Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0136, 1945-12-22.

Full Translation:

Democratization of the Working Places.

Since the end of the war many movements are being carried out to clean up places of employment from the oppression of vicious individuals. Because I am directly concerned I want to hear the judgment of the public by exposing the real conditions at my place of work.

At the OFUNA station the depot master and his managing staff seized military freight cars and military storehouses, and hid plenty of food stuff, clothing, medical supplies, soap and so on during the past war confusion. These men have been eating while rice and smoking foreign cigarettes every day.

The depot master himself appointed a car full of medical supplies, not allowing anyone to touch it! However, the public was soon made acquainted with that situation. When they were warned by the Railway Department and other outside circles they quickly changed the hiding places of these goods in order to barter, or to keep a connection with street vendors, who sell all the stolen goods in the blackmarket. They neglected their duties and became black market dealers. Such were the means by which they earned their money and all of them are now leading a life of luxury.

Even today robberies of goods from freight cars are rampant. Because some people went too far in breaking open the seals on cars, the OFUNA station master decided to organize a supervisional committee which patrols the precincts of the station. However this proved inadequate and the criminals could not be found. Naturally they could net be found for the supervising committee consisted of members belonging to the same gang of robbers. The station master appointed to his managing staff the thieves as his assistants.

If we complained about this they would stop payment of our salaries and would appropiate our bonuses, or they would transfer us to another position or ever nave us fired. The laborers pretend not to see what is going on and do their work without spirit.

Flaterers get ahead but not the sincere employees. However, we will not rest until we have frustrated this ring and cleaned out our working place from these vicious individuals. We hope that we can democratize our place of employment as soon as possible.

(An employee of the OFUNA station)

EDITORIAL SERIES: 136 (Continued)

Full Translation:

At last the Progressive Party decided on its president on the last day of the Diet's extraordinary session. He is old Mr. MACHIDA, Chuji. This decision took two months since the formation of that Party. Was it to be General UGAKI, Issei? Prince KONOYE, Taminaio? Present Finance Minister SHIBUSAWA, Keizo or the old Mr. MACHIDA, Chuji? Until now the Party was at a low as to whom to choose.

After Prince KOHOYE death Finance Minister SHIBUSAWA. declined, saying that he is not wort[illegible]y- of being president. In the case of General UGAKI, negotiations between party members and the General were not settled in spite of his inclination for the position. So the leaders of the Party engaged 83 year-old Mr. MACHIDA, on liberal terms after all, though they know that he is too old to represent a democratic political party in the new era, and that he is not very willing to contribute to election expenses. In a word the attempt of the leaders of the old MINSEITO faction has been successful because Mr. MACHIDA is ex-president of the MINSEITO. It is, however, noteworthy that there is danger of a split among the members, not only because UGAKI is at the head, but also because other of the old MINSEITO faction, including ASITO, Mr. ICAINOMIYA and Mr. KAWASAKI, are against this decision. There is the tendency of a split between the dissenting group and the members of the old SEIYUTO faction.

Be that as it may, General UGAKI is quite a comedian. Since the abolition of the projected UGAKI ministry, how many times has his name been on everybody's lips? In the present case, it is said that had he overtures from the party about his appointment he would have accepted, and that he had already amassed funds for the election campaign.

It is reasonable for Mr. MACHIDA to dream of holding the reins of government because he is the president of the first Party. Insofar as the members of his Party are not war-criminals, he believes that his Party will become the strongest one in the coming general election. Now, if the establishment of a new JAPAN is started by a MACHIDA Ministry, how antiquated it will become

Only the Progressive Party is clamoring actively in the Diet, but the Liberal Party, the Social Democratic party and Independents are frantically making concrete plans for the general election. Since the dissolution of the Diet is expected, they are quite spititless owing to absence of any stimulus for discussion. The only way to make them active is to promote the fear that they may be selected as war-criminals.

The general election will be held around 24 January of next year, and then party politicians will change The new Diet session will be convoked and the transfer of political power will take place early in February. The nation will be sufferin[illegible]from cold weather and hunger. Party politicians will greet the new year with many difficulties ahead.

Full Translation:

The revision of distorted Japanese history has become a subject for discussion in the Diet. It is true of all ages and countries that the history of a country is distorted by a certain decree by the pens of [illegible]under government patronage in proportion to the enhancement of the adminstrator's power. It is a well-known fact that the Nazi Government [illegible]out the iron nails which projected into the [illegible]Iron Maiden of NURNBERG", characteristic of the cruelty of [illegible]

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 136 (Continued)

In Medieval GERMANY. Accounts which resemble this are inseparable from the histories of all rulers.

To correct these matters, re-investigation into legends and folk-lore, study of archaeological specimens, reference to the records of neighboring countries and the like are necessary. Especially important is the re-reading of the historical materials compiled immediately after a great social revolution.

All studies of Dr. SHIGENO, Yasutsugu, and Dr. KUME, Kunitake which were published with scientific attitudes in the days after the Restoration of 1868, when there were less distorted views and good methods for study. Also good is The Outline of Japanese History (NIPPO[illegible]SHIKO) edited in Spencerian style by SAGA, Shosaku who participated in the compilation of the Biogra[illegible]hical Dictionary of JAPAN and who is the first cousin of the late Dr. MIKAYE, Setsurei. Other good materials are The sea of History (SHI[illegible]KAI) and other works written in the style of BAKKURU by Dr. TAGUCHI, Ukichi, who explained that KAMI (god of SHINTO) means KAMI (the top or the upper part), therefore, it also means "KAMI" (the head of hair) and KAMI-YO (the age of gods) means ancient times (for, ancient times is "KAMI" or the [illegible]reaches of the current of times and the present day is "SHIMO" or the lower reaches).

Now we see a trend in which there are still many person who hold fast to titles of the Peerage borrowed from those of the age of CHOW (a ruler of ancient CHINA) remoter than the age of Emperor JIMMU (the first Emperor of JAPAN). Can such trenes revive defeated JAPAN?

Full Translation:

The former Government-Supported JAPAN Transportation Corporation (NIPPON TSUUN KABUSHIKI KAISHA) was actually the Homeland Transportation Company, (NKIKOKU STCUN KAISHA) founded in 1872, according to a statement by the Railroad Ministry authorities. In 1924 two companies, the Internation Transportation Company and the MEIJI Transportation Company (KOKUSAI UNYU KAISHA) were annexed to the Homeland Transportation Company forming the International Transportation Company. At the same time agents of various districts by directive establishing a "one station-one agent system", were annexed to the station branch agencies to organize a joint trans[illegible]ortation company at each railroad station in about 1927 or 1928. This "one station-one agen[illegible]system", in 1932 was changed to a "one city-one agent system".

In 1937, the International Transportation Company headed by NAKANO, Jujiro, an expert in transportation, added MURAKAMI, Guchi, a railroad man and ex-director of the South Manchuria Railroad Corporation, as vice-president. At the result of this appointment the company made the Government tender the Minor Transportation Service Bill to the Diet and had it Passed. President FAKANO lest his position and minor franspor[illegible]ation service agents were reorganized as branch agents belonging to the Railroad Ministry. The signboard of the company was changed to read JAPAN Transportation Corporation. From this time the Transportation Corporation gradually interfered with and put pressure on joint transporting service agents in various lead cities. Changes of operators, matters of allowances, and all re[illegible]lems were checked with the approval of JAPAN Transportation Coporation. Furthermore, joint transportation agents in every city [illegible]su[illegible]absorbed by the Corporation under our national policy of [illegible]1941. Imperially nominated Government officiates

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EDITORIAL SHRIES: 136 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

with long service occupied the directorates of the cor[illegible]oration with high monthly salaries, the minimum being 900 to 1,200 yen. Other important posts in each branch agency as well as the main office, were filled with old and decrepit officials, with jobs as heads of railroad transportation offices, station masters, assistant stationmasters, etc. Taking advantage of their own railroad passes, they demanded wine, women and goods Whenever they traveled on business. If they did not receive good service, they got their revenue. They also dealt in the black market at war plant in conspiracy with military officers. Even after the end of the war, the, sought additional profits as the result of diorganization of war plants. They are exerting themselves to maintain their posts by their power, in fear of the competition of fellow workers. The existence of the JAPAN Transportation Corporation is a great obstacle for new JAPAN I beg the authorities to examine the facts carefully. I appeal to the just and fair criticism of the people. (Sent by FUJISUWA, Kancko, of KANAGA[illegible]WA-Ken).

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