Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0348, 1946-02-03.

Full Translation:

The general election is drawing nearer day by day. The various political parties which had fallen into confusion due to the recent directive by SCAP and have rallied their fronts by ousting the newcomers coming under this directive, have already embodied their platforms and we can finally observe their completeness in equipment of both form and substance.

In accordance with this, the votes, namely the people, have to make up their minds to solve the question of which way they want to establish a new JAPAN, or, more plainly speaking, to which, man of which party they want to cast their votes. It is already time now for them to make at least preparations in their mines which side they will choose.

Many people know quite well that the forthcoming general election will be seriously significant, which is really rare in the history of the Diet of our country. They also know that it will be a most difficult matter for the voters. First, more than half of the voters consist of people who have the right to vote for the first time. Secondly, the majority of the candidates are newcomers to the people. Third, the result of the election is the most important question, as it will excessively influence the development and. well-being of our nation and its solution will need appreciable intellectual ability and courage.

Concerning the first point we must say that these people have not got their franchise after their own long battles, but it has been given to them from an external, power due to the changes of outward conditions. I am sorry to say that many of these people are flurried and things have gone so far that voices have been raised here and there, which demand: "we want food, not suffrage." However, the present food situation in our country is a matter of great concern confronting not only every insignificant individual but the entire nation and it cannot be solved unless by an authoritative power. The more the people press on to tide over the crisis by searching for and storing food the more farm the rope around their necks Will be closed and the more critical this situation will become.

Moreover, the problems which have accumulated upon domestic affairs and which are seriously threatening the life of the people, are all beyond the comprehension of any individual. They will be only solve by an authoritative power which has been formed by a collective authority of all the votes gathered from the people. If we acknowledge this fact, the te[illegible]dency of talking at random that one is

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reluctant to cast a vote is equal to that of committing suicide, however busy the voters may be kept by their own personal difficulties of life. We all must anticipate the general election with great enthusiasm.

On the other hand, many eminent so-called old timers have been ousted due to the sweeping directive by SCAP, and most candidates are newcomers. So the materials with which to judge the personality, ideas and executive faculties of the new candidates are very scanty. Furthermore we may not judge the remainder of the old candidates by their activities in the past, for conditions have suddenly and completely changed. In such circums[illegible]ances we may refer to the political view relative to the principles of the party to which the candidate belongs. We expect it of each candidate, since ho is a member of a certain political party, to realize the platform of his party; the parties, since they are political parties, must have more political power than any individual both in quality and in quantity, and at the same time bear responsibility. Seen from such viewpoints, the people ought first to choose a certain party and then the individual.

But how about neutral candidates? If we want to support them equally, it will be necessary to judge to which platform their ideas are attached most. For there are too many newcomers, the people should first thoroughly and carefully deliberate before they vote.

Now we come to the third point. 'All the parties are announcing appreciative political programs and we may safely say that the main problems of constitutional reformation, especially those of the Emperor System, food and countermeasure against inflation are included in these platforms. The people should, therefore, deliberate on how they would perhaps solve these questions and then choose the platform of one of these parties. The people should gather carefully all obtainable material from the various parties or elsewhere, and weighing, their merits and demerits should form their own opinion. But one need not stick to this opinion which he has grasped once. No, on the contrary, he should argue on every possible occasion with people of his society, should take new materials into consideration and should listen to the views of intellectual men. In such a way everyone should form and develop his own ideas and decide which side he should take.

In consequence of such efforts and examinations, we are for the first time able to cast a clear, faultless vote, setting aside personal motives against the election, expelling the monetary power, and not blaming the nation at all. At a time when election day draws nearer and the activity of the parties and interested groups gets by lively, the voting people should go along the way of voting step by step, and should not neglect the necessity of deciding for a certain candidate.

ITTH 2 The Democratization of International society - Provincial Newspaper Shinano Mainichi Shimbun (Nagano) - 30 Jan 46. Translator: T. Unayama

Full Translation:

President T[illegible]U[illegible]AN gave his New Year message to Congress on 21 January, following the established precedent. But when we consider the message, together with the fact that World War II has just terminated in this previous year, and all the people of all the world are now

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 348 (Continued)

welcoming the year of the now peace, the full text of the message does not simply "follow the established precedent," but is truly e[illegible]ch-making.

The greater part of the message dealt with domestic problems, especially in the economic sphere. This is natural, as the message deals with the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. However, what we must notice is the proposition for the further advancement of democratization of economy in the UNITED STATES and the maintenance of prosperity as the foundation of that advancement. One of the characteristics of American society is the original conception of social policy, "to secure the progress of production." The American economy has the capitalists on one side, and the laborers on the other, winning their freedom and rights of economy by fighting with their excellent organization, but never threatening the essential quality of capitalism. In view of these facts, the recent strikes in the UNITED STATES can be understood, in that they never deny capitalism; rather they encourage capitalism.

It is not too much to say that the burning passion and the excellent conception of the UNITED STATES for the building of World Peace has the very key of success in its grasp. It is also a plain fact that GREAT BRITAIN and the SOVIET UNION as well as the UNITED STATES have the real ability to build World Peace. In this sense, we should be greatly concerned with the thought of Americans Which is represented in the text of the President's message. The message reads:

"Now we have become a land of great responsibilities to all the people of all the world, "and, "It is the hope of all Americans that in tine future historians will speak not of World War I and World War II, but of the first and last World Wars."

These words prove the fervent will and the firm resolution of the UNITED STATES for the attainment of World Peace. Notwithstanding the fact that the first World War was called the war which would end all wars on earth, it did not bring peace for more than 20 years. Bearing in mind this deplorable fact, we cannot but wish for everlasting peace to be established all over the world. Atomic energy, which would bring, if worst come to worst, the absolute ruin of all mankind, has now been found. In consequence, the desire of all mankind for permanent peace has been much intensified, and the UNITED STATES has the ability to construct this Peace. We, therefore, expect it of the UNITED STATES, has the UNITED STATES, since she has emphasized her will to build peace dealing fairly with all nations.

So long as colonies remain as the objectives of the aggression of powers, they are the leading cause of war. Therefore, most causes of war can be removed by making the colonies powerful, free nations as the Presidential message indicated. At the same tine, it is the foundation of permanent peace and the well-being of all mankind to make international economy as well as international policy just and fair. We want here to emphasize that the advancement of democratization in the UNITED STAETS, and the democratization of all the people of all the world, is a great principle of permanent peace for the world.

"In order to insure that neither GERMANY nor JAPAN will again be in a position to wage aggressive warfare, the armament potential of these countries is being dismantled and fundamental changes in their social and political structure are being effected. Democratic systems are

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being fostered to the end that the voice of the common man may be heard in the councils of his government." The UNITED STATES' policy toward our country thus stated in the Presidents message is being realized in JAPAN day by day. This means, needless to say, the democratization of JAPAN, consequently her resurrection as an un-militaristic, peaceful nation.

There may be Many hardships on the road of the democratization of JAPAN, but they will be conquered, and the end will surely be achieved by the hands of Japanese people themselves. Then the world will welcome JAPAN into international society as a reliable, peaceful country. Being spurred on by the message of the President of the UNITTD STATTS OF AMERICA, we will herewith promise the democratization of JAPAN and dare to foretell the democratization of International society.

Full Translation:

It is obvious that the increase in railway fares, effective 1 March, universally threatens the people's livelihood, particularly those who commute to their offices. If these were ordinary times they might be able to manage, but the increased fare will completely upset their present economic lives which they can barely support despite all efforts. Evan a special season ticket at a reduced rate, which was recently established in place of the former season tickets for students and workers, amounts to 68 yen per month per 50 kilometers while an ordinary one costs 113 yen. The former is about three times and the latter about four times as high as the current fare. This is as if an order had been issue! to prevent people from attending offices. This is especially true for those who must travel a lone; distance because of the housing shortage.

This increased fare almost means the same as being prohibited to travel by rail, hence a condemnation to death from starvation in the long run. Of course, there may be many reasons for the rise in fare from the viewpoint of governmental railway agents, but to what extent did they actually consider its widespread negative effect? The rise in far: not only menaces the peoples' livelihood indirectly by causing a rise in the price of commodities, but it also directly persecutes them, especially those who come to work using the transport facilities.

We cannot excuse this outrageous attempt by the government railways, which, in spite of kn[illegible]ng their important mission, have taken advantage of their position by freely raising fares without consulting the people. The coming increase in fares will surly hasten and seriously aggravate the current inflation situation, so the governmental railway must hold itself responsible to the people. The attempt to raise fares will inevitably stimulate the tendency of suburban workers to crowd in the cities. Otherwise, unless they dwell in the cities they will be forced to relinquish their positions, consequently hindering production in the long run. Moreover, this attempt will ruin the plan of the authorities who insist upon the necessity of scattering the city population as a basis for rebuilding these cities.

The extraordinary fare will cause poor communication between towns and villages, and restore geographical distance, which has hitherto been reduced by transport facilities, and in general artificially

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restore the state of transportation existent during feudal ages. The people will be forced to cling to the cities all the more desperately.

Beth tram cars and subways also intend to raise their fares, and the same applies to private railway companies. This tendency will universally benumb transportation facilities and will finally spoil them. The government railway was especially notorious for its bad service during the war, and other railways are the same. Thus after being treated terribly, the people are to be tormented again by the rise of fares. On the other hand, while allowing the railways to make such a decision, how is the government able to advocate stabilization of the commodity price level? The people want to know the government's viewpoint on stabilizing the price of goods. It would be a blessing if the outrageous raising of fares by the governmental railway would neither menace the people's livelihood directly, nor expose the idleness and inaction of the Government concerning a plan on stabilizing commodity prices.

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