Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0359, 1946-02-05.

Full Translation:

The capitalists' sabotage of production - this is the paramount problem in JAPAN these days. Nevertheless, no practical measures concerning this have been enacted up to now. Only moral theories and ethical criticism prevail.

If the capitalists say that not only the Government officials but almost all the general public are idling away their time and there is no reason why they alone should become active, they are only giving an evasive answer. This criticism cannot be accepted, but it must be recognized that the moral theories and ethical criticism cannot stir the capitalists' desire for production.

In these times, the employees' demand for a three to five hundred percent rise in their salaries has a good reason behind it, but at the same time we are confronted with the problem of whether private enterprise can be started, excepting the governmental offices and railroad companies which can acquire resources at once by increasing their estimates or by transferring the charge to the public.

In the case of private enterprise, we can foresee that capitalists will soon withdraw production. Then employees will have to manage production and manage the company. We can see many instances of this at present. Setting aside for the moment the problem as to whether the employees have managing ability or not, the great experience that is necessary for industrial management will give the unions food for thought. That is to say, an industrial company will encounter many difficulties in production management. It will, on account of this, need to build a common front under a single union. With regard to operational management, if all the economic circles do not come into its system, it can never be executed smoothly. To be brief, in the case of an employee who started out on operational management, going to a bank to borrow funds, it is highly probable that the staff of the bank would not comply with his request, except in the case of a bank being under the management of employees.

If one remembers how many difficulties accompanied the economic control carried out on the limitless foundation, of liberal economy, he will soon understand that there are difficulties in establishing a partly-socialist economy on the foundations of capitalist economy. As long as they do not solve these fundamental problems, no means to solve the problem of slow-down strikes in the industrial world will be found.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 359 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Inflation brings on destructive action which disturbs social order and throws it into confusion. This action causes income and expenditure to lose their balance, and those who have to live on their salary find it difficult to exist. The employees of the KEISEI Railway Company gained their demand for higher wages by a labor dispute. The income of actual employees thus rose in proportion to living expenses. If this was not so, the gap between their income and expenditure would have been lessened. Actually there are some workers whose income in a month is far larger than that of section masters. Similar examples of destruction of the old order are seen everywhere.

However we see the miserable condition of those white collar workers in contrast to these examples, most of them get less income than that of actual employees in spite of their higher education and longer service. Such inconsistencies may mean a temporary destruction of balance. Those persons who have white collar jobs, too, will certainly be obliged to band themselves together to protect their rights. Even officials have raised a dispute for wages. The present confusion may well be taken as a process of the construction of a new social order which will allow most of the public to have a lion's share, in place of the old one in which only a few could take the lion's share.

Such confusion may disappear some day. However the time has already passed in which those persons who live on their salary could have demanded to be paid better than laborers. It is unavoidable that their condition will continue to deteriorate from now on. For example, the time has passed in which one could dream of obtaining directorship after a school life. The fall of intellectual circles from their privileged positions may change the ideas of fathers and mothers who think school expenses a kind of investment. It will also reform education.

However, we must become aware of a crisis of higher education which is going to be a result of inflation. If the middle class falls from its own unique position, no one but the children of those persons who gained profits before the war, during the war, or after the end of the war will be able to have a higher education. If a person wants to come up to a city to study, he has to have 200 or 300 yen or more per month for expenses. The children of the middle class and of those persons who live on their salary will accordingly has no chance for education.

The tendency of education to be peculiar to the bourgeous class will become more marked. Then, even those who have dull heads will have a chance to be educated, while those who are clear-headed will have none. This is a grave matter in the reconstruction of JAPAN. It is indeed necessary, therefore, to stop the disturbance of social order caused by inflation.

Full Translation:

It is a welcome phenomenon that, since the termination of the war, lively political movements have been prevalent in our country. However, there are several points in these movements so far that do not appeal to us. To be specific, what JAPAN requires at present is not movements that call merely for freedom and democracy but movements to save our country. The achievement of this movement depends entirely upon the real co-operation and combination of the Japanese race. Of course this

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EDITORIAL SERIES 359 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

does not imply the pest partial racial principle or militarism.

In order to make contributions as an element of the world order towards the eternal peace of the world, JAPAN should first be reborn as an excellent cultural country. To achieve this, the Japanese race should firmly combine and devote itself to this important task. Freedom and democracy are not to be given to those who lack self-government and self-control. Our country has long been suffering from bureaucratic administration, and it is not merely of recent origin. To save our country from this evil there was once in the MEIJI era, a movement that called for freedom and people's right. These movements, at present, of the Social-Democratic and the Communist Parties are of the same purport. However, there are, in the background of these movements, deep-rooted bureaucratic influences. Unless adequate steps are taken, I fear this ma[illegible]lead to destruction and self-indulgence.

As for new political parties recently organized, they, like the other parties, are too political, too intent on gaining power, and ere likely to be self-centred in points of organization and functioning. They may well be much concerned in gaining power but mere transition of power itself has no vital significance. What is most important is the appreciation of power in the light of a new age. The motive power of a new administration lies in our very life and existence, not in the Premier's official residence or in the headquarters of the political party. Such being the case the first step to be taken is our application to create, in our surroundings, an atmosphere of self-government end self-control, so that this may pave the way for the trend of organic combination of the Japanese people.

We should wipe off the remnants of the old "isms" or "ideologies." That which is called conservative does not have to be left out. Much truth is implied in both communism and anarchy. After all, political renovation can by no means be expected unless due consideration is taken of the given conditions or surroundings. There is something in the assertion, "New politics can only be established on the esteem for humanity and human life. In this light every individual criterion and guidance by virtue of power should be absolutely excluded." There is much suggestive meaning in the precept of the old adage of the Orient," good administration with no prejudiced devotion."

The Japanese people are now under an obligation to devote themselves to contributing to the ideal of ''amalgamation of the races of the world." This important step is by no means inconsistent with maintaining the unique position of the Japanese race. What is desirable is to keep the uniqueness of JAPAN in respect to her position and method of carrying out this scheme, while its final aim is still international and ubiquitous. We Japanese people are, just like our country, in a perfect vacuum. Our task is to make something out of nothing. A movement totally different [illegible]character and aspects should now be launched.

(by TSUKUI, Tatsuzo, a writer, [illegible]

Is the change of the name of our country, DAI NIPPON, to be made together with the change of the Constitution? Similarly, the change of the name of the era as from MEIJI to TAISHO, and then to SHOWA should be re-examined. This change was made under the article of the existing constitution, that, during the reign of an Emperor, his name and the name of the era should be one. This article of the Constitution should now be abolished. The change of the Emperor will have no direct influence on state administration, and the sovereignty will rest with the people. Be sides, there has been much trouble caused by two names for the same year.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 359 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

The number of years after the accession of the Emperor JIMMU should be used instead as the 2606th year after the Accession of the Emperor JIMMU. This should similarly be applied to past events, and the Government should legislatively acknowledge this. In the projected new history of JAPAN this method should likewise be adopted which will serve to make the date of events more clear.

(by NARA, Kaju, a company director, TOKYO)

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