Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0204, 1946-01-06.
Date6 January, 1946
translation numbereditorial-0636
call numberDS801 .S82
Persistent Identifier
EDITORIAL SERIES: 204
ITEM 1 Fresh Start of own Assemblies Asahi Shimbun - 4 Jan 46. Translator: S. Inoue.
Full translation:
We had much to expect from an announcement by the metropolitan authorities, the gist
of which was that town assemblies will
start on the New Year, with a more important role being played by the people than
before. However, the fact of the matter is
this: the formula is set out well enough but the substance of it remains as old as
ever. In short, the reformation of town
assemblies is from the bureaucratic point of view. Here we give, as an example, the
details of one of the meetings hold at
KOYAMA, TOKYO.
- l.AS the date of reporting was imminent, they held a general meeting and made preparations for a re-adjustment.
- 2.It was arranged that the notice of the holding of the general meeting should be circulated from one neighborhood association to the other.
- 3.Persons assembled on that day numbered little more than ten.
- 4.Although the number of persons assembled was so few, they made a decision on every item.
An attendance totalling a little more than ten shows a lack of interest in the organization.
In other words, it is evidence of
popular disapproval of a formal town assembly being forced to meet by the authorities.
Following are a few more facts:
- 1.The opening of the general nesting was not made known to the general public.
- 2.In spite of so few people being present at the meeting, they adopted a plan for general meetings to be in time for the date of reporting.
The facts described above reveal nothing less than a formal gathering held for reporting
purposes, and, in consequence, not
representative of the public's choice.
In the future, town assemblies must, first of all, aim at a sufficient subsistence
level for the people. The governing of the
assembly on a co-operative basis must be considered. We must have just and orderly
assemblies and we must expel from them all
bosses trading on their long connection with them. Errors may be corrected in a fair
assembly which reflects the public's
will, and a fresh start must be based on this fact.
Sent by Mr. YAMADA, Tsunishige, TOKYO)
EDITORAL SERIES: 204 (Continued)
ITEM 2 The First Step in Democracy - Tokyo Shimbun - 4 Jan 46. Translator: J. Wada.
Full translation:
The fundamental problems in establishing democracy around the Emperor system and
in constitutional reform should be discussed
and re-examined from all conceivable angles, accordingly, many more arguments on these
fundamental problems will be rendered
in the future. Apart from these fundamentals, however, various concrete measures for
democracy, including the enactment of the
Revised Election Law and the Farm Land Law, were taken as a result of directives and
orders from the Allied Headquarters. In
spite of all these measures, we cannot but doubt that the people really understand
democracy. The shock of the unconditional
surrender, which come so suddenly, end the rapid changes since the end of the war
have kept the Nation from the true
realization of democracy.
The realization of democracy has been made more difficult by the feudalistic customs,
which have prevailed for so long a time.
For that reason, General MacARTHUR, at the beginning of the New Year, requested that
the Japanese Nation truly understand,
what democracy is and make the beginning of the New Year the time for a new start
toward truth and light. Can our Nation take
the first step toward democracy with a deeper understanding of its significance?
The view was expressed that the settlement of this question is the first step in
democracy. Other views are that the
forthcoming general election under the new Election Law is the first step. These two
arguments are both right.
However, can we not find a first step which is nearer to us and has a more direct
effect on our daily life? A little thinking
shows us many things which may well be the first step. For example, the democratization
of the neighborhood and town
association system, the organization of consumers' and other co-operative societies,
and the establishment of labor unions are
all intimately connected with national life and will surely do much for the establishment
and better understanding of
democracy. Putting these problems into practice is the surest and shortest way to
a genuine understanding of democracy.
The gubernatorial election system may be another short cut to establishment and deeper
understanding of democracy. The
democratization of such fundamentals as the Emperor System and the Constitution will
meet with much difficulty, but the
adoption of a gubernatorial election system will be far easier. Of course, the election
of representatives, too, has a great
connection with national life. It will deepen the understanding of democracy on the
part of the people, if they make efforts
to send to the Diet true representatives. However, the gubernatorial election system
is a far better and easier means to make
the masses understand and establish democracy.
Apart from enlightenment of the people, the adoption of the election system may be
advocated from a theoretical point of view.
There may be room for discussion about the method of election, but there can be no
opposition to the adoption of the system
itself. Its realization can be a first step toward democracy, both in theory and from
the standpoint of enlightenment.
Essentially, the realization of the gubernatorial election system should precede the
general election. Our democratization
should begin with the adoption of this election system.
ITEM 3 Vertical Morality and Horizontal Morality - Mainichi Shimbun - 4 Jan 46. Translator: K Hirata.
Full translation:
- 2 -
EDITORIAL SERIES: 204 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
Our morality has always been encouraged by the Royal Family since the early days
of the MEIJI Era. It is nothing more than the
Imperial Rescript on Education issued by MEIJI which directs us on principles of behavior.
We have hitherto observed these
instructions in our public and private lives.
The morality of has been entirely characteristic of totalitarianism, and went to
such extremes as the war proceeded, that our
leaders dared to declare that loyalty and patriotism wore the same virtue. However,
this totalitarian view went into decline
as result of the defeat. On the other hand, as democracy has been encouraged, the
ideas of the people concerning the Emperor
have undergone a change. Therefore, at present it seems as if the Nation's standard
of morality has, in a sense, been
lowered.
Without morality, what can any nation do in the formation of a culture? However,
morality is not made but born of itself in
human society. Artificial morality is apt to destroy itself, while morality born of
human nature is universal. No doubt, such
natural social morality has always existed here, but, has been underrated during the
years spent under the dominance of
totalitarian morality. With the extinction of totalitarian morality, there is a tendency
also for this universal morality to
be discarded like a pair of old shoes. It is undeniable that this tendency will cast
a gloomy shadow upon the future prospects
of defeated JAPAN.
Totalitarian morality is a vertical one. The universal social morality is a horizontal
one. Morality may be likened to a road.
A road stretches horizontally. This is a genuine state of human morality. Man finds
it very difficult to walk along a vertical
road. However, man should sometimes take even a vertical road however difficult it
may be, because the national development
and the maintainance of the social order may depend upon this vertical morality. Today
JAPAN, no doubt, needs this vertical
morality. However, the vertical morality which JAPAN now needs is far from the so-called
Japanese Weltanschauung preached by
our leaders during the war. It is difficult for the general people to understand fully
such a vague idea. Universal morality
is, on the contrary, simple and instinctive. It is the basis of all morality. Without
this virtue, any nation would be utterly
miserable. What JAPAN should urgently strive to do, is recover among the people, the
lost social morality as quickly as
possible.
As the Japanese proverb says, we must have necessities of life before we can observe
the proprieties. Some people may say that
the social morality of AMERICA may be attributed to her abundant natural resources,
and that it is quite natural that morality
should decline under the stringent food situation of JAPAN. However, it is wrong to
say that the rich always do what is good
and the poor do what is wrong. It was the rioh who did wrong during the war. It was
the upper class that has encouraged the
decline of social morality.
As an emergency measure, our leaders should strive to stabilize the national standard
of living end reconstruct the social
morality by guiding the people using not theoretical but very common language. The
leaders should strive to let the mass of
the people know that they can maintain a peaceful social life only by observing social
morality. This may be a difficult
matter for the nation now suffering from various needs. However, the confusion of
democracy with self-indulgence prevailing
among the people today should not be left long uncorrected. In this state the Government
must endeavor to solve the food and
housing problems. The war is ended. This country was defeated. It is still necessary
for the Nation to observe social
morality. The whole Nation should be made fully aware of the importance of this simple
lesson as soon as possible.
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