Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0377, 1946-02-07.

Full Translation:

With a raise in train fares, the cost of season tickets is to be raised. The YOMIURI HOCHI has, in its editorial, protested to the Communications Ministry against this on behalf of the general public. Many contributors have demonstrated their sense of indignation At present, when transportation facilities are very inadequate, nobody is anxious to go to work from great distances. Many people whose houses were destroyed in air-raids are obliged to live in local districts. As there are no houses in TOKYO, they cannot return here.

After next month, the cost of a season ticket for six months between FUJISAWA and TOKYO will be 492 yen. It amounts to 82 yen a month. Our monthly income, including my brother's salary, is about 300 yen, but carfare for me and my brother will cost 164 yen a month. We cannot pay 984 yen at one time for two season tickets for six months. If we are obliged to buy a monthly season ticket, 234 yen is needed. That amounts to nearly 80 per cent of our monthly income. After our rent is paid we will have scarcely any money left.

A great part of our savings have been spent for food and medicine. I venture to say that the Communication Ministry intends to drive conscientious, salaried-men to black marketeering. We are exerting our utmost efforts for the reconstruction of our country. In cooperation with labor unions and farmers' unions we intend to devote ourselves to the curbing of inflation. However, we have found it impossible to endure the grim realities of life for that purpose. In my company our monthly pay may be soon increased. It is, however, obvious that we cannot live merely on increased salary. The rise in rail-fares, postage, charges for tobacco, etc. is fixed, because such charges were never any lower. That means this precarious life is to be permanent.

Leaders of the Government Railway Labor Union! We heartily supported your demands for the betterment of your living conditions. I believe that you did not desire that your demands would be realized at the expense of low-salaried persons. I hope you will fight resolutely with your systematic power against the incompetent and reactionary Government. Although we shall concede the rise in passenger fares and freight charges as a temporary measure, we want the cost of season tickets to be left as it is. This is, in my opinion, a demand common to all workers and students irrespective of distance. We demand the withdrawal of the plan by 1 March. A labor union is not an organization merely for voicing the selfish demands of its members for constant rises in wages. We desire you to show plainly that the great mission of a labor union is to join forces with other workers to improve JAPAN. (By a salaried person in FUJISAWA-Shi)

EDITORIAL SERIES: 377 (Continued)

Full Translation:

According to the existing Constitution, the name of our country is DAI NIPPON TEIKOKU (TN. Great Japanese Empire), according to the plan of the Constitutional Investigation Committee it should be merely "NIPPON". At the Constitutional Conference in the MEIJI Era, there were also these two theories, and Prince ITO decided to [illegible]all it "DAI NIPPON TEIMOKU" to symbolize our national ideal. "NIPPON" also expresses an idea. Omission of the "Great" is not due to the defeat, but for the sake of briefness.

In 1839 when the Constitution was promulgated, KOREA, KARAFUTO, the KWANOTONG Peninsula, the Southern Archipelago, and FORMOSA were not Japanese territory. Even if we lost the KURIL Archipelago, in compliance with the secret agreement at the YALTA Conference, our country is not so small as to be said to have decreased to the "small" NIPPON of SHOWA from the "great" NIPPON of MEIJI.

Both titles, "DAI NIPPON" and "NIPPON", have been used, interchangeably from olden times. Therefore, our country is written "WAGA NIPPON TEIKOKU" (TN. Our Japanese Empire.) in an explanation of the Constitution by Prince ITO.

"Our country" is written as "DAI NIPPON" in the first Article of the Imperial Mouse Law, while it is written as "WAGA NIPPON TEIKOKU" in the two Imperial edicts of the Imperial House Law. Our country did not have these names at the time of its founding.

At the first, "NIPPON" was called "HINOMOTO" or "YAMATO". Later, "HINOMOTO" or "YAMHTO" changed to "NIHON" or "NIPPON". It is proved that "NIPPON" as the historical name for our country resulted from foreign relations.

In a book called "NIHON SHOKI" "DAI NIPPON" was used. "DAI NIPPON" was also used in posthumous names for the Emperors ITOKU, KOREI, and KOGEN. A daughter of Emperor SUIJIN was called "OYATOHI[illegible]E". (TN. Great Japanese Princess.) In diplomatic documents "[illegible]AI NIPPON" was not so frequently used. In treaties we usually find "NIPPON". For example, in both the League of Nations and Anglo Japanese Alliance, the name of our country was written as "NIPPON".

Such a thing is really not worth mentioning, yet, for the sake of formality, is it not better to standardize the name? It is too complicated to have four different names for our country. Various hinds of mysterious sophistries and exaggrated legends result. In short, they exert an influence upon the thinking of the nations. "NIPPON KOKU" is probably the most satisfactory name to use.

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