major bills by virtue of outside pressure will save it from destruction.

The members of the Diet are to be blamed for their fidgety manners in debating. The pretext for it may be the approach of the general election. At any event, we are to be congratulated upon the outcome of the present session of the Diet for the passage of all the major bills vitally important to democratic reform. We must now bear in mind that our present duty is the election of trustworthy representatives who are competent to bear the burden in handling vitally important affairs, such as liberating enslaved peasants and affording the unemployed masses the pleasure of performing honest labor at their own volition.

Summary:

The problem of examining public opinion has been frequently discussed in every circle since the end of the war, and many institutions have been established for this purpose. It is a matter of course that democratic policies in politics, economics, and other affairs should be based on accurate public opinion, and the examination of public opinion, now active, will certainly be of great service in the construction of a new JAPAN. Public opinion, however, must be an ex-

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pression of the free mind of the general public, for which the public is required to have its own opinion. It is indeed regrettable that some of our people are still unable to understand the real meaning of freedom of speech because of the lack of culture and judgment.

People of NIIGATA-Ken have a habit of not expressing their own opinion freely, due to the extreme control of speech by the lord of the clan in the TOKUGAWA Era, such a habit should be dispelled so that the people may freely express what they feel or think, Here we find great need of a movement for enlightment in NIIGATA Ken. This is a hard task, the object, of which, however, must be attained. The best way to accomplish this object is to urge upon the scholars, literary men or pioneers, in NIIGATA Ken the establishment of the movement in the places in which they live. It is a heavy lose for the country not to make good use of those persons who have both knowledge and experience.

If the standard of culture in a district is low, the public opinion there will be naturally vulgar. Accordingly, it will surely be of a great service for the elevation of local culture to start a movement for enlightment, suited to each district by putting men of ability to practical use.

Summary:

The cultural movement is being animated and this is one reason for happiness. However, it is more necessary for us to create and develop a new culture than to resurrect the old. We should proceed to the future in culture rather than look back upon the past. In a word, Japanese culture was fostered in the darkness of feudalism. The scale of its being was utterly individualistic and seclusive and it was only a reflection of an egoistic life. Monochromes born from the confused series of struggles in the MUROMACHI Period tell only of negative and peaceful living. There can be seen no gay or gorgeous colors for it was only the negative culture of the dark ages. In the MOMOYAMA Period, there was born a gorgeous culture, but it was short-lived. In the beginning of the TOKUGAWA Period, there again appeared a negative culture, and after the middle of the period, a literature for the people became predominant, but literature was only a product of an idle, quiet, and negative life. After the MEIJI Period, the life of the people was enriched by the rise of capitalism, and their thoughts became splendid, but still there existed a continuation of feudal literature. A culture surpassing the level of the world culture appeared nowhere.

As a result of the defeat, we have suddenly been set free to breathe fresh air, but have been thrown into the depths of great distress in the creation of a new culture. To tell the truth, nothing positive has been left to us except a defeated culture. In this sense, there is something left to be desired among the present culturists occupied in the cultural movement. Faced by the fact of the collapse of Japanese history, it is a hard task for us to argue on the creation of a new culture. We must be courageous in discording all things of the past in order to cope with reality. Culture is, in a word, the

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remnants or footprints of human conduct. We need scarcely say that the body odor itself exhaled from our lives full of distress will create a new culture. It will be born amidst the whirlwind of distress, struggling grief, anger and joy. Culture must go through the storm of agony.

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