Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0166, 1945-12-27.

Full Translation:

What should be the real relation between the Emperor and the Nation? The Emperor System is presently being discussed by the Diet, newspapers, and the general public.

The farmers who heard that the places and palaces within the Imperial Palace Grounds were in desolation, owing to air raids, banded themselves into the Farmers' Corps for Service to the Country during their leisure time. The group of 63 young men and women came to TOKYO from KURIHARAGUN, HIYAGI-ken, and worked for three days from 8 December cleaning the sites of Imperial buildings within the Imperial Palace Grounds. While they wore at work, His majesty the Emperor happened to pass near by. His Majesty came over to them Majesty had gone, Her Majesty the appeared and spoke words of encouragement to them. The young farmers being moved to tears by the sight and the speech of Their Imperial Majesties, took the liberty of presenting Their Imperial Majesties with rice-cakes and eggs which they had brought with them, having accepted the presents with pleasure, Their Imperial majesties were struck by their naive sincerity and gave them in return baked sweet potatoes.

It is needless to say how deeply the farmers were impressed. This news is very heartening. The whole Nation was forbidden to have the Emperor as the object of discussion on the grounds that His majesty the Emperor was a living human god in the Imperial Palace. This was not to keep the Emperor at a distance but to idolize the Emperor and to break the organic ties between the Emperor and the Nation.

Formerly the people were treated like criminals by a formidable array of armed men, and the expression of their joy was repressed. This in effect, cuts off the Imperial benevolence to the Nation and ignores the national feelings of admiration for the Emperor. We don't know if the Amy and Navy leaders and the bureaucrats did this purposely, but it is, indeed, their fault that the Emperor System has now been called to question. The relations between the Emperor and the Nation should have been intimate in accordance with the proverb "Justice and righteousness should mark the relations between sovereign and subject, and affectionate relations between them should be that between father and son", if such had been the

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case, there would have been nothing deplorable now, and a peculiar form of democracy would have existed in JAPAN long ago.

According to the report, being greatly moved by a sense of gratitude, the young farmers presented Their Imperial Majesties with rice cakes and eggs. It is only the Imperial Household Ministrys' rules and officials that prohibited such excellent expressions of the Nation upto now. Moreover, we hear that Their Imperial Majesties gave baked sweet potatoes to the farmers. The familiar exchange of presents, indeed, demonstrates the beautiful blood relationship between the Emperor and the Nation. What we, the Japanese people, must regain during this unprecedented revolution is just that relationship, We most remove any obstacles to this feeling through the appeal and power of the Nation.

In case of an Imperial visit no army of police is needed. The whole Nation may become his guard. Want to cry "BANZAI" to His Majesty the Emperor! We should be allowed to offer small presents to Emperor. That is the way to a peaceful JAPAN, and that is how to live in a democratic JAPAN.

Summary:

The Government dissolved the House of Representatives on 18 December, the amendment of the Election Law and its additional Imperial ordinance have been promulgated, on 17 December, is said that the forthcoming general election will be held around 21 January 1946. This election will be held for the first time in four years and eight months. It is the center of people's interest, for many changes have been made due to the democratization of JAPAN. The number of voters will be three times greater than it was at the last election. Woman suffrage and the balloting system in electoral districts are new to our country. On the other hand, the political leadership of government authorities and the police (the latter had already obtained the power to interfere in the elections) will disappear, which thorns us a real democratic attitude. The voters will have to act with more self-respect, henceforth, by casting their votes for candidates worthy of bearing the responsibility for a new, peaceful and democratic JAPAN. To create a democratic nation is the most important demand of the POTSUDAM proclamation. To full fill this. We must first carry out a democratic policy which must be ruled by the people's mind. Therefore, political parties, rightist and leftist, must be created. They must seize the political power and bear all the responsibility for their policy. To our regret, the existing parties, from the Progressive Party on, have not the systematic appearance of a real political party because they have been limited only to the present members of the Diet. Indeed, the present parties are the opposite of a gralified political party, formed by summing up the opinion of the entire Nation. Nevertheless, these parties will be judged by the people in the coning election and the people will keep a watchful attitude toward the Progressive, Liberal and Social Democrat Parties.

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In carrying out a party policy, no one party will gain political power without the majority principle. Among the voters, there are many who prefer to cast their votes for a big party only because they think that smaller parties have not influence and it would be useless to cast votes for them. Such opinions are false and have to be abolished, in the future, many politicians will create their own parties in the forthcoming election. If the people remain cold-hearted towards them it would be a grievous phenomenon, for many promising newcomers and reforming politicians will be included among them. Newly created parties, especially the provincial parties, must be based on the people's intentions, and their systematic appearance must be pure end based on principle. Their existence and development depend on activity of their leaders and on the skill of diciding important political matters. Their parties must advance towards a great ideal by uniting all like thinkers of the country and they must zealously try to widen their political power by becoming a greater party.

Full Translation:

When I was imprisoned on account of communism, I wrote a note for the authorities of my intention to be converted from communism. They would not accept it, though, the ground that the "conversion" cannot be accomplished so easily. They gave me a copy of a pamphlet entitled "On Conversion" written by Mr. F. HAYASHI, who was regarded as a typically converted communist. In it, he describes how difficult the conversion is and how great a hardship Mr. TOKUTOMI went through to become a nationalist. I had not taken part in the communist movement. My offense was merely that I had denounced the prevailing feudalistic educational system and advocated a democratic one. Therefore, the conversion was not so difficult as they supposed. At last, I was allowed to go on probation. I entered a munitions factory with the view of handing my conversion fully recognized by the world. I was only a timid schoolmaster. After that I was annoyed by the frequent visits of military policemen or secret service men. I felt indignant at their suspecion.

Now, I believe the conversion of militarists and nationalists into democrats is no less difficult than that of communists to nationalism or militarism. The Government, especially the administrative and judicial authorities, must emphasize the difficulty of conversion on thinkers, educators, men of letters, bureaucrats, militarists and nationalists. We must guard against false democrats.

The platforms of the Liberal and Progressive Parties are good examples of false democracy. "The Character of Our Empire", and "The Morality of the Subjects", were read by every school-master on the strength, of the recommendation of the Education Department. Now, publishing of a criticism of these two books is a more pressing task for them the revision of the text book of Japanese history. In short, the Government should take adequate measures to enable the people to be converted, and it should take into consideration the difficulty involved.

KOKUBU, Ichitaro, [illegible]-school-meter, TOKYO.

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Full Translation:

The Japanese people were utterly deceived during the war. The people realize heartily the true character of their Government, monopolized by the old ruling class. With our intellect, we must hereafter supervise the Government so that it serves the people's interests. The old ruling class, however, is still trying to shift its responsibility to others in order to evade the people's accusations of cowardice and inefficiency.

Insincere Government and irresponsible rulers are accustomed only to behaviour in such a manner as to trick the people. It is necessary for the people to accurately grasp the truth by the exposure of this fallacy. We must observe politics with keen senses, for this is required to facilitate a democratic JAPAN. For example, let us consider the Government's warning about the present food crisis. The Government is trying to cover its inefficiency and incompetence by attributing. The food shortage to the small delivery of farmer's as to black market dealings by citizens, thus capitalizing on the antagonistic feelings between farmers and city dwellers.

Supreme Headquarters has repeatedly warned the Japanese Government about its inefficiency in food problems, and the matter remains unimproved, This is only one example of the evasive attitude of the Government in regards to their responsibility. We can cite a better example to illustrate the irresponsibility of the old ruling class is the recent report on "The Oppression by the Russians and Koreans of Japanese MANCHURTA and KOREA".

The complete state of affairs in MANCHURIA and KOREA cannot be clarified merely by fragmentary news which his vaguely reported the destitute circumstances of Japanese in those areas. Accordingly, the nation's feeling toward Russia and Koreans is indistinct. This fragmentary news, though it may be true, was created intentionally by the old leaders to cover up their guilt. The military and civil officials ought to be the first to protect the Japanese in those areas. Regardless of their duty, the officials were the first to flce from there, leaving Japanese civilians unprotected. The rumors of violence by Russians and Koreans was based only upon the fragmentary report by these military and site officials or men of colonial enterprises who returned home. Is it quite impossible that such fragmentary reports, made by these deserters who feared being accused for deserting their brethren were aimed at diverting national anger toward Russians and Koreans?

According to professor IKUMI's talk in our paper, dated 22 December, the status quo has been maintained in KOREA since the war ended. However, Japanese policemen and those who had reason to be hated by Koreans had a hard time in general. What mostly provoked Koreans was the conduct of corrupt Japanese officials and military men who hid their arms. They began to flee one by one. Just prior to the defeat, when the common Japanese were still ignorant of the situation. Moreover, because of their corruption and other similar practises, which made even the Occupation Forces distrustful, it is indescribable as to what extent the Japanese were troubled. It is remarkable that Professor IKUKI stated that the very cause of the

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troubles of the Japanese lay in these corrupt practises. It cannot be denied however, as Professor [illegible]said that the innocent Japanese suffered from some conflict and difficulties as a result of anti-JAPAN feeling among some Koreans. This feeling became stronger as a result of provocation of Japanese authorities. However, many of those who returned from MANCH[illegible]are also denouncing the acts on officials who fled first. The speech by Professor IKUMI is only one example of these denunciations. So we must seriously consider by whom and where these rumors are circulated, and try to determine the truth more correctly.

In regard to the relief of Japanese in KOREA, we must take some positive measures for relief by ourselves, without leaving the matter entirely to the authorities, who have no credit for action even with foreigners. In conclusion, it is necessary for us to improve ourselves in politics and to be able to grasp the truth. Then, as a result of our improvement, we must find the persons who can assume their responsibilities for the future of our younger generations, without our being deceived again.

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