Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0027, 1945-11-22.

Author Supreme Commander for The Allied Powers. Allied Translator and Interpreter Section.

Date22 November, 1945

translation numbersocial-0093

call numberDS801 .S84

Persistent Identifier
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS
ALLIED TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER SECTION
PRESS TRANSLATIONS
No. 93 Date: 22 Nov 45

SOCIAL SERIES: 27

ITEM 1 Professor OHNO's Suggestion to Save-the-Nation Through a Movement by Agricultural Societies - Asahi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator: M. Kunizo.

Summary:
HOSEI University Professor, CNO, Takeo, after his three day tour of inspection of the supply of agricultural products in the North Eastern Provinces, says that a "Save the Nation" movement is necessary. If things continued as they are to-day, by next Feburary or March, there will be a crises resulting in the starvation of both producers and consumers in the provinces. Also, riots will occur because of the failure to cope with the situation.
How is the time for the greatest effort to be expended towards solving the food problem, besides the agrarian problem, which is apt to be confused with the former.
The policies to be adopted are as follows:
  • 1.Importation of food.
  • 2.Encouragement of government purchases and abolition of black markets. Utilization of hitherto unused types of food.
If the efforts are not made to use new type of food, the Allied authorities will [illegible]to take steps to import food.
The actual state of things in provincial supplies to the government is that the Agricultural Societies and Food Supply Associations, who are in charge of rationing, and the police, who supervise these societies, have both lost the farmers' respect due to internal scandals.
Among new type: of food, it is now too late to use sweet potato stalks found, in the Northern Provinces, and, powdered, food has four difficulties:
  • 1.Insufficient means for transporting it.
  • 2.Insufficient grinding facilities.
  • 3.Shortage of motor power.
  • 4.Insufficient facilities for drying the foods to be powdered.
Professor ONO's idea is to start a movement either by the government or by the public to appeal to growers' patriotic spirit, especially to the younger generations. The center of the movement would, be in Agricultural Societies, spontaneous, but unofficial, young men's associations, and influential patriotic people in each province.
SOCIAL SERIES: 27 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
If these people had been united at the Agricultural Society Conference held some weeks ago they would have made the movement successful. At all meetings of Japanese farmers, where the above mentioned people gather, Government or Central Agency plans should, be discussed to promote the supply of food, at fixed prices.
Following are suggested ways of effecting the plans of the food surely movements:
  • 1.The government’s promise that farmers would receive monetary compensation during the war should carried out at once.
  • 2.The number of members in farmers' families end their respective ages should decide the amount of rice allotted them.
  • 3.Payment in rice for agricultural implements, medical treatment, and bicycles should, be stopped by boycotting Unscrupulous doctors, iron-smiths, carpenters and those who own bicycle shops.

ITEM 2 Japanese population figures - Yomiuri Hochi - 16 Nov 45. Translator: Y. AKAB[illegible]ME.

Summary:
The Statistical Bureau of the Cabinet is now busily engaged in compiling statistics relating to the census made on 1 November. These figures are necessary for the coming general election, and they furnish important data for measures to be taken regarding the food problem. The results will be made public about the 21st of this month.
An estimate based on the information compiled by the [illegible]different prefectures throughout the country up to 15 November shows the Population of JAPAN is roughly 77,000,000 or nearly 80,000,000. This number excludes KOREA, FORNOSA, KARUFUTO, [illegible]and the South Sea Islands, as well as soldiers not yet demobilized by 1 November. Hence, it does not represent the exact total of the entire population of JAPAN. One conspicuous fact shown by the present investigation is the large movement of population from large and medium sized cities to local districts, presumably caused by dispersion to avoid air-raids. No information has come from the TOKYO Metropolitan Office, but the population of TOKYO will be about 4,000,000 as compared with 6,700,000 for 1940 when the last census was made.

ITEM 3 Bodies of seven American fliers discovered - Asahi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator: T. OGAWA.

According to a publication of the Eighth Army Public Relations Office, searching [illegible]the command of Brigadier General Julius [illegible]discovered the bodies of two UNITED STATE [illegible]point along the TOKYO Canal yesterday. These bodies are believed to be those of two fliers who descended by parachute during an air [illegible]over TOKYO on 25 May last. On both bodies the arms were tied with a thick rope, and severe wounds were revealed around the necks.
It was also discovered that the bodies of five more UNITED STATES fliers were buried in the compound of a Japanese temple. Their bodies also bore deep wounds around the throats.
The first two bodies were discovered by a Japanese girl living in the neighborhood. The girl had previously seen Japanese soldiers burying the bodies of these UNITED STATES fliers.
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SOCIAL SERIES: 27 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
The bodies were buried three feet deep and were found to be soaked in muddy water. Besides the bodies, only flying jackets, .jumpers and broken boots were found. At the places where these bodies were buried were placed wooden-plank head stones bearing the simple epitaph, "The Place where a B-29 Crew Was Killed in Action on 25 May"
Autopsies of these bodies were made later by Captain Edgar FELBERG, of the Medical Corps of the 43rd. Field Hospital, Eighth Army. Two of the seven seemed, to be victims of strangulation.

ITEM 4 Statement of Imperial Household Minister in Connection with Emperor's Trip to ISE - Asahi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator: Y. AKABANE.

Full Translation:
The following statement was made by Mr. ISHIWATA, Imperial Household Minister, regarding the welcome the Emperor received from the people along his route to ISE:
"In compliance with special wishes of His Majesty, there were as few guards as possible, but farmers working in the fields along railway lines were aware of the Imperial train, and hurriedly took off their head coverings to salute the Emperor. It was a very impressive sight when a window of a captain killed in the war welcomed the Emperor extending a photograph of her dead husband towards His Imperial Majesty. All of these are renewed expressions of the national respect for the Emperor who seemed to be profoundly moved. Henceforth guards will follow the same example on future Imperial trips. According to Admiral FUJITA, Lord Chamberlin to His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor responded to citizens’ welcome by bowing more than 100 times. Also, the Emperor deigned to open the window of his car personally in response to cheering people along the railway lines, with reverence may it be said that these things show how benevolent the Emperor is toward the nation.”

ITEM 5 Police board establishes section for advise on rationing - Asahi Shimbun 16 Nov 45. Translator: T. OGAWA.

Full Trans1ation:
Following the recent abolition of the Combined Rationing Office, the Metropolitan Police Board will soon establish a new Rationing Inquiry Section in order to settle problems which might occur in the future

ITEM 6 Demand for reformation of TOKYO University - Yomiuri-Hochi - 17 Nov 45. Translator: H. NISHIHARA.

Summary:
OUCHI, H. and seven other professors have been reappointed to the Faculty of TOKYO University in the economics department. In line with this movement, all students held a general meeting at 1300 on 16 November, aiming at full democratization and establishment of a system of self-government.
Since the end of the war, the students have expressed strong opinions about re-building a liberal and self-governing student body. They have demanded a general meeting several times, but have been opposed by professors HASHIZUMA and NANIMADA and by invocation of the regulations of the university which prohibit students to hold meetings or to take part in associations outside the university. As a result, the students had no opportunity to obtain freedom or to hold meetings.
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SOCIAL SERIES: 27 (Continued)
ITEM 6 (Continued)
Students expressed their disatisfaction and summed up the situation as follows:
  • 1.The Alumni Association is under strict control and can not be an organization representative of student opinion.
  • 2.They have no organizations, to take part in the movement toward democratization of the student body.
  • 3.They have no chance to express opinions about lectures, and courses of instruction or methods of teaching.
At the meeting it was decided, to reform the Alumni Association, to abolish all regulations which restrict freedom, to decrease compulsory courses, and to increase optional courses. These decisions were submitted to the university authorities. The movement is regarded as having a great influence on universities all over the country.

ITEM 7 Babies Welfare Society to adopt plan to provide babies! milk - Mainichi Shimbun - 17 Nov 45. Translator: H. NISHIHARA.

Summary:
Due to the increasing number of mothers who do not have enough milk to feed their babies (60 per cent of mothers in TOKYO fall into this category) the Committee for Relief of the Milk-Shortage, headed by YAKO, Y, who is also chief of the Scientific Section, Research Institute of the Welfare Ministry, reached a. decision at a meeting on 16 November, and submitted a plan to Welfare Minister, ASHIDA. This plan is to be adopted upon approval by the Cabinet.
According to the plan, distribution of milk for babies' will be separate from that of ordinary foodstuffs. The Babies' Welfare Society, established by Imperial funds, will take the responsibility of proper distribution. This society will issued milk-tickets, the bearer of which will be issued milk by the milk-section of the Society or by its branch offices.
The tickets will be issued, in two classes. A and B. The Society will pay the full price of milk issued, on "A" tickets and half the price on "B" tickets. "A" tickets will be issued to mothers after being examined by doctors appointed by the Society. The "B" tickets will be issued on certificate of the chief of Neighborhood Association.

ITEM 8 Reinstatement of teachers demanded - Asahi Shimbun - 17 Nov 45 - Translator: OGAWA. T

Summary:
Another example of political persecution of the nation's school teachers was disclosed, recently. The case was that of [illegible]IIGATA-KEN where a group of fifteen national school teachers, including. Mr. UCHIYAMA, Maoji a prefectural school inspector, were arrested just before the outbreak of the war. Mr. UCHIYAMA, being unable to stand the treatment he received from the authorities, committed suicide while he was detained at the NIIGATA Police Station. Five of the remainder were granted a stay of execution and nine were acquitted: The case seems to have been settled thus. However, due to the end of the war, it has become a point of interest to see how the prefectural authorities will dispose of this case. A campaign is underway among teachers for the reinstatement of these teachers who were unjustly ostracized.
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SOCIAL SERIES: 27 (Continued)

ITEM 9 Spring [illegible]hi[illegible]it of Japanese Art - Asahi shimbun - 17 Nov 45. - Translator: NISHIHARA. H.

Summary:
The Ministry of education exhibit, which was familiarly called "BUNT[illegible]", is how being revived under the name of "NIPPON Exhibit". The first exhibit since the war will open 1 March 1946 and close 31 March 1946 at the TOKYO Art Museum in UENO Mark. Works of art to be exhibited are Japanese paintings, Occidental paintings, seculpture and industrial art. Anyone may submit one piece of work to the museum whose works are exempted from examination by the committee may submit their work by 23 February 1946.
The points that different from former procedure are as follows:
  • 1.The exhibition committee will be composed only of members of the Imperial Art Association.
  • 2.Discontinuance of large numbers of examination-free exhibits. Only works by members of the Imperial Art Association and former members of the exhibition committee of the Imperial Art Exhibit and of the Education Ministry Art Exhibits will be allowed to pass free.
The office of this exhibition will be in the Culture section of the Social Education department of the Ministry of Education until 13 February 1946, and thereafter in the TOKYO Art Museum.

ITEM 10 Demobilized Soldiers Returning From the Philippines Full of Resentment - Yomiuri Hochi - 17 Nov 45. Translation: AKABANE, Y.

Summary:
A reporter went to MAJ [illegible]KAGOSHIMA prefecture to meet 1,200 demobilized soldiers and Japanese civilians arriving from the northern part of LUZOM and rode with them in a special train to MCJI. Listening to the soldiers, he has come to realize that the people of JAPAN have neglected these demobilized soldiers because of their extreme hatred toward the militarists. The party left MANILA on 3 November and landed at KAJIKI on the 3th. After spending the night there, they took a special train consisting of one 3rd. class, passenger car and 20 freight cars for home. Opening a window of the car and longingly looking at the shadows thrown on the paper panels of farm houses along the railway, a soldier said, "When I landed at MANIKI could not fee1 that I had returned to my native country. There was nothing to comfort us, nor any thing to make us feel warm brotherly love. Moreover, we, the demobilized, were treated in our camp like prisoners. We were given a small rice ball only, while officials of the camp were helping themselves to several rice balls before us. Bein hungry, we went out to buy potatoes in the near by village and were forced, to pay 50 yen for a piece as big as an apple. I was very thankful when an old lady gave me a potato ball.
"It was dawn when the train was passing through the KURUME Station and we felt hungry. Each of us was given a go of uncooked rice and 18 pieces of hard tack before leaving KAJIKI, but there was no way to boil rice on the freight car. Several soldiers managed to buy an [illegible](lunch sold at stations) but had to pay 1 yen in cash and 1 go of rice for it.”
According to another soldier, he was riding in the same train with demobilized soldiers from a camp in JAPAN and as they were eating rice-balls freely, he asked for one but was refused. Such is the situation of the demobilized soldiers in JAPAN.
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