Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0266, 1946-01-19.

Full Translation:

During the war the drama was insipid and as dry as dust. This was due to the unreasonable interference of the militarists and bureaucrats. Meanwhile, the entrance tax inflicted disastrous damage on the drama from the flank. At first, the rate of the tax was as low as 10 per cent of the entrance fee, but in the end it reached the exorbitant rate of 200 per cent of the present.

This taxation, comparable with that imposed upon brothels or superior restaurants, has a punitive nature that insults the culture of the drama. The cultural significance of the drama is indisputable. There is no one who does not recognize the play as an agency which amplifies the life and feelings of the masses. As food for thought, the drama is the same as books.

Nevertheless, they impose less than ten per cent on general books, while on plays a prohibitive tax of 200 per cent is levied. Is it not an unreasonable and discriminative treatment? The authorities concerned are advocating the popularization of superior plays. It is impossible, however, to popularize them with such an excessive taxation. The authorities are, in reality, preventing the masses from gaining access to higher dramas. In order to open the drama to the masses of the people, the entrance tax, first of all, must be abolished. (ICHIKAWA, Ennosuke)

We report of the suicide of a mother whose breasts ran dry grieves the hearts of many mothers. When I think that if cow's milk or powdered milk had been supplied such a tragedy would not have occurred, I can not but deplore the poor management of the distribution system, and the inferiority of our politics.

Even if a physician'c certificate requests so many bottles a day they do not deliver more than a third of it at the distributing station and say "There is too little." In addition, with the price at 70 sen, they refuse to give change for one yen. If one offers two yen for a bottle or makes some present, persons of secondary need can obtain more than those of primary need.

Milk powder was not supplied within the month. It is long delayed, and when it comes is only half of the fixed quantity. On the other hand, some procure it easily, and take it with coffee. A druggist, whose store serves as a distributing station, changed a box of milk powder for canned goods from a wine dealer.

In the black market, they sell sugar at 50 yen for 50 momme. Though there is no end if I continue, I sincerely wish to improve, somehow or other, the system of distribution for the sake of milkless babies. (NAKANO-Ku, YANAZAWA, Yasumitsu)

EDITORIAL SERIES: 266 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Concerning the application of the purge directive against the militarist leaders among the bureaucrats of the Home Ministry, the new Home Minister MITSUCHI announced that he expects the voluntary resignation of persons who come under the directive. His policy of permitting the affair to take its own course struck us dumb with astonishment.

It is easier to understand that he can not, rather than would not, formulate a concrete policy. His irresponsibility is excessive and he is open to criticism for being negligent in his duty.

In his "Chapter on Strategy" SUN, Tzu wrote, "In war a rough and ready rule may be applied but there never was a skillful general who took slow action." This is said to mean, "Without exception, a skillful general decides promptly." The "prompt and ingenious" principle of Premier SHIDEHARA has now become doubtful.

Circumstances are in such a plight that on one hand the country is flooded with unemployed and demobilized soldiers and on the other hand they can secure only 14,000 men to man more than 200 ships offered by the kindness of the UNITED STATES.

Starvation and cold, burglars and black market dealers! To save the state and the people from these evils of a degenerate age means the issuance of systematized plans and methods of management. At the same time it means sweeping away the tendency to look on the distress of one's own country with folded arms.

Is it not stupid of the politicians to remain as idle spectators until the Nation's organization is accomplished by the masses themselves? What would they do if we should call them to account for the ruin of the country, let alone the defeat in the war?

Full Translation:

Count MANKO was the first peer to be Minister of the Imperial Household, and Viscount MATSUDAIRA, Yoshitami, the new Imperial Household Minister, was the second one. Four Imperial Household Ministers - IKKI, YUASA, MATSUDAIRA, Tounego, and ISHIWATA were commoners.

IKKI and YUASA were created peers after their resignation, but MATSUDAIRA was not. Perhaps ISHIWATA, too, will remain a commoner.

Why were commoners appointed Imperial Household Ministers in succession? We can imagine there are two reasons; a suitable prospect for the office could not be found among the peers, and a commoner can exercise his influence for reforms in the Imperial court more freely than a peer. It proves that the political world required a statesman as the Imperial Household Minister. Count MAKINO was appointed as minister because he was recognized as a statesman, even though he was a peer. He was appointed on the recommendation of Prince SAIONJI, as were other commoners like IKKI and YUASA.

Prince SAIONJI considered a shake-up necessary in the Imperial Court, and he also considered the necessity of placing a man of strict integrity in the court. It was for political reasons that Count MAKINO, Viscount SAITO and Mr. YUASA were appointed lord Keepers of the Privy Seal. In a word, Prince SAIONJI, the only elder statesman, was in need of an assistant and a chief vassal who could act for him.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 266 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Owing to this fact, the Imperial Court was politically connected with the Government, and such words as "the wicked in the court" were sometimes heard among the members of political parties. In any case, it is true that anti-fascist power once existed in the court, which checked the absolutism of the militarists. It is because of this that Viscount SAITO was murdered. Both Prince SAIONJI and Count MAKINO were shot and YUASA, too, nearly met with disaster because of the fascist militarists, horse still, even the patriotism of Prince SAIONJI could not prevent a great sea of Fascism from rolling in upon the court. This determined the fate of JAPAN.

YUASA died in anxiety about the future of JAPAN, Prince SAIONJI, who once formed a cabinet, also died just before the Greater East ASIA War broke out, loyal vassals were thus lost both to the court and to the political world. Such circumstances caused great anxiety to His Majesty and finally brought the world to discuss whether or not the Emperor in responsible for the war.

Full Translation:

The Management of Savings Bonds

During the war, department stores and hotels forced people, who wanted who wanted to buy commodities or to rent a room, to buy savings bonds. When I tried to deposit my bonds, the bank official declared that they only accept bondo in large amounts collected through the neighborhood association office. He refused to accept them, saying that the bank had not yet received any instructions about the handling of the bonds.

Who, then, will bear the responsibility if the bonds issued during the years 1944 and 1945 declared invalid? I demand that the proper authorities order that these bonds be accepted in every bank and post offices in JAPAN. - OZAWA, Hanji

The Answer of the Finance Ministry

There are bonds of old and new issue. Due to the recent revision, in regulations, the term of validity has been prolonged to the end of 1950. That these bonds are accepted only in large amounts is a mistake on the part of the bank. You may deposit your bonds at any time. On 20 December the national loan savings were abolished and rules for savings bonds revised. Under the new regulations, you may deposit your savings bonds as follows: in post offices - deferred postal savings, fixed postal savings; agriculture associations - periodical savings; deferred savings; ordinary savings; national savings, and associate savings. In the periodical trust fund the cash is deposited in trust.

If you do not think this is satisfactory you my redeem them by withdrawal of the amount deposited under this plan. (National Savings Bureaus)

National Savings Bureaus

The Cigarette Ration and 20 Year Olds

With the turn of the year I became 20 years old and therefore applied for my cigarette ration, but the distribution center said I had to wait until my birthday. Can't the office give preference to demobilized soldiers

Signed, T.

Answer of the Monopoly Eureau

If you have become 20 years old you will get your ration beginning next month.

- The Tobacco Section

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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