Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0233, 1946-01-12.

Summary:

Popular resentment against evil farmers, merchants, and brokers who profiter in foods which the masses frantically seek bodes ill for them in the future. Bobbing and burglary are daily occurrences in big towns today and this inclination seems to be spreading already to the provincial towns and even further to the villages. Unless countermeasures are taken, we shall not be able to sleep safely. These countermeasures must be executed by the masses and be so drastic as to liquidate any profiteering which thrusts them into poverty and forces them to commit social crimes.

Something like an anti-crime organization was formed in earlier days in the urban neighborhood associations, when neighbors stood guard in monthly or half-monthly shifts against robberies in their neighborhood. However, this was superficailly done because they were too busy collecting contributions to discharge their duty. Schools and public bathhouses are also haunted by robbers. Now is the time when students must be careful not to be robbed while studying and participants in any dinner party are not sure whether or not their shoes are quite safe. Under these circumstances it is almost impossible to rely entirely upon the police who has lost their Power and dignity.

Here in SENDAI, there are only 400 policemen, while the city population is as high as 230,000. Their jurisdiction obviously is quite limited. There is no more than one sub-station in each village. The citizens cannot entrust the preservation of peace to a single policeman. The Air Raid Defense Corps remains undissolved even though the war has ended.

Under such dangerous living conditions, we must organize into strong groups as quickly as possible to preserve peace. For this purpose we must first of all strengthen the anti-crime mechanism in neighborhood associations. This mechanism must be so enlarged as to connect with that of town assemblies and finally be in direct touch with ward police stations, A committee in charge of these functions shall be elected and they, co-operating with the police shall give anti-crime instructions. Sectional anti-crime corps may be organized by any occupation or business group with large numbers of personnel, and committees may also be selected from them. These committees, in the close set contact with those of neighborhood associations must plan urgent measures for preventing and settling the crimes in their allocated district, and consult with the police in settling common basic problems.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 233 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

The number of policemen in MIYAGI-Ken is less than half the normal number. The shortage of policemen must be made up with top-notch youth recommended by towns or villages, because they must assume the essential task of preserving peace, since the military has become defunct. We must establish a democratic police force consisting of good natured policemen and civic anti-crime committees to tide over the present vicious phase of life.

Full Translation:

The world is keeping a curious watch on us to see how rapidly the revival of Japanese industry will be carried out. Since the feudalistic leaders of the industrial world are now being washed away, productive activities will be carried on by the plans and efforts of the masses themselves. That is to say, they are breaking down accepted formalism, and are going to develop a new productive field under the slogan of efficiency first. The exertion of the Nation in the production of food, fuel, and machines of every kind will decide JAPAN'S economic revival. Consequently, it is not to the leaders of JAPAN'S economy, but to the tendencies of the masses of the country that the whole world is paying keen attention. Already, economic policy has given way. Only the establishment of economic policies based upon the creative will of the people can promote JAPAN'S economic revival, and lay the foundation for a peace-loving state.

Thus, we must adjust our economic problems, not by formalism and dependency upon the government authorities, but by the principle of prompt decision. However, due to the remnants of the long accustomed reliance on the Government economic polices based upon the creative power of the masses have not yet materialized, and productive circles have failed to realize the anticipated results. It is true, the damages inflicted upon the productive capacity for the war are not yet restored, but now that the state is for the people and politics are for the people, it is essential to establish economic polices by the masses of the people.

The solution of the food problem might easily be attained, without awaiting the government's instructions, by the fever of timely measures by the Nation. The lack of this national fervor led to the deplorable results in rice deliveries, and caused the present slump in the fisheries. The same factor is preventing fuel and various productive machines from coming on the market. SCAP indicates that the dearth of fishing is due to the indifferent attitude of those concerned. It is so. It is true not only of producers but also of those in charge of distribution. Furthermore, this indifferent attitude may be applied to the whole productive world as well as fishing industry. A new may will open and a truly democratic JAPAN will come into view, when the Japanese resolve to restore JAPAN'S economy by themselves.

That we can never hope for the revival of Japanese economy through the traditional principle of dependency seems to be the realistic view of the Supreme Headquarters. We shall never be instructed or supported by other countries, nor shall we discover the way for Japanese economy until our own ability to support ourselves is Japanese economy until our own ability to support ourselves is established. In other words, JAPAN's possibility for revival lies in Japanese hands. The Japanese of the present who still remain

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EDITORIAL SEREIS: 233 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

dependent, lack the intelligence to open up a new road. Pursuing immediate profits, they have no solidarity, and continue to take the short view of things. Herein lies the stupidity of the industrial world.

The whole Japanese productive world, not just fishing has been repeatedly admonished by SCAP, all to no avail.. The masses of the Nation show no signs of reflection, and are prone to let tomorrow take care of itself. The present industrial world is quite indifferent to the masses of the Nation. If they sincerely love peace and desire to construct JAPAN, they ought to increase efficiency in every field, and spur onward economic restoration. If we can feel shame before troubling SCAP, we should solidify the foundation of our reconstruction with a concrete policy, aimed at revival of JANPAN's economy.

Full Translation:

During the war corruption by the leading classes was at its height. The dishonorable acts committed by the leaders aroused the resentment of the whole Nation. The present dispirited state of the Nation may be to some extent ascribed to it. Since the war, they have not yet mended their ways. They continued their illegal acts openly. They are enjoying lives of comparative wealth are being served illegally acquired and liquor while the masses of the people are starving.

We want Mr. CHIBA, Governor of our prefecture, to be servers with those officials and weed out these evils.. One decisive step would be mere effective than one hundred countermeasures. Is he really bold enough In this respect?

Officials have been as derelict in their duties as ever. The official’s method administration tend to demand too much of the people on the one hand, and lead to neglect of their own duties on the other. The administrative way to encouraging the Nation is nothing but another name for sabotage by the officials. To cite one examples, the Government has not yet paid subsidies to those farmers who turned over 90 percent of their crops to the Government last year. Moreover, the Government still continued to reimburse at last year's rice price rates despite this years purchase-price having been set at 150 yen.

It is not proper to keep such idle officials in government service at the expense of the Nation. The main cause is the lack of a sense of responsibility by, and the tyranny of, the officials. Also, in the subsidies due to farmers who fulfilled their quotas, the agricultural society must ask central authorities for each payment. What about the abolition of such troublesome formalities? Such a

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 233 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

method of doing things will only cause delay in payment. Thus the lower officials will carry on their sabotage pretending that procedure is too complicated. There are many similar examples of troublesome red tape which cause sabotage in local official circles. If there is a curtailment of public servants, sabotage will only increase.

The liquidation of militarism is making rapid progress, but the bureaucratic system which is the basis of feudalistic tyranny still remains as ever a hotbed of evil. An obstacle to the reconstruction of a JAPAN is found in the maladministration of the existing bureaucratic system. It would be quite impossible to establish a democratic system without a drastic purge of these administrative evils. The people themselves should take were resolute action against such evils as irresponsibility in office, embezzlement, and sabotage by public servants. Thus they would help the elimination of official evils. It is a cowardly and unconstitutional attitude for the people to witness these evils and complain only secretly.

Full Translation:

It was exceedingly foolish of the Minister of Education to issue a directive on the 8 January showing that the foundations of education exist in the Rescript declared on the first day of this year.

Judging from the contents of the directive, his idea was based on a conception of the divinity of the Emperor. He cannot even understand the meaning of the Rescript.

MAEDA, the Minister of Education, must resign as a result of the recent directive of SCAP because of his idea of instilling the divine right of the Emperor into education. Is this not a crime?

Observing the Imperial Rescript on the declaration of war, we find it is written that the Emperor is the divine god. This expresses the idea that the Emperor is absolute, and it is a superstition that any and all rescripts by the Emperor should be considered divine and infallible.

Now all the primary schools throughout the country are earnestly correcting their educational policies either removing the militaristic material in the textbooks or confiscating the textbooks. Even though it cannot be helped, it is to be regretted that the minds of pupils should be disturbed because of this. We are expecting democratic education to be quickly established and the bringing up on the children to be carried out by natural sentiments coming from the hearts of the people.

It is pitiful that at this time such a foolish directive should be issued by the Minister of Education. This directive was surely made by the bureaucrats of the Ministry of Education, and unless such a feudal and mysterious idea is swept away, it is possible that ad democratic movement through governmental offices will be changed in name alone.

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