Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0073, 1945-12-11.

Summary:

In spite of the obvious fact that in JAPAN freedom of religion has been established by the Constitution, Allied Headquarters has proclaimed religious freedom for JAPAN. This was necessary because of the unreasonable compulsion of SHINTOISM as a national religion, promoted military and bureaucratic cliques since the Manchurian Incident and the Great Bast Asia War. Those cliaqes aimed at unification of the national spirit by means of universal SHINTOISM, in order to force upon the people a desire for oppressing CHRISTIANS and BUDDHISTS, and violating constitutional freedom. The Allied Headquarters directive for the recovery of religions freedom calls for thoughtful consideration of both the People and the Government.

The BUDDHISTS have been characterized since ancient times as conservative, retrospective, submissive to the Government, and as having no progressive, or independent spirit. Even in this day of change, no suggestions or proposals for remedies have been put forward by BUDDHISTS. BUDDHISM has lost a great number of followers since the MEIJI Era. Those who converted to SHINTOISM are estimated at 17,000,000. Proselytes to CHRISTIANITY are about 300,000. The decay of BUDDHISM has been caused by the negligence of Buddhist monks, who have been engaged soley in funeral rites or festivals for the dead.

The christian church is now about to begin activities in mission and in educational projects. As compared with Christians, the Buddhists are making no progressive steps whatsoever, and if this situation continues, it will be impossible for them to keep their followers, they are not ware of the coming of a new age. There are abundant tasks to be taken up, namely, construction of a new BUDDHISM, enhancement of good will between JAPAN and CHINA, Buddhist scholarships in a Buddist University to be established by a union of all the sectarian schools. Buddhist mission schools and kindergardens, and relief projects to meet the present critical food situation.

Summary:

On 28 December, SASAKI, Sueo of SHIZUGAWACHI, MIYAGI Ken, presumed to be dead since August 1943, came home to JAPAN from AMERICA safe and sound.

SOCIAL SERIES 73 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

SASAKI was one of a crew of nine on the fishing boat ARIMA-MARU, bound for SAKHALIN when it was sunk off KUNISHIRI by an American submarine on 20 August 1943. The captain of the fishing boat, Mr. SATO, Sakunoshin, saved while drifting at sea, was returned to JAPAN and reported that all of his crew was drowned. But when SASAKI returned home recently, he had a different story to tell.

He told it thusly, "On 20 August, our third day at sea, an American Submarine attacked us at 0800 and instantly sank our boat. Six of the crew members, including myself, were rescued by an American ship.

"After being questioned, we were all treated like the american sailors, and in about two weeks arrived at HAWAI, there to be taken to a risen camp where the food consisted of bread and milk for breakfast and dinner and rice for lunch. After about three months I was sent to a prison camp in WISCOKSIN. The prison guard there was very well organized with a network of steel wire fences and machine guns around us, but the treatment was very good, "We were even permitted to enjoy the cinema and newspapers once a week. Those who worked were given 80 sen per day, and we could buy cake and ten sen worth of beer at the camp canteen.

"I did not know of JAPAN'S defeat until I reached YOKOKAMA. I left several Japanese back at the came in WISCONSIN, including two of my mates from the INARI-MARU, KUMUGAYA and CIKANA, both anxiously waiting to come home. But at present the sick and wounded have top priority on the return to JAPAN.

"I boarded an American boat at SAN FRANSISCO and arrived at YOKOHAMA on 20 November, where I was taken to the repatriates' encampment at URAGA and given 100 yen and several outdoor meal tickets."

War materials wantouly carried out of military and naval ware-houses immediately after the end of the war have been found. They were illegally disposed of within HICHI Ken and have been located as the result of investigations made on the basis of lists giving particulars on materials officially sold. These lists had been presented by the Military and Naval Provision Departments to the Economic Security Section of the Prefectural Office. In foods alone, large amounts were ascertained to have been disposed of illegally. The following are lists of items sold and the organizations to which they were sold:

Sugar: Sold to FUKUJU Cake Manufactoring Company, MOTOTSUKA-Machi, NISHI-ku, Nagoya, 70,396 kilograms; to [illegible]RAKAWA, Chotaro Partnership Company, OSATO-Mura, NAKAJIMA-Gun, 34,286 kilograms; to SAHASHI Industrial Company, SHADO-HIGASHI-Machi, HIGASHI-ku, NAGOYA, 27,744 kilograms; to NAKAMURA, Kamamichi, NISHIBIWAJIMA-Machi, the subarb of NAGOYA, 21,000 kilograms; to AICHI Tomato Company, UENO-Machi, CHITA-Gun, 8,360 kilograms; to WATANAEE Food Refinery Company (SEIRYO KAISHA), 8,570 kilograms. This makes a total of 165,338 kilograms (about 280,000 kin), of which 276,000 kin have been found stored in warehouses.

The prefectural authorities are going to deliver this store of sugar to the Prefectural sugar Wholesale Merchants Association,

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SOCIAL SERIES 73 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

and 8,570 kilograms (14,300 kin) found in the [illegible]Food Refining Company will be used to make baby food. The remainder of about 270,000 kin will be distributed to inhabitants of the prefecture for use during the coming year. It is estimated that about 0.7 kin can be alloted to each of the 2,500,000 inhabitants. It is rumored that some of the companies which illegally purchased sugar have applied secretly for exemption from returning the sugar through members of the Prefectural Assembly who had the power to suspend regulations requiring the return of goods acquired illegally.

Cereals: Excepting those sold to the officially controlled provisions distribution organ, 15 tons of rice and 43 tons of wheat were sold to MURAMATSU SHOYU (Sauce) Company, CHIMA - Machi, CHITA-Gun; 187 tons of soy-beans to MORITA Partnership Company of KOSUZUKA - Mura, CHITA-Gun; 164 tons to the KAMIYA Industrial Company of HIFJUKU-Mura, KUKADA-Gun: four tons to FUKUJU Cake Manufacturing Company: 83 tons to SUGIURA, Chiyiro Company of [illegible]-Machi, [illegible]-Gun; and 56 tons to MURAMATSU SHOYU Company, making a total of 494 tons. 37 tons of wheat flour was sold to MURAMATSU SHOYU Company and 50 tons to FUKUJU Cake Manufacture Company, making a total of 87 tons, part of which is already being used for the production of miso and shoyu.

It is reported that soy beans and wheat will be used to make miso and shoyu, but other items are destimed for general distribution by the food distribution agency.

Summary:

In an attempt to cope with the imminent coal famine, students of the AKITA Mining Collage have decided to send a group of volunteers to work as temporary coal mine workers during the winter vacation. It has been decided to dispatch 200 students of the Mining Department as a pioneer group. In addition, a plan is in preparation to send 1,000 more students. A proposal to dispatch a "Students' Corps for Helping Coal Output" has been endorsed by the Education Ministry. The gist of the plan drafted by the "Students' Voluntary Labor Support Association" consists of the following points: (a) Duration of work: One month, at least, with ten hours of labor per day; (b) Labor: Students of the Mining College and those who are physically strong will work in the pits, while the remainder will work outside; (c) Housing and rations; students are to be billeted separately by their school unit. They will be furnished with the same rations and clothing as regular workers; (d) Welfare: every precaution will be taken in health control. The mine authorities are liable for all expenses; (e) Application: applications will be accepted either by individuals or by school units according to the following five areas: TOKYO Area (at the Students Voluntary Labor Support Association, 2nd floor, NAIGAI Building,. MARUNCUCHI, 2-chome, TOKYO-to); TOHOKU Area (at the Association's Branch Office, c/o the AKITA Mining College); HOKKAIDO Area (at the Associations Branch Office, c/o the HOKKIDO Imperial University); KANSAI-CHUGOKU - SHIKOKU Area (at the Association's Branch Office, c/o the UEE Engineering College); KIUSHU Area (at the Associations Branch Office, c/o the MEIJI Engineering College).

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SOCIAL SERIES 73 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

Students of the KIUSHU Imperial University will also participate in the project. Fifty students of that University will start work on 10 December at the coal mine of the Taisho Kogyo Company, which is situated in NAKAMA - cho, ONGA-gun, FUKUOKA-ken. The majority of them are students in the Law and Literature Department, but these are also some demobilized servicemen. The labor conditions consist of eight hours inside the pits or ten hours outside, with wages of 13 yen per day in the pits, 8 yen per day outside the pits, with an extra allowance and rice ration of 5 per day.

Summary:

Professor MINAMIHARA, chief of the Law Department, Professor NASU, Hiroshi of the Agricultural Department, and professor TARASAWA, Kanichi former chief of the Physics Department were nominated for president at a conference for the fifteenth presidental election of TOKYO Imperial University. On the fifth, a conference of the heads of every department was held, and the election was discused. Due to difference of opinion the election was post oned until the next day. On the sixth, the conference met again and the successor of the inumbent president was elected. The formal recommendation procedure will be taken up in a day or two.

In spite of the democratic trends of the times, the election procedure was handled behind closed doors. There was some criticism against this in the University. The successor selected, was Professor MINAMIHARA, Shigerw, who was in the Home Affairs Service for eight years after graduation from TOKYO Imperial University in 1914. In 1922 he became an Assistant Professor of the Imperial University and received his professorship in 1924. Last April he took the place of Professor SUEHIRO as head of the Law Department. He is an authority on European political history.

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