Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0451, 1946-02-17.

Summary:

For the first time in six months good news has reported to the Japanese nation which has been placed in a hopeless situation since the end of the war. The first item is the assurance of the import of raw cotton given by SCAP, the second is the increase of coal output in January and the third is a report from AMERICA concerning the conclusion of the peace treaty at an early date.

Though many difficulties stand in the way of the economic reconstruction of JAPAN, it cannot be denied that this good news gave hope to the Japanese nation for their future. It must be remembered by all Japanese, however that a thor[illegible]democratic revolution is the first prerequisite of economic prosperity for JAPAN since the foundation of her economy has already been provided.

Full Translation:

The opinion of the Cabinet has been made clear to the effect that it does not recognize any exceptions in tae ease of those who stood as so-called "Recommendation Candidates" in the last election.

By this, the old timers are deprived of the last hope of their candidacy for the Diet. Accordingly 99 per cent of the campaigns in the forth coming general election are to be carried on by new faces. This should be quite favorable for the reform of all groups, including politics, economy, culture, etc.

A new society should be established according to a new design and the new design can be drawn only by new men. It was so in the MEIJI Restoration and none the less true in many other political reforms after that. That is why we expect much from the general election.

It is the first time since the parliamentary system came into effect that nearly all of the candidates have been new faces. Therein lies the reason why the coming general election is said to be a sort of political revolution without bloodshed. However, the question is whether or not its results will be able to change the appearance of the Diet. The change of the Die[illegible]appearance will after all, actually be effected by the nation's attitude and the preparations of the political parties for the election.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 451 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

We venture to call the attention of the general public to the fact that as a result of the removal of the old notables from candidacy for the election, the personal attraction of each of them has been entirely swept away. The nation's concern is being concentrated on the principles and power of the political parties. Naturally, the attention of the voters will no longer be on the personality of each candidate, but rather on the political party itself. This is the very point for which the loaders of every party should feel a responsibility. At the same time, they must make their platforms and policies distinct and concrete before the nation

Moreover, in such an election as the one to come, which is to be [illegible]ste by new candidates, it is quite natural and reasonable for the voters. We have as their standard for selection tie party's recommendations among the candidates. The political parties, th[illegible]must bear all the responsibility for the speeches and actions of the candidates, since they recommend them to the voters.

We are astonished to see so many independent and nondescript candidates in the coning election. I wonder why more than one-third of the candidate whose applications have been accepted until now do not clarify their stand. However, since there are, at present, such major political parties as the Progressive, Liberal, Social Democratic, Communist, and Co-operation Parties and more than thirty minor parties, these who hold independent viewpoints or belong to none of the above mentioned parties should be considered as outcasts.

It goes without saying that parliamentary politics is after all party politics. Such being the case the independence of a candidate has no meaning at all. However influential a man may be outside the Diet, he has always to rely upon the power of the majority within the Diet, not to mention the present case when there are so many unknown candidates. If they intend to mate clear their stands only after being elected by luck, it can be said that they are making fools of the voters. The electors, therefore, should pay no attention to such candidates.

Full Translation:

When it was announced that the Emperor would inspect the reconstruction of TOKYO, a town assembly of the MANSEIBASHI district called a number of laborers together in order to clean up the fire-ravaged districts along the street at feverish speed.

It is needless to say that this idea is indeed foolish. The foolishness however, made me angry. Here I shall express my opinion to you. It is indeed meaningless if we do not show the state of things in TOKYO as it really is. In other words, the purpose of the inspection would have been accomplished when the Emperor recognized the fact that the reconstruction of TOKYO and the cleaning up of fire-ravaged districts is making little progress. However, how foolish their idea was! They hastily adorned the ugly burned ground and deceived the Emperor.

Do they think it loyal to show the Emperor, the cleaned up places alone? They are as wrong as they possibly can be. I think that they have betray an evil custom of the staff of the town assembly. The leaders of the same town assembly are said to have ordered people of the district to greet the Emperor in full dress. How foolish their sense of loyalty is! They are follows indeed past praying for. (From Mr. SHIGYO)

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 451 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

II

We were blindfolded in the study of history in the post. However the people who did not try to discover the real shape of JAPAN are else to be blamed. How many people have read the KIKI (TN, KOJIKI and NIHON SHOKI) one of the representative classics of our country? I think the number of readers may be too small.

As regards the matter of the KIKI, I think that it was written based on the belief that the natives were conquered by a race descended from gods and not out of the writer's intention to dignify the Emperor System Apart from the question of where these descendants from gods came from, w[illegible]it natural for primitive man to thank of the conquerors as if they had been gods? Fighting among the conquerors is seen in the mythologies of other countries, too. The dispute on the succession to the Imperial throne might also be a natural occurrence.

As to the life of the ancients, did they not live and die for fighting an[illegible]sex? If the KIKI was written with a political aim, the writer should net have mentioned the troubles in the Court. The matter of the KOJIKI is too naïve for us to conclude that it was written in order to support the Emperor System.

In any case, we want to have time to think over Japanese history. We want to reflect upon the relation between the Emperor System and peace in the people's life. (Letter from Kunko SAITAMA)

III

I once pointed out the contradiction in your words which did not differentiate between the present Emperor and also the Emperor System. Nevertheless, you still keep silent on this problem. Your answer is nothing but a quibble.

I do not deny the misrule by some Emperors in the ancient days which you mentioned. Your report, however, is no more than an array of the evil side of the Emperors. Young people may read it thinking that all past events are equally wrong. What result will it bring? It is beyond question that the readers will believe in the cruelty of the Emperors sinc[illegible]you, the writer of the report, are reputed as a historian. That is a question that we must consider.

If the Emperor is no different from what you allege, there is no need of a question. However, if the examples you took up are no more than a part of the Emperor's character and the Emperor System, we must think of the other aspects. We can not conclude a matter rightfully unless we knew every phase of the matter.

You should, tell the youth some authentic facts before they decide on their attitude towards the Emperor and the Emperor System. Is it not the duty of a real scientific historian? (Letter from TAKASAKI, Takeaki. A Student of the KEIO University)

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