Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0363, 1946-02-05.

Full Translation:

I will reply to the salaried man, ADACHI, who both scolded and encouraged spiritless dealers in the article entitled "Narrow-Minded Dealers, Brace up!", and I address myself at the same time to consumers in general. After reading your question, "Why don't you rise up and banish profiteering and immoral dealers in the black market, and carry on a steady trade under the principle of small profits, quick returns, and fair distribution?". I felt as if I had been slapped on the face by my honorable ancestors.

Such being the case, I would like to explain our present circumstances. We, the woolen drapers, had engaged in business under a firm association for 80 years, when a regulation vas issued in October 1940 for the purpose of helping carry on the war. The association was compelled to dissolve and was absorbed in the Fibre Manufacturers Regulation and Distribution Company. Private transactions were abolished and we had to change or give up our businesses.

Thus, your wooden cloth was required to be distributed on the basis of clothing cards. However, due to the stoppage of wool importation, the remarkable decrease of manufacturers, and to the awkwardness of the price adjustment, the present day shortage of articles was brought about. It is said that the allotment of clothing for this year is some five yen per head in TOKYO. You will experience great difficulty in obtaining cloth. Are we the only ones who are almost moved to tears on seeing the garments of school children?

Black market sellers keep up their dealing by evading regulations, and drapers receive enormous sums of money from farmers. The obvious manner in which they obtain goods is the cause of vexation to those of us who are not amateurs.

With the aim of acquiring the freedom to supply cloth to as many as possible as promptly as possible, we recently organized a voluntary association. The officers are busying themselves in obtaining sanction to open trade on a co-operation basis. True tradermen have by no means forgotten the past. (Member of Woolen Cloth Dealers Association)

Full Translation:

Votes of the Masses of Women.

In the coming general election, enfranchised women will outnumber men voters by 15 percent. Consequently, it is possible that 115 female representatives can be returned against 100 male representatives, thus

EDITORIAL SERIES: 263 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

enabling the women to hold the reins of power through the election. In this respect, female suffrage has gained much importance.

Nevertheless, many of them look on female suffrage as an encumbrance. This is due in a great degree to the feudalalistic education and to the family system to which they have for a long time been accustomed. There is[illegible]however, no reason why they should profess their disregard for the vote. So long as such an attitude on the part of the women continues, the ''husband first" tendency will be predominant and their repeated Complaints about husbands' "feudal and oppressive" treatment will by no means be answered. Women, therefore, must make the most of the exercise of these rights. If they do not, the equality of the sexes will turn out to be mere talk.

Political education for women is necessary and is actually being practiced for the effective exercise of female suffrage. However, the subjects treated in the educational course are too stereotyped. For example, "What is politics," or "What is democracy." Such lectures may be important, but are too difficult for the Japanese women of today to understand immediately. Further, there are prevailing dogmatic interpretations of those subjects made by some political leaders who have selfish and exclusive views. This causes greater confusion in the women's minds. The politics of today, unlike that of peacetime, allows no alternative but death if wrongly carried on. It exists not on the rostrum, but in the kitchen. Therefore, women must be the first to acouaint themselves with politics today. Votes for candidates who answer the voices from the kitchen will be the most effective. In this way, democracy can be honorably dealt with.

In conclusion, housewives who suffer from food shortages and poor distribution of food have only to vote for the political party or politician most earnest in the desire for the increase of food production or the rational distribution of food. House-maids who endure ill-treatment by their mistresses have only to cast votes for candidates most ardent in their desires for the improvement of working conditions. Such a practice is not a burden to even an old woman. Women should be enlightened in such a way in the two months before the general election. The successive appearance of progressive women as candidates should be heartily welcomed. It must be remembered, however, that their guidance of their sex along such lines is by no means less important.

A Fireman Who Died in Harness.

We feel as if we had taken a refreshing drink after a long thirst after hearing about fireman NEMOTO, Toshiyuki's death in harness at the time when the faith of the people in the police is disappearing. It is reported that he was killed in the fire which broke out on 2 January in the Allied Forces' billet at [illegible]ORI-SANNO. After saving some important documents from the fire, no sooner did he get out on all fours from an underground room, than a burning varandah fell on him. He stood up once to hand them to his comrade and then breathed his last.

Such a self-sacrificing spirit is common to Japanese policemen to some extent. Yet it is rare to hear about it these days. Why is this? The answer is quite simple. First, their salaries do not permit them to maintain their livelihood. The sense of duty is apt to be preceded by concern about livelihood.

Second, the bureacracy notorious for cold-heartedness towards subordinates is still predominant. Recently, the improvement of the treatment of policemen was promised by the authorities. We have, however, great doubts as to whether it will be sufficiently realized under the administration of Mr. FUJINUMA, Superintendent-General of the Metropolitan Police, who is himself a despotic beaurocrat.

- 2 -

EDITORIAL SERIES: 363 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Earned Income Tax.

Of late, wage earners have been making tax returns on their incomes, but I believe that this will become a significant social problem unless the old vigorous method's of taxing income are improved. The decision made on taxation measures some years ago, which fixed the exemptions at a salary of 50 yen a month and the deducted amount at two yen for each family member, is unsuited to the wage increase which has been carried out as an urgent measure to guarantee a minimum standard of living in view of the sadden rise in prices. Accordingly, a wage earner's family consisting of four members whose monthly salary is 400 yen must pay 52 yen and 50 sen in income taxes, while the deduction for the other three members is only six yen.

The tax of two yen per day on vendors, the most prosperous businessman of the day— does not differ very much from this. However, in out neighborhood black-marketeers are leading a tax free life that naturally arouses our envy. The wages which have been raised have already been outstripped by the speed rise in prices, The fact that in the present time of despair and sorrow old taxation methods still exist unchanged is distressing and it is net an exaggeration to say that the Government is driving the salaried masses to starvation. Are there not more equitable measures which can be employed?

(Letter from KATO, Jinichiro, from the Anastatic Printing Employees Union).

The JAPAN Publishers' Association.

Anyone who is the least bit acquainted with this subject will be convinced at once of the errors appearing in the editorial headed "The Freedom of Speech and Publication" published in this newspaper on 28 January.

This editorial describes the significance of paper allotment to publications, stating that, "the publishers' association, which is nothing but the former reactionary JAPAN Publishers' Society under a changed name, is obtaining control over paper and pretends to be acting fairly only in outward appearance." In this quotation there are two moot points: first, the claim that the JAPAN Publishers' Association is only the continuation of the JAPAN Publishers' Society; and secondly, the statement that the Association maintains control over the paper allotments. The fact that the right of paper assignment has already been taken from this Association and that it has been placed under the Paper Allotment Committee which has been established in the Information Bureau is well-known to the business world, Furthermore, the claim that the new association is only the continuation of the old JAPAN Publishers Society is a misunderstanding caused at the time of its foundation.

It should have been already announced to the public that this Association has become a unique all-JAPAN Publishers' Association comprising more than 1200 members. Also, the plan for ousting all persons suspect of war responsibility from our Association, proposed by the members of the Democratic Publishers' Comradeship Society (MINSHU SHUGI SHUPPAN DOSHI KAI) at the last general meeting, and the resolution for freezing the paper stored by companies falling under the above-mentioned category have been misi[illegible]terpreted by the people. The statement that executives who are suspected of war crimes have rejected the re solution on the pretext of regulations is not true. The solution of this problem has been left to the new officers of our Association by representatives of the society which proposed this resolution. There representatives have recognized that this resolution can hardly be called an effective decision by the vote of 247 persons when 614 persons attended.

They have explained the purport of the resolution and, respectively the

- 3 -

EDITORIAL SERIES: 363 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

spirit of the resolution, the matter was left for the new members of the Society to solve.

(Letter from SUZUKI, Toshisada, President of the JAPAN Publishers' Association)

To Mr. SUZUKI:

As you have stated the criticism that the JAPAN Publishers' Association is maintaining the control over paper assignments was our mistake. By way of rectifying this mistake we apologize for the trouble we have caused you. You seem to give us the impression that you are reproaching us by saying that the whole editorial is a mistake by pointing out only a few points in it. It is true that today freedom of speech and publication is demanded. Furthermore, the fact seems to be true that your Association is not being democratized, regardless of your protest. Democratization means fighting against reactionary fascism and militarism. The fact that this has not been carried out and that reactionary authorities are not being expelled from your Association proves its lack of democracy.

Furthermore, the fact that it is impossible to carry out an effective resolution regarding the ousting of war crimes suspects by an attendance of approximately 610 persons gives evidence of how strong the reactionary influences still are and how little your Association is becoming democratized. Because of the reasons mentioned above, we believe that the essential quality of the new JAPAN Publishers' Association remains the same as that of the former Publishers' Society.

(Letter from the Editorial Committee of the YOMIURI HOCHI Press)

DISTRIBUTION "X"

- 4 -