Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0183, 1945-12-30.

Full Translation:

"Atheism", appearing in this column the other day, made me realize that the Japanese misapprehend the idea of God. It is a mistake to believe that God grants petitions.

God is the God that we believe in, truth and the laws of heaven and earth. Listening to the broadcast of the Emperor, it is possible to feel that there is no God. I heard the word of God in that broadcast myself.

Because we believe in God, we respect human rights and exercise love. We must not forget the fact that Christianity is deeply rooted at the bottom of western democracy. When we strive in the investigation of natural and universal laws, God makes His appearance before us. However, to those who have no critical spirit, who do not strive to perceive their own soul, God in no way shows himself. Their minds blaspheme God who believe that God would produce divine tempests! Those who cannot revere God cannot revere men and will degenerate into selfishness.

The writer of "Atheism" asserts that man can deceive God. t[illegible]is impossible. So long as all human conduct is dominated by the laws of heaven and earth and the universe, or be divine providence, [illegible]those who resist then are condemned. In reality, we are unsparingly being punished for high treason against God.

We possess God. Our life itself is part of God rather God itself. It is not God who accedes to our request. Amidst, this chaos in JAPAN, we earnestly desire the revival of SHINTOISM.

(FURUDA)

Full Translation:

Again the lights stopped. Night after night, the electric lights have been cut off. When we believe it is at last working, it stops, and darkness again prevails. We are obliged to buy candles and dry cells at exorbitant prices, and we must strike coarse matches by fumbling in the dark. Of course we are thoroughly aware that we use portable electric h[illegible]atens to excess and that the current is interrupted because of overloaded transformers on the electric circiut. Nevertheless, we would die from cold if we were to wait for the charcoal supply. As a natural result, we resort to electric heaters, and then the interruptions come. The only answer by the electric company to all these things is always the same - "There are not enough transformers." We cannot recognize sincerity in it.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 183 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

Who pays for these expensive candles? It is always the mass of the people who are the losers. Present day politics exercised at the sacrifice of the masses should he destroyed at all costs. The incompetent statesmen must not forget that we of the masses have mouths and arms. Faithless politicians, we are not merely talking of the problems of electric lights! Remember that this absurd light trouble can well be an incentive! The clerks in charge might use ready-made phrases against our protests. However the last resort is left for us city dwellers - a general non-payment boycott against the company.

(Disconsolate)

Full Translation:

The wife of an ederly friend of ours died, and when he went to the undertaker, he was told there, were three classes of funerals, 800, 1,000, and 2,000 yen. As everybody knows, it is not a very pleasant thing to discuss, but what the undertaker really uses up are only the coffin and. the gasoline, since all other things can be used again. This means the 1,000 and 2,000-yen funeral expense is the cost of the coffin and the wages. There is nothing so expensive.

We think the ordinance on excess profits control is still in existence, though we doubt very much if the authorities know about it. However, if they do not know this is a good opportunity to make an investigation. Although my friend thought the price was ridiculous, he could not geglect the dead body of his wife, so he paid the money and took the body to toe NIPPORI crematory. When he called at the crematorium office they demanded money for drinks and then told him that there were three different classes of cremation, 50, 30, and 20 yen; 50 would be preferential; 30 yen next; for 20, they would have to let the body wait a long time. Those who do not pay the money for drinks would probably have to wait a long time.

One is not obliged to pay the money for drinks. Nevertheless, if one did not pay, the coffin would be piled on top of others, mountain high, and the kinship's bones could never be claimed by the family. He paid 50 yen, and after waiting a few minutes he finally got back his dear wife's ashes.

The phrase "money is the key to open all doors" fits perfectly to this situation. Newlyborn babies have difficulty with no available milk, clothes nor diapers. Another job is to try to make a. living in a food shortage. Then after having said good-by to this world, to have difficulty at the crematorium getting burned into ashes is the last straw.

We hope the authorities can arrange some benefit for such a poor soul, for, after all, it means one man's food ration for the people.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 183 (Continued)

Full Translation:

I. I went to make an explanation to FU[illegible]ISAWA, Akira, who made a contribution in this column on "Students Walking on the Streets". Some of the statistics are quite false. His inference that diligent students occur at a rate of ten in a thousand is little[illegible]more than an exaggeration. I think the reverse is the case. Good deeds are liable to escape one's eye while bed ones are easily observed. Study is not to be limited to schoolrooms. Some students who realize that fact complain of the lack of time for study outside schoolrooms. [illegible]cause of the misconduct of some students the majority, who are eager for study, should not be condamned. (Letter from a student in the Literary Department)

II. As a student at JAPAN University I want to say something in reply to the contributor of "Trouble at JAPAN University". Indeed, your opinion seems to be convincing, but to my great regret, you are criticizing in a contemptible manner. Denunciation with a sense of superiority cannot give your moral satisfaction. I eagerly hope, for something from you which aims at truly just criticism. Despite a statement of disagreement from me[illegible]you and I entirely agree on the pursuit for truth. Let us strive, therefore, for the construction of new JAPAN, with more encouragement for each other.

(Letter from IS[illegible], Yoshihiro)

III. The number of big vessels which were wrenched during the war is estimated at 3,100, while the dead, crew members aggregated over 36,000' at the close of the war. Those wounded were 4,800 and. castaway numbered as many as 152,000. These figures reveal that those on board were thrown into the sea two or three times, since the number of sailors at sea was about 80,000. The dead amount to 44 per cent while the number of castaways to 200 per cent. Sacrifice was thus for greater among those baroas, the merchantmen than than among the serviceman.

Nevertheless, those who want to sea during the war were unspeakably mistreated by the military. On account of the utter defeat at MIDWAY the transport vessels were obliged to take shelter. The commander of the [illegible]in order to keep military operations secret, transferred the sailors to DAVAO, then gave orders to support the operation for GUADALC[illegible]AL. This operation ended in utter failure; all the vessels around the island were destroyed. The surviving crewmen who managed to reach the sbo[illegible]e numbered 800, but could, not obtain their share of rations on the pretext that they were civilians and not servicemen, and also they had lost their status by getting off their ships. Only six out 800 barely escaped death. Three of these six, however, were taken ill and soon afterwards died, while one went mad.

This is merely one example from hundreds of instances. Thus we appeal to the heart of the people at large whose condolence for the unhappy dead we ha[illegible]rtily wish. A helping hand should be stretched, out, also, by the Government to the bereaved families who are threatened with hunger and shivering with cold.

(Letter from The Third Section of the Accomodation Department in the Bureau of Crews, Shipment Control Association.)

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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