Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0161, 1946-01-11.
Date11 January, 1946
translation numberpolitical-0680
call numberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
POLITICAL SERIES: 161
ITEM 1 Communist Party Prepares For popular Front - MAINICHI SHIMBUN 7 Jan 46. Translator: R. Ochiai.
Full Translation:
The most noticeable point resulting from the latest order issued by General Headquarters
is that one common front will be
adopted rapidly and widely. In this development of the campaign, a union between the
Social Democratic Party and the communist
Party takes the leading role, but this combination has already been prevented three
times. We all keep a careful watch on the
Social Democratic Party during this new state of affairs. If the popular front with
the socialists is not realized, the
communists will support the democratic leaders in the Party and take a common stand
with all otherdemocratic
organizations.
Mr. NOSAKA, Sanni, who is en route to his country, will spur this on this popular
front campaign when he returns.
ITEM 2 Reactions in the Various Ken to the directive - ASAHI SHIMBUN - 7 Jan 46. Translator: J. Weiller.
Full Translation:
Continued from previous installment OSAKA
Great concern is felt as to how far the directive is to extend. In the progressive
Party KAT[illegible]UTA,
Eikichi, falls under the order, having been a manager of the Imperial public Assistance
Political association, and several
others wh[illegible]are in the danger z[illegible]ne. In the Liberal Party, KAGEYAMA,
Sadakichi, who was a soldier, must give up the campaign. The social-Democrats are
least affected, but as TAKATA, Kiyoomi, was
once a director of the Imperial Public Assistance Association, OSAKA Chapter, a question
of his eligibility will arise. The
Communist Party is becoming aggressive at this favorable turn of affairs, increasing
the nominated candidates to two in
District 1 and three in District 2.
Regarding the rightist organizations, the effect is negligible, as the Reform Association
(ISSHINKAI), which has its
headquarters in OSAKA, is now a mere name, while the KANSAI Headquarters [illegible]the Japanese Purity
Association (KOKUSUI TAISHUTO) was dissolved soon after the incarceration of President
SASAGAWA, Ryoichi, as as a war criminal
suspect. However, there still exists the All-Nation workers' League (ZENKOKU KINPOSHA
DOM[illegible]I),
recently formed, headed by YOSHIMAT[illegible]U, Massketsu, which is said to be a branch of the Japanese
Purity Association.
KYOTO
Out of eight nominated candidates of the Progressive Party at least three are expected
to fall before the directive, so the
blow to this Party will be severe. IKEMOTO, Jinshiyo, has voluntarily retired, so
he is not affected. The L[illegible]berals are shortly
POLITICAL SERIES: 161 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
expected to nominate four ex-members and one new man as candidates. The Social-Democrats,
being new in a more powerful
position are to put up six or seven nominees, while the Communists will probably increase
their present roster of two
candidates.
NAKA
The question here is, how many of the 20 men, ex-local leaders of the Imperial Rule
Assistance Association who are being
talked of as possible candidates, are to be restricted. Among these 20 men there are
UYEMUPA, Buichi (Progressive), ex-chief
of Business Bureau; TAKI, Kiyomaro (non-party) ex-chief of NAPA Branch; MORIOKA, Jiro
(Liberal), who was until November 1940
the Chief of General Affairs of the Governor General of FORMOSA.
AS men are making preparations to fill the vaccum created by the retirement of these
persons, there will be many new faces in
the election. Few of these new men belong to major parties in the Metropolis, but
will decide their political attitude when
they are elected.
HYOGO
Minister of Transportation TANAKA (Auditor of Imperial Public Assistance Political
Association), and KIYOSE, Ichiro (manager
of that organization), who are political leaders of this Ken, will be expelled from
their public positions. In view of the
retirement announcements of HAIA, Sobei, and KANEMITSU, Kunizo, the decline of the
Progressive Party which had a powerful
influence here, cannot be denied. The Social-Democrats, who have a certain influence
in KOBE, are making a notable advance,
though it was a blow to them to lese KAWAKAMI, Jotaro, who is popular as a leader.
The Communists, making use of the present
opportunity, will fling away their passive policy and with War responsibility as a
slogan have decided to fight hard in the
election.
GIFU
The directive was received at the Progressive-Party's branch in the midst of trouble,
caused by the cancellation of the
ex-members' renomination on the grounds that they approved the laws which took freedom
of speech, association, and publication
from the people, and that they worked for the Election Law Revision through motives
of self-interest. The effect is evidenced
by HIRANO, Masukichi's (branch Manager) relinquishing of his candidacy. Among those
who have been expelled are MITAMURA,
Takeo, of the former Eastern Association. The future of MATSUO, Kunimatsu, Mayor of
GIFU and four tires a member of the Diet,
is also being watched with interest.
The Social-Democrats nominated four new candidates. Nearly all the other new candidates
are members of the Prefectural
Assembly and were connected with the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, so that
their chances depend on how the directive
is interpreted.
AICHI
By the present measures of the Allied Headquarters the majority of the ex-members,
including QGUCHI, Kiroku (Manager of the
Imperial Rule Assistance Association), are about to retire, and the attitude of CGASAWARA,
Sankuro, the Commerce Minister, is
also being closely watched. As a result, many new men are expected to run for election.
AS opposed to the blow to the
Progressive Party, the directive presents an opportunity for the Social
- 2 -
POLITICAL SERIES: 161 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
Democrats, headed by KATO, Kanju, and other parties, to make great advances.
MIYE
Excluding INO, Sekiya, non incarcerated as a war criminal suspect, and OZAKI, Yukio,
TAMURA, Minoru, and KUKI, Monshichi, who
have already given up their candidacies, all ex-members will have to retire if the
directive is applied to their advisory
capacities in the imperial Rule Assistance Association's local chapters. The already
numerous candidates will be further
increased in number as the result of the directive.
ISHIKAWA
Out of sir ex-members only KITA, Soichiro, remains. The rest have all left the scene
through death, resignation, or war
criminal suspects. But as Mr. KITA has not come back to the Ken, his attitude is still
unknown. Tempted, by the new situation,
those who are making preparations exceed 30 in number, which is uprecedented in this
KEN, Half of that number are new men in a
real sense, having absolutely no present connection with the local assemblies.
SHIMANE
Of the ex-members who wore expected, to run again, TABE, Tomoyuki, has announced
his intention to retire, while SHIKADA,
Toshio (Advisor to the Imperial Rule, Assistance Political Association), and HARA,
Fujiro (Councillor of that organization),
are expected to be disqualified by the directives. Consequently, the election will
be contested almost entirely by new men
with the exception of TAKAHASHI, Yenzaburo (Progressive), and one or two other old
politicians. The political division of
these new candidates is hardly known, except for MATSUMOTO, Junzo, who is the Social-Democrats
nominee, and even those who are
tinged with the Progressives' or Liberals' colors do not clarify their stand. It is
supposed, however, that about ten
candidates will eventually run, those being the candidates who are entirely free from
the directives' purge.
TOTTORI
YOSHITAMI, Yoshinaro (ex-Chief of the Imperial Rule Assistance Political Association,
local chapter), and MIYOSHI, Hideyuki
(Chief of the House of Representatives Section of that organization), will probably
come under the directive. Besides these
there is the possibility of other party men being disqualified, but as their constituances
will be succeeded to by their
friends, there will be no change in the political division.
OKAYAMA
The encroachment by the Proletarians and new candidates upon the deep-rooted influences
of the old parties has been watched
with interest, but the present directive will nevertheless encourage even more new
candidates to throw their hats into the
ring.
General UGAKK, Kazushige, whose candidacy was much talked about, and OKADA, Tadahiko,
who was related to the imperial Rule
Assistance Association), will naturally be affected by the directive. When the contents
of the directive are better known, a
greater number of the ex-members may be involved. In the meantime, some of the prospective
candid[illegible]tes who have been hanging back
- 3 -
POLITICAL SERIES: 161 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
will come forward, and, joining in the activities of the Proletarian Partiese, the
campaign will present a changed
aspect.
KAGAWA
FUJI[illegible]OTO, Sutesuke, was connected with the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, but he
is groping
in the dark, as he is not sure whether or not he comes under the categories set forth
by the directive, KIYAMAKI, Choklchi,
and TANAKA, Kyo, who are being talked of as possible candidates, were both colonels
in the Army.
However, the local people's ideas have not undergone any perceptible change. The
general situation is that although the old
hands have been forced to retire, there are no suitable men to take their places.
EHIME
Out of about 30 candidates TAKECHI, Yuki (ex-Parliamentary vice Minister), and YONEDA,
Yoshimeri, have retired, while KATSUTA,
Kazue (member of the House of Peers) and SUNADA, shigemasa's candidacies are being
doubted, on account of the directive.
Besides these SUGA, Taro and HORIMOTO, Nobuyoshi, because they were connected with
the Imperial Rule Assistance Association),
and TOGAWA, Shinji, because he was an ex-director of the South MANCHURIA Railway Company,
are in danger of being eliminated.
The political situation in the Ken, thus spared of the militaristic elements either
forcibly or spontaneously, will be greatly
influenced, by new parties, chiefly the Social-Democrats.
KOCHI
The general opinion is that the Government should have taken up appropriate measures
prior to the directive. NAXOSHI,
Yoshitaka, and UDA, Koichi, of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association and YORIMITSU,
Yoshiaki, ex-Councillor of the war
Department (all three Progressives), along with OISHI, Dai (formerly of the Nastern
Association), and MATSNAGA, Hisao
(Admiral, non-party), are all assuredly barred from the election. Although the Liberal
party is greatly shocked because
Chapter Manager NOMURA, Mokuma (a member of the House of Peers), a big political head
of the District, is now a doubtful
candidate because he was President of the Recommendation Council of the Ken, the Progressive
Party is hit worse, The movements
of the Social-Democratic and Communists show added vigor, however, and these parties
are entering new candid[illegible]tes into the election.
KUMAMOTO
A great storm is raging in KUMAMOTO, "Kin[illegible]dor of Political Confusion" confusing not only the
ex-members but those who were slated as possible candidates. Ex-Railway Minister MATSUNO
and Ex—State Minister OASA are
decidedly disqualified, while ISHIZAKA, Shigeru (Mayor of KUMAMOTO), and about 30
talked-of candidates are expected to be more
or less involved. In any case the new men, who have hitherto been hesitating, are
being urged to come forward.
OITA
Beginning with KANEMITU, Tsuneo, who had absolute power, AYABE, Kentaro (ex-Parliamentary
Vice-Minister of Navy), ICHIMIYA,
Fusajiro, and KASHIMABARA, Koichi, all closely connected with the Imperial Rule Assistance
Association, have been made
ineligible, while YAMAGUCHI, Bajom[illegible]i and KINOSHITA, Iku who were local leaders of the Imperial
Rule Assistance Association, may also
- 4 -
POLITICAL SERIES: 161 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
conflict with the directive, in which case the whole personnel of the Progressive
Party will have to disappearfrom the
election list. Many new candidates were anticipated, but many have been hesitant until
now. Seizing this opportunity, a number
of new men, including a young man of 27, are reported to have decided to come to the
fore, while the Communist Party has
launched an extensive campaign, having moved into chapter at OITA.
SAGA
The directive is received here in the cheerful light because it helps to remove dissatisfaction
felt by the public toward the
leaders during the war. Ex-member MASAKI, Katsuji, comes under the list because he
was a rear-admiral, while the fate of the
rest of the ex-membes is doubtful. At any rate, both the progressives and liberals
are in a stampede. On the other hand, the
Social-Democrats have nominated KINUIRA, Utare, and FUJIWARA, Shigetaro, but due to
the present change they have come to
believe that they can safely put up four candidates, including a woman, and have started
negotiations with Mrs. KATSUTANI,
Masuya, wife of the President of SAGA Iron works.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
- 5 -
Loading...