Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0135, 1945-12-23.

Summary:

Here a black market, there a black market; thus we are surrounded by black markets everywhere. The struggle of the masses who are trying to escape death from starvation or freezing, against the black market are growing more serious every day. It is the Japanese Nation, which was so proud of the excellent of her status, that footers the black market. The more serious becomes the struggle of wage earners against such a powerful black market, the more clearly is demonstrated the weakening and instability of the Government. We are greatly surprised to fing such an infantile state of politics as exists in the present Government. Are the; conscious that the only way to frustrate the serious assault of the iniquitous bargainers is the establishment of a popular administration? T'confess the truth, we are losing sight of the dawn of emancipation in the near future. Political power has become so fragile that we feel we are in a state of anarchy. How can we rehabilitate JAPAN under these circumstances?

General DYKE, chief of the Civilian Information and Education Section f[illegible]the Allied Forces, once said that the Allied Powers would expect much [illegible]the young people now in schools. We may well fall victims to evil influences in the establishment of the new democratic JAPAN, for the children are now being brought up in a chaotic atmosphere. We must lay str[illegible]on awakening the 80, 000,000 individuals of JAPAN to make the struggle against the black market effective.

Full Translation:

(A) City Planning.

Getting out of a car at SHINJUKU Station the other day, I was quite astounded to see all the confusion there. The roads and sidewalks were crowded with men that constables were at a loss to control traffic. Moreover, housing was under construction along sidewalks as before, and this only served to increase the congestion.

Now we should build a better city than before. We have a good opportunity at present when there are no houses to interfere with the rebuilding.

We must urge the authorities concerned to make city planning public as quickly as possible and then build houses, though they may be shacks,

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along new roads determined by that plan. Our Metropolis will reappear with a copy, bright and democratized figure. Our city should be constructed with central roads so it may win fame as (TOKYO of the Orient" or "TOKYO of the World". Having been burned to the ground, this is a golden chance for TOKYO to accomplish this task.

(Sent by Mr. KASAI)

(B) Traffic congestion.

On the evening of 15 December, an accident occurred at the platform of SHIBUYA railway station. Electric trams began shutting doors, probably because of the over-packed cars, and those who were awaiting trams rush to doors so that they might slip into the car as usual. At this[illegible]moment a man, with a bundle of wood, at the front of one group, was pushed forward by the crowd and fell into the crivice between door and platform. There he died.

Traffic congestion of both Government and private lines threatens to be aggravated even more at this year-end holiday, and how many victims, like this unfortunate man, there will be! We are now confronted by traffic difficulties which cannot be alleviated by means of a "Courtesy on Trains week" or "Let's not Travel" movements.

What sort of counter-measures should be adopted? We are eager for a clear statement by the authorities concerned.

(Sent by Mr. SHIMURA)

Summary:

Not so long ago it was surprising to the people that the circulating bank notes of the Bank of JAPAN amounted to ten billion yen, and then rose to twenty billion. But, now, it seems to be of little concern to the people whether the amount is forty billion yen or fifty billion yen. It is estimated that at the end of this year there will be no less than 55 billion yen in circulation. We cannot help but be anxious about a rapid increase in the future.

On the other hand, there are many cases of larceny and robbery in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Each of the victims had heavy purses, in which bank notes of 100 yen or 200 yen were carelessly kept. Those who at first were afraid of lacking sufficient deposits to make both ends meet now have little concern. At present, they can buy everything they want and feel far more disappointed at having light purses than in having at least a small deposit in the banks.

The withdrawal of large deposit, because of the coming property tax, is particularly increasing. As a result, the credit of the Bank of JAPAN

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surpassed 32 billion yen. People wish to buy goods, especially foods tu[illegible]lest they should starve. The prices of foodstuffs are soaring higher and higher, the inflation being comparable to a runaway horse. The general unrest of the people regarding foodstuffs, it seems will not be solved by the Finance Ministry. It is a matter of course that the publ[illegible]is not optimistic over the statement about the execution of the property tax.

At this time, it is only natural that unemployed people, who do not want to work in any occupation, are numerous. They prefer to earn large incomes at present rather than establish a basic of living for the future. They know well, not in theory but on a factual basis, that their livelihood will be uncertain after the inflationary period is over.

In GERMANY, after the end of world War I, the wage for a skilled worker was raised to 8,500 times that before the war, while his cost of living amounted to 1,000,000,002,500 times higher. The amount of currency in circulation, one or two years after the end of the War, was less than that in JAPAN today. It was 35,600,000,000 marks at the end of 1919, 688,800,000,000 marks at the end of 1920, and 110,000,000,000 marks at the end of 1921, which is nearly the same sum as that in circulating JAPAN at present. At the end of the next year, it jumped up to 1,280,000,000,000 marks. "No kind of measure could restrain the inflation from its fatal end. The expenses of maintaining troops in the Rhine district amounted to more than 50,000,000,000 marks in 1920.

Of course, the circumstances of JAPAN are far different from those of GERMANY. Nevertheless, if we disregard the common points in both cases, the situation is bound to become fatal. To maintain public confidence in financial affairs is a prerequisite for securing the credit of our currency.

Full Translation:

With the close of the session on 18 December, the diet was dissolved. Taking the dissolution as the usual procedure, the shameless members of the Diet, who were followers of KONOE and TOJO, will make all-out effort in their election campaigns. However, from the viewpoint of the people, the dissolution will be the first step in a great political revolution. The people will attach the same significance to the dissolution of the Diet, which has been a relic of autocracy, as they do to the captive of war suspects.

The general election that is to be carried out after about a month will be a kind of court of the people seeking to establish war responsibility of the representatives. Those who have maintained posts by catering to the wishes of the militarists and bureaucrats led by KONOE and TOJO, will, without shame, follow a democratic course in their campaign in order to deceive the people, saying, "We had been oppressed by the militarists and bureaucrats; we could not but obey them blindly." The NIPPON Progressive Party, having been organized from members of

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the old NIPPON Political Party (the NIPPON SEIJI-KAI) and having gotten an absolute majority, is now being over-jealous in promoting such an election policy. The Party is making all efforts to recommend a big capitalist or a General as the President, and this cannot be regarded as a democratic idea. It was a great error, for both the NIPPON Liberal and Social Democratic parties, to have made public their political policies, and to have overlooked the relationship between SHINTOISM and the Emperor system which have been the basic ideas on which autocracy has been founded.

The people in general will not remain deceived forever by political gestures from old school representatives. Every country in the world is carefully watching our general election since its outcome will indicate whether or not the independent, political revolution has been a process or a failure. Whether or not the newly-enfranchised young men and woman will use their political power to break down the old electoral districts, or whether the old voters will renew the old political circles, will depend to some extent on the conduct of the election.

Active participation of the public in bringing about a political revolution is something to be expected. A part of the Nation is saying that they cannot take an interest in the election because of the food shortage but such an idea is a great mistake. If the people cast their votes effet[illegible]vely, a reform in politics will mean a reform in the food and other policies. Fully realizing the fact that a democratization in politics will bring about a renewal of the world's confidence and a democratization of economy, the people through their united power, should, become a great court of the Nation.

The coming general election is the best opportunity for the NIPPON C[illegible]n Communist party, which has not as yet a seat in the Diet to be trained politically. This is true for all the parliamentary parties. Expecting to win a majority of votes in order to achieve political power, or making great efforts to attack opposition parties, will only be a repetition of the old, anti-democratic and feudal struggles of parties. One who is running for office and is seeking to have the people criticize his political views, must do his best to raise the political sense of all voters by sticking to actual facts and by developing his political ideas scientifically. The people have acquainted themselves with the actual conditions of election campaign. They are aware that the more conscientious a party is, in its political campaigning, the more the party will expand and thus there is always the fear of a shortage of funds. The opinion that a conscientious party will be supported far more than expected is becoming obvious. Therefore, a leader of a party should not bow to conventional opinions and should be courageous in standing by his own convictions.

The court of the Allied powers for judging war criminals has been opened. Standing in line is a court of the people to establish a political revolution. It now seems that the reconstruction of JAPAN has been steadily becoming defined. Both the political leaders and people should stand firmly in their beliefs. Those occupying themselves in such organs of expression as radio, newspapers, magazines and so on, recognizing well

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the fact that the occupation is indispensable connected with elected with electoral or political movements, should he expected to make all efforts in order to reflect public opinion and to afford all facilities for carrying out a fair campaign.

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