Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0130, 1945-12-20.

Summary:

Frequent discussions have been made and will continue to be made on the Emperor system, throughout the country, since criticism has been allowed. So far, it seems that the anti-Emperor feeling is dominant. This fact wed weighs heavily upon the hearts of those who support the Emperor system.

They need not worry so much, however, for it is not the first time in our history that objections have arisen against the system. Apart from the old days, even in the age of MEIJI there were such notorious fellows as SHUSUI and the like. These discussions are a result of the fact that those who are harboring ill feelings are in a hurry to take the opportunity of free speech which has boon prohibited for a long time. But there must be some attempts on the part of those advocates who favor the Emperor system to combat their opponents. That is, attempts must be made to establish a chief principle which, naive as it may be, will justify faith in the Emperor.

Apart from the age of mythology or tradition, where we have no records to rely upon, it is a fact that when there was peace and culture, the Emperor reigned completely, as in the ages of TAIKA and MEIJI. Every Emperor made it a rule to enjoy and to share the sorrows of his people. It is a creed eternal and unshakeable.

At the same time the Emperor is a lover of peace and culture. This fact can be witnessed by the three modern Emperors, namely, MEIJI, TAISKO, and HIROHITO. So long as such a virtuous ruler reigns over us, why cannot we support and obey him? It is a grave imprudence to defy a divine message or mythology.

The argument of those who oppose the Emperor system is that it will incur the revival of evils common to feudalism. This is, however, a queer sort of logic. One is likely to insist that Buddhism should be eliminated because the existence of Buddhism is the cause of corrupt monks. Unless the abolition of the Emperor system sweeps away malicious men, there is no end to maladministration. All depends upon the man and not upon the system. You communists, TOKUDA and SHIGA, have you a dignity and morality equal to that of the Emperor?

Summary:

The election of chiefs of neighborhood associations and the chiefs of public assemblies is held at the end of the year as usual. Most of them have already been completed. However, whether the elections at this

EDITORIAL SERIES: 130 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

time are based on the full recognition of people in their present aspect is very doubtful. All circumstances have been changed now in comparison with the corresponding time last year, when we were blindly confident that we would win the war. Now the military cliques are obliged to retreat, and JAPAN is about to start in the construction of democracy. Women are also to participate in politics. Yet in the course of this reform, the neighborhood associations and the public assemblies remain antiquated as in the past. We can scarcely find in the election at this time any movement which might meet the demand of the new era.

As is well-known, the neighborhood associations and the public assemblies were established simultaneously with the Imperial Rule Assistance Association as the sectional organizations for the former. From an historical point of view it is obvious that those belong to a war-time organization. However, they did not always function as expected by the Government, but rather evolved into distributing machinery for daily necessities and anti-air-raid organizations. They were indispensable, whether good or bad, especially as the distributing system in our war-time economic lives. But now the case is quite different after the termination of the war. They may still be necessary for the distribution of staple food, such as rice, but for vegetables and fish, etc, the amount of distribution is diminished by quantity. Moreover, the price is not always cheaper than that in the black markets. Then, it must be considered whether such a system is to be maintained as in the past. Cries for the notion of consumer unions grow louder. This fact seems to suggest that the present system will soon come to an end.

It is reported that Allied Headquarters is now making an investigation of the neighborhood associations. As was demonstrated by our recent experience, it may be expected that the Headquarters will work for the abolition or revision of the system. Strange enough, most of the Nation seems not at all concerned in this problem, whether they are aware of it or not, and the staffs of the public assemblies in taking advantage of this indifference, are trying to maintain or patch up the old system. The chiefs of the public assemblies should be elected by the public as a whole. But how many assemblies have public elections by their members? As female representatives are expected in the coming Diet, so a female staff in the public assembly may naturally be expected. But were preparations made for this? In some assemblies, retired military officers were influential due to excessive respect for them. Is the result of the election agreeable to the public?

Now that the food problem is most urgent, more salaried men should be elected to staffs of the assemblies, but no new idea can be found to provide for this. So long as many classes exist which rely upon distribution by the neighborhood associations, we are not allowed to be indifferent to this system. If the consumers unions are to be formed in order to meet the needs of the new era, a strict and positive criticism ought to be made regarding the necessity of these unions.

Full Translation:

The Food Supply Corporation, which is bureaucratic, has long been the target of severe criticism. During the war general consumers never criticized the oppressive attitude of the corporation, well aware of the prevailing shortage of labor and materials and fearing that their criticism would hinder smooth delivery. However, since the end of the war, most of them have been expecting that the corporation would give them every facility in a more positive way. Contrary to their expectations, the corporation still remains unchanged in its attitude.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 130 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Whether or not the corporation is to be permitted to continue to exist is the fundamental question. Nevertheless, this important machinery for delivery can not be abolished entirely as long as staple foods are under control. It is doubtful whether or not the corporation has been active in this respect although there have been moves for democratizing the organization within itself. It seems that there lies inherent within the corporation many difficulties which hinder improvement. These, however, do not justify the bureaucratic attitude nor the negligence on the part of the corporation.

For instance, house-to-house delivery of staple food has not been put into practice in spite of the promises b the authorities concerned. In the case of rice substitutes, it is incumbent upon the corporation to let consumers know how many substitutes have been delivered by registering them regularly in rice pass-books, which will make for convenience in the consumers' planned domestic economy. The truth is that consumers' pass-books are often laid aside unregistered for as long as half a year and if consumers happen to ask for registration, they are sure to be refused on the ground of a deficiency of labor. Such an unkind method of operating on the part of the corporation is liable to lead consumers to suspect the corporation of committing illegal acts in regard to staple foods resulting in ill feelings between the two.

The employers of the corporation are undeniably not better treated than other groups. Therefore, it is quite natural that they should demand better treatment. Nevertheless, if they are the least bit idle because of low pay, it puts the consumers to the greatest inconvenience. These problems must be solved irrespective of consumers, in order to improve the machinery and other items in the corporation.

After all, the question resolves itself to a matter of kindness. At present, consumers are not asking for too much, nor criticizing the corporation unreasonably. They are demanding only that the corporation do what it can easily do. Therein lies the key to democratization of the Food Supply Corporation.

Summary:

We have nothing to eat, nothing with which to warm ourselves, nothing to wear, and we are about to be starved to death. It is natural that we should be indifferent to the Diet, the Emperor System and the Election Law. How are the taxes we paid spent? This question has now risen in us.

I am one of the war victims whose house was burnt and whose household goods were lost. In spite of the recent cold weather not one bag of charcoal is supplied to me. While most of those who escaped from war's calamities have become rich because of the rise in prices, the war victims have become poor. The key to good administration is to narrow the big gulf between the rich and the poor in order to save the poor from a death due to cold and hunger. In this though, the Government appears to be useless.

The Government must apologize to the Nation for its ineffectiveness and resolutely improve its administration. If the Government makes reparation to those who made a large profit during the war, or gives pensions to the warmongers who threw us into the present wretched plight, it is very possible that those who are on the brink of death from cold and hunger, will stir up trouble.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 130 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

How are the taxes we paid spent? We must think it over again.

(By SHINJIRO, Yamane)

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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