Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0226, 1946-01-10.

Full Translation:

It has bean ostentatiously announced that 310 vests made floss-silk will be distributed among the war-sufferes. However, in my neighborhood there are altogether seven needy families who have not received any of them. Furthermore, we received no equipment from the relief association for war-sufferers up to now and were even unaware that such an association was in existence. We want to know where the money collected and goods contributed have gone. There are people living in trench-huts who have lots of money and who do not suffer from inconvenience and others, who were living in rented houses or rooms and have no money nor anything to wear. Such anomalies should be corrected at once. Once when I applied for clothing in my neighborhood association office, I received a shabby vest made of floss-silk for 1[illegible]yen. However, this has been distributed to everybody, even to those who were not burnt out during the war. I have not heard that these [illegible]oods have been supplied from the reliex association. Those, who have bought these vests are very angry to have to buy such useless things. I want a clear answer from the metropolitan office. (UJIDA, a war sufferer.)

On 10 December there was a distribution of blankets to all war-sufferers living in the KAT[illegible]SHWA district. I quickly made all arrangements necessary and went to the distribution station. On the neighborhood circulation table the price was clearly announced at 7.50 yen for each blanket. However, at the distribution station it was stated that one blanket costs 16.50 yen a with 6.60 yen tax added. Since the margin between both prices was so great I asked the shopkeeper about it. He stated that the quality and the price of the blankets would change with every new arrival of goods. However, it is impossible to lay taxes on goods which are to be distributed to war-victims. [illegible]want an answer from the municipal office.

The reply from the Metropolitan Office.

The distribution of vests, which is a gracious present of the Emperor to war-suffers, has been announced by the relief association. It was meant for war-suferes and repatriates from abroad, who are suffering many hardships, but they have not been distributed yet. We planned to start the distribution today, the 8 January. We have to make a report of stock on hand of silk goods to SCAI, and included in the report are these hand-knitted vests which are not yet scheduled for distribution. The vests which cost 18 yen a piece have probably been distributed by the neighborhood associations independently. Blankets, which are given to war-sufferers for the winter, have been distributed since October of last year. The price varies, but there are some which will cost about 100 yen each. At first we levied taxes upon them but now this has been abandoned. The blankets, which costs 7.50 yen a piece, are called No, 304 and 40 pieces have been supplied

EDITORIAL SERIES: 226 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

to the KATSUSHIKA district. There are blankets which will cost 16.50 yen less tax, but the taxes will be more then ten yen. However, the blankets diverted to war-sufferers are all free of tax and therefore those who paid the taxes will receive a refund from the neighborhood association offices.

Full Translation:

SCAP's directive ordering the exclusion of war-leaders from all official positions has had a great influence upon both the Government and the people in every phase of our polity, economy and society. The results of the general election that is shortly to be carried out are obscured and admit no persuppositions. The latest directive has only prescribed the war leaders in certain categories. Accordingly, without looking at a list of names that is to be presented by the Government to SCAP, we can reveal nothing concrete, because there are many individual and special situations involving the war leaders. Nevertheless, they will be excelled from both official and civil positions, and their banishment will be effected by our Government in accordance with the directive. However, the responsibility for recommanding a leader for the reconstruction of a peaceful JAPAN falls entirely on the nation's shoulders. If we fail to choose such a person, we shall not only bring to nothing, the significance of the directive but also we may achieve results contrary to those disired. We shall have cast a shadow upon the reconstruction of a peaceful JAPAN.

The war leaders who are to be expelled from their positions by the directive are, so to speak, of the first grade. Those of the second grace or below are not included, and even too-manking leaders are not necessarily listed in full. Accordingly, even if the chief leaders are banished, the leaders of the second grade or below may their places. This matter should not be overlooked. These other persons who were omitted from the directive are not only war leaders as well as leaders in peace, they will perhaps have the capacity of the second grade or under. Furthermore, the, leaders who were omitted from the list, it is feared, may disguise themselves as advocates of peace or democracy in ordor to oppress or mislead the nation once again. Among the war leaders, there are some who were, not always true militarists or antidemocratic. We must give warning that false and opportunistic men will take their places. By the latest directive, the so-called new figures will fittingly advance together. [illegible]welcome them, but if there are among them, men who are young and useless or who are immature or who have, in the main, only second rate talents, our hopes will come to nothing. When the persons who take office are superior to those who formerly held it, renovation will take the place destruction.

To establish democracy, a high political sense and the political training of the nation is require. At present, our nation must, first of all, foster social and all-round common sense and [illegible]netrating critical power in the people.

Political economic and sociological problems are inseparable. Generally speaking, economic problems are now the focus of politics.

A formulative theory or an idealistic policy is not only powerless to affect the economy but also often interferes with activity. An irresponsible opinion or a hasty plan is very harmful and good for nothing. For example, we remember that the repudiation of public loans was called a policy for consolidating our postwar finance and the liability of the bourgeois class. It ruined, the savings of

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 226 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

the general public end is still hindering postwar savings by causing the public much anxiety. Furthermore, food distribution which is equal for all, officially, is actually most unequal. We must not be deceived by such official euphemisms. We must establish a sound democracy by adopting true principles and opinions in place of such cant.

Full Translation:

People were somewhat terrified at the prospect of the extraordinary administrative policies which Mr. HIRANUMA, the head of the Japanese Fascists, would adopt, when he received the Imperial mandate to forming new Ministry, after years of anticipation and rumors of his becoming Premier whenever there was a change in the Government. The only thing, however, that the people could be sure of was a co[illegible]rcive administration openly patronizing its own clique, but contrary to their presupposition his policies were so hesitant and monotonous that the people were completely disappointed.

What does this fact signify? In short it proves that Fascism in JAPAN advanced so rapidly since the Manchurian Incident, that even HIRANUMA, the idol of Fascism in the past, was left far behind by the speed with which JAPAN changed. Only the period during the beginning and growth of his KOKUHONSHA, the Political Assistance Association, that his Fascist spirit shook the world and made the people more aware of him. When he found himself at the head of the Cabinet, he had already been left far behind the times.

The people know well that Mr. SHIDEHARA selected ministers from among men who have not held any responsible positions for the last ten years, when he formed his Cabinet. Several of the Ministers, however, must be expalled, because they are effected by MacARTHUR's purge directive issued on 4 January. The persons who have hitherto been considered faultless become unmistably guilty after a few months. Here, again, we can witness how rapidly times change.

Humans are apt to be retrospective and captured by the temptation of sentimentality, yet for the time being we should indulge ourselves neither in retrospection nor in sentimentality. If HIRANUMA's age is compared to bicycles, the current age is an age of jeeps. However quickly we speed up our pace, even so much that our hearts should burst, we could not match the speed of a jeep. If all the people were to share the tragedy of Mr. HIRANUMA or of Mr. SHIDEHARA, we could no more achieve JAPAN'S new birth than we could reach the stars in the sky.

Full Translation:

It has been reported that a former army office became a burglar, but this was later proved to be false. A man of bad reputation had committed misdeeds in the name of the officer. However, many demobilized soldiers have fallen into crime because they were treated as if they were war criminals, despite their bitter experiences at the war fronts and at home since the end of the war. During the war they lived on snakes or the roots of trees. When they returned to their homes, they found them burnt down and their parents killed by air raids.

Their misdeeds are due primarily to cold treatment by the public, However, some officers and soldiers have actually committed misdeeds and

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 226 (Continued)

ITEM: 4 (Continued)

have become robbers since the end of the war. Therefore, the public has the idea that all demobilized soldiers will go wrong.

In order to realize perfect democratic JAPAN we should warmly receive the returned soldier as citizens of the Nation, and lead them to exert themselves in the reconstruction of our country.

(A letter to SHIKOYA Taro.)

Summary:

This year is the 2,606th year in the Emperor era.

During the war, the Emperor era system was used and the Christian era system treated as enemy innovation by the militarists. Can the 2,606th year exactly indicate the period of Japanese history?

We historians consider that Japanese history must be the history of the Japanese people. But the Emperor era does not show the period of the history of the people but that of the history of the Imperial nation. Then, has the history of the Empire lasted for 2,606 years?

The estimate of 2,606 years was established after the MEIJI Restoration by a government which consisted of militarists and bureaucrats. The Government decided it on the basis of the history in the book called "NIPPON SHOKI." The history of the "NIPPON SHOKI," however, has been recognized as erroneous by many scholars since the TOKUGAWA Shogunate and it is concluded that in the "NIPPON SHOEI" there is an error of about 600 years. As recent methods of archaeological study have improved, this problem has been more and more accurately studied.

In olden times, our people were savages, and used stone-implements. In the first century of the Christian era, iron and copper implements and rice rowing agricultural methods were imported into our country from CHINA. After that, persons all property, competing rulers, different states, and even slaves appeared. And after all the different states had fought each other for about three hundred years, there was born a great state, in the province of YAMATO, which later became JAPAN.

In short, it is evident archaeologically or historically that the history of the Empire covers only 1,600 years. At that early time the Emperor was the greatest landowner in JAPAN, and employed agricultural slaves called "TABE" Emperors YURYAKU and BURETSU ruthlessly killed many people, taking advantage of their position as large landowners. SUIZEI and his brothers fought among one another and the strongest became Emperor. This is the origin of the Emperor system.

I advocate that the theory of 2,600 years of the Emperor era system be abolished and a system using 1,600 years be adopted.

Since we are new participating in the [illegible]organization of the world, we consider the Christian are system to be the best and most proper. The Imperial era system, which is now [illegible]n to be false from a scientific point of view, should not be used.

(A letter from a historian, YAMSU, Tadashi.)

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