Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0372, 1946-02-06.

Full Translation:

The complete emancipation of women will not be realized, without the emergence of a socialistic society as Mr. August BFBEL pointed out in his famous and imperishable work "The woman and Socialism." Japanese women, now having obtained the franchise for the first time in their long course of oppression, are the focus of public attention regarding their political role in the coming general election. However we cannot help doubting whether they will be able to acquire economic freedom by dint of their political liberty, for it is evident that their political culture is below the world standard. Ill-treatment endured by Japanese women in their social and economic lives will not disappear until substantial improvement is made in their community that is, an actual transition from capitalism to socialism. Full cognizance of this fact is the most reliable guide for them to follow in properly exercising their franchise in the election. In this respect, the fortunes of three women who were heroines of recent events give us some most interesting suggestions.

In the first case, the heroine was an incendiary suspect, a 19 year old housemaid. She was typical of the women workers who groaned under the fetters of the discriminative wage system, who shed tears under the burden of the feudal labor system and whoso rights were seriously infringed upon on account of their ignorance. The existence of discrimination in wages between men and women workers is nothing but the remnants of feudalism. Its immediate removal from capitalists should be demanded. It is needless to say on what humililating terms Japanese domestic workers are compelled to work. Above all, housemaids are treated like slaves—their rights entirely disregarded. We must demand the complete removal of such a feudal labor system in order to emancipate women in the real sense of word.

The heroine in the second case was a waitress in a house of ill repute who, also being 19 received a mortal wound from a visitor to that house. How shameful it is that traffic in flesh is still practiced! Tens of thousands of young women are victims of this malpractice as slaves. Can a society, where such shameful conduct is carried on, be called a liberal one? The elemination of prostitution is impossible so long as a capitalistic society exists. There is no emancipation of woman where the practice of compelled disorderly conduct is permitted. Mere humanitarianism will not make for the abandonment of this conduct. It is not the sentimental tears of humanists but the establishment of a socialistic society which will wipe it out.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 372 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

The third case was patricide committed by a former woman teacher. She was one of those women who carried her cross under the Japanese family system. How they have been oppressed in families where the man as the head of the family exercises an absolute influence! Her crime suggests an unhappy life caused by a forced marriage or a life of misery brought on by her husband's prodigality.

The private property system is a pillar which sustains the present family system. It cannot stand aloof from the current of history. It is destined to change with the emergence of a socialistic society.

Full Translation:

Of late a movement of the younger generation in trade unions has been conspicuous. In rural communities and in the schools, their awakening is frequently reported. This phenomenon is one of the most important, most notable movements for the democratic restoration of JAPAN. During the war, we also heard the warning. "Take an impartial view of youth," in reference to the wards of Admiral YAMAMOTO.

In times of peace when no remarkable changes occur in modes of life, they were apt to be made light of and sometimes abused as, "You green people!". This merely because they have had less experience in the world than the old. In the era of revolution however, on expectations devolve upon those who have fresh desires and are rich in fancy. The aged were esteemed in old CHINA, which had not seen any remarkable progress for many thousands of years, while the new CHINA is enjoying rapid growth under the influence of the young generation.

JAPAN, which is now undergoing stormy changes is on exception. Immediately after the war, when some young people were temporarily involved in the confusion, many preachers appeared warning them against their indiscretions and inactivity. However, we believe in them and are firmly convinced that their creative power will be the motive power for attaining a democratic revolution. What is their task at present?

We are learning that liberty given from without is that of the animal and brings with it nothing but confusion. We are also learning that, in order to support the lives of our families, we must win true liberty, in co-operation with each other. The reactionary Cabinet, anxious about the situation, revealed its true pseudo-democratic character and began to threaten the masses, but the people know the helplessness of the cabinet. Their threat is not a real obstacle to our movement. The real obstacle lies rather in the fact that our preparation for the fight is not yet sufficient to win the victory. A hard existence tends to bring our groups in to disorder. In our fight in the current of life, we must take care not to be carried away by it. It is the younger generation which stands ahead in this fight.

Their task is to create a new mode of life in this stormy era. The feudalistic mode of living of the past was imbellished with beautiful flowery words and ideas, but we have learned in the war, that these were opium to put to sleep the minds of the people. To revolutionize this feudalistic way of life is not merely to bring changes in words and ideas but to change life itself. The revolution of the way of life may be a severe blow to those who profited by the old one, but it is the most desirable for us who suffered under it.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 372 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

For its realization youth is standing on the most convenient footing. They were oppressed under the old way in their homes and in the world, and lose nothing by the change. The most remarkable shortcoming in the past way of life was to neglect the application of science to life. A great many people were wasted to make up for the lack of scientific equipment. The case of the Special Attack Corps is a typical example. This tendency prevails in all branches of life. Because of this tendency, the domination of the few over the many had to be justified and class distinctions were sharply drawn.

Therefore, to realize the new way of life, we must furnish our factories and homes with scientific equipment, adapt ourselves to it, avoid the waste of energy, and enjoy a full life. When that is achieved, we can appreciate the significance of this war, and understand the meaning of democracy. Is this not a worthy task for young men at present? It is our desire that they develop the movement with their rich imaginations and powerful wills.

Full Translation:

It is reported that the importing to Japan of 200,000 short tons of raw cotton has been approved at Washington. Although the productive power of the Japanese textile industry has now been reduced to only 25 per cent of pre-war productive capacity, owing to the successive enterprise arrangements and air-raids during the war, it is the only industry of Japan, which will be able to find a market abroad.

Recently, one thousand short tons of wheat flour shipped from MANILA have arrived in TOKYO. It is encouraging to see that symptoms of the beginning of foreign trade are in sight, though trade is still at a slow tempo. This is the result of endeavours towards Japanese democratization being carried out by conscientious people. In this sense, we should continue to make every effort in democratization at home, not just to observe needlessly the aspects of democracy in foreign countries.

On the other hand, the Japanese cotton spinners, who will profit from the raw cotton-import, should be glad for the sake of the Japanese people before being pleased at the productive revival of their companies, in view of their past crimes.

The textile industry had occupied the top position in Japanese industry up to the China incident. Since it was never comparatively monopolistic and was connected with agricultural districts in a sense, OSAKA, the textile industry's headquarters, became one of the more liberal cities. But at that time, only the bad side of liberalism that "Might is right" had candidly been shown. Now, the cotton spinners should abandon this undesirable custom, and become conscious of their participation in the work of democratizing industry.

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