Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0457, 1946-02-18.

Summary:

The absolute majority of the social news appearing in the vernacular news papers is related to food or clothing. The writer thinks that if proper measures were taken these troubles could be lessened gradually. The most annoying thing is the existence of depraved persons who try to expose the misconduct of fellow-countrymen;

It is very good to send contributions to the Supreme Headquarters, to Allied troops stationed in various areas, and government organizations as well as to private persons. However, they must be constructive ones based upon a sense of righteousness in motive and content. Courage is needed to send these contributions in most cases. If the courage, however, is not for the demonstration of righteousness, the contributions have no meaning. On the contrary, they will probably bring calamity upon the sender.

It is usual for a contribution with mixed motives to be anonymous or to have a false name for fear of the exposure of the sender's name. T o thing is more unmanly than such conduct. We, as a part of society, must be generous to others, help each other by supplying deficiencies and raise the lowered morality of the Nation.

Full Translation:

While most production has been retarded since the end of the war, the amount of notes in circulation has at last reached the 60,000,000,000 yen mark. If this total is divided equally among the Japanese people, it amounts to about 1,000 yen per person. Despite the fact that the absence of the necessary quantity of materials is keenly felt and the people suffer from a lack of the necessities of life, the fact that so much fiat money is circulating clearly illustrates the seriousness of the situation.

At present, there is considerable unevenness in the peoples burden, due to the defeat, which should be imposed equally on every person. Some rich men are trembling over the future though holding millions of their past fortunes, while other millionaires calmly pay a large Sun for one night's lodging. On the other hand, in large cities, there are many persons who are suf[illegible]ering from illness, cold and starvation. We cannot but feel a great crisis present in this scene.

The Government on l6 February announced a new financial step to stabilize the people's livelihood. By this new plan, the lack of balance in the people's burden due to the defeat will be removed and a more suitable society beneficial to the greatest number of people will be

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brought about. This measure is a drastic and decisive one and it will perhaps he the present Government's last resort. But unless hacked up by more reasonable production and distribution of goods, this Government's efforts may come to naught, since it has somewhat missed its opportunity.

Full Translation:

Life and politics have a close relationship, and a home, too, is closely connected with the Government. This is an elementary theory expounded to raise political interest or a political ambition in women. It teaches women that they should make good use of their vote in the coming general election in which women are to participate for the first time. We are glad to know that such a theory that aims at political education of women is growing in popularity. The new election law created 22,000,000 women voters at a stroke. It is very difficult to awaken this large number of people to a political consciousness. Worse still, confidence among the people has not yet been inspired, and the political world was suddenly thrown into confusion.

It is impossible for us to foresee the future under such circumstances. Moreover, Japanese women have always had little interest in politics and have never had any political experience. Accordingly, it is not to excite a political interest in them within 45 days or so. A theory which teaches women that they, as individuals, have a stake in the Government will not be sufficient. However it may be the right path for political education and the shortest way to arouse political interest.

To administer national affairs is not the more hobby of a theorist. The immediate result of good administration or of misrule is a good or bad influence on people's doily lives. Women should therefore have the greatest interest in politics. The participation of women in the Government has come to be thought so reasonable that no one opposes the idea these days that women, too, should take part in the Government. However, it will not be in vain for us to take up this theory again and again. It is the most effective way to instruct those women who are indifferent to politics or who do not understand the meaning of state affairs or political ideas.

People seem to discuss women's participation in the Government only from the view of the relation between daily life and politics. We cannot be satisfied with this. One may explain the relation between daily life and politics in order to attract the attention of women, but the problem of living is not for women alone to think of. Under the present circumstances, we have no greater national problem than this which is common to both men and women. There is no political problem in which men only or women only should be interested. A political problem admits of no distinction between men and women. The idea of political education that women's political interests should be connected chiefly with living problems should naturally be changed.

The widow of the late President ROOSEVELT was a U.S. delegate to the first session of the international conference held in LONDON together with Secretary of State BYRNES and Chairman CONNALLY of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Since a woman as well as a man is one of the citizens of a country, her interests in politics are identical with those of a man. If the theory of women's suffrage stands on this ground the political consciousness of women and their interests in politics should be the same as those of a man. Administration is common to both

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men and women. Political problems cannot be peculiar to men or women.

The theory that daily life depends upon politics is a mere measures to awaken women. It may he the right way for women to begin their political study with rudimentary instruction, seeing that the coming election is their first experience. However they must not forget that they should have wider and higher political views. We should reconsider measures of political education which teach that the women's political sphere is limited to living problems, because there cannot be polities peculiar to women alone.

Full Translation:

The decision of the Cabinet Conference pertaining to the scope of the SCAP purge directive has exerted a great influence on political circles prior to the general election. According to its decision, the number of those who are within the scope of the purge directive is greater than expected and the standard of qualifications for candidacy is so extremely strict that there are many who come under the purge directive, even among applicants who approve of the qualifications for candidacy. Consequently, new political parties and new figures will be able to go into politics more easily than before. It goes without saying that true democratization in JAPAN can be realized only by progressive new figures.

However, the Question is, who are the true representatives for our nation? All new figures are not always new figures in a true sense. It is an important question whether or not the new figures belong to truly progressive parties and whether or not their thoughts are truly progressive.

This judgment is very difficult to make compared with that of the old regime, for some new figures are reactionary successors as substitutes for those who are within the scope of the SCAP p[illegible]nge directive, and some are opportunists. It is necessary for our nation to differentiate clearly between truly new figures and such hypocrites.

In this connection we should pay attention particularly to the fact that almost half the applicants for candidacy are those who do not belong to any of the parties. It is not desirable that there should be so many neutral candidates. It is not too much to say that this departs from true parliamentarian procedure. With what policy, with what promises, are they going to appeal to the people? They should now clarify their attitude, liquidating all distru[illegible]bances and selfishness.

The clarification of the attitude of the neutral candidates should be effected. At any rate, our nation should pick truly progressive political parties and new figures out of the many political parties and candidates. That is to say, we should select characters who will be able, to represent our people truly. This is the only way to the peaceful reconstruction of JAPAN and the security of our national livelihood.

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