Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0075, 1945-12-12.

Summary:

One thousand five hundred Japanese repatriates from the United States, together with Lieutenant General Oshima the former Ambassador to Germany and others arrived at Uraga yesterday aboard the U. S. S. "General Randall"

The returning eva cuers were permitted to land at 1500 on the same day and were taken to the Kamoi repatriation reception camp. Most of these repatrates were residents of Western California and the State of Washington. They have been detained at the Santa Fe camp in New Mexico. Almost all of them are bachelors or men who have separated from their families. Some of them were the residents of Hawaii or New York City. There were also some American born young men who had denounced their American citizenship.

Among these evacuess, there are those, who had had their properties confiscated as soon as the war broke out. Each repatriate was allowed to carry only ten dollars worth of American currency and 35 pounds of baggage, besides 150 pounds of baggages to be stored in the shin's hold. The majority of these people were not equipped with winter clothes, and were in need of immediate relief. Having been almost isolated from the external world, due to the life at the internees' camp, there are few who have a good knowledge of the situations in the United States. Almost 60 to70 percent of those who were detained at Santa Fe camp believed in Japan's victory up to the last moment.

Summary:

The demand for a revival of magazines on current affaires is strong. In June and July of last year the publication of two of the best know magazines on current affairs was suppressed by the Japanese Board of Information. One of the first jobs of the revived magazines on Current Affairs must be to disclose to the general public the facts behind these suppresions, as well as the cenrsorshop in general and the article by the Japanese Board of Information during the war. With the exception of the two suppressed magazines on current affairs, that is the CHUO KORON and the KAIZO, all the other magazines had to bach the war effort in order to exist. However this raises,not only for the newspapers but also for these magazines that continued to exist during the war, the question of war responsibility.

Regarding the future of magazines on current affairs, it must be pointed out that prewar conditions no longer prevail in Japan. Therefore the contents and general policies of the magazines will have to change in accordance with the times. The demand seems to point toward

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individuality. It is hardly to be assumed that Communists Socialist, Liberals and Progressives will all be represented in one current magazine. Some magazines will put their emphases on politics, others on culture. It is, however, to be hoped that the magazines will be generally progressive. A progressive readiness for reform and an open mind is to be understood. The public hopes that in such a way two or three really representative magazines with an able editing department reflecting current affairs end opinions in Japan will come into being. To make this possible the publishers must democratize their offices in general and especially raise the living standards of the editing employees to conform to their responsible positions.

Full Translation:

A series of political education lectures aiming at the political enlightenment of women will begin on 11 December and will be held at the Japan Medical Hall, under the sponsorship of the Japanese Women's Cooperative Society of Surugadai, Kanda-Ku. The lecture schedule is as follows:

11 December (Tuesday)-Women and Politics by Sekiguchi, Tai; Revised Election Law by Home Ministry official Kobayashi, Yosaji.

14 December (Friday)-Policy of the Japan Social Democratic Party by Katayama, Tetsu.

17 December (Monday)-Policy of the Japan Liberal Party by Kita, Reikichi.

19 December (Wednesday)-Policy of the Japan Progressive Party, (Lecturer unannounced).

Full Translation:

A rumor on the streets that the Amercan occupation troops receive food and provisions produced in Japan was denied on 8 December in an official announcement by Lieutenant General THORPE, Chief of Counterintelligence section of General Headquarters through the civil information section. His statement was as follows: "Rumors that the Japanese police had requisitioned food for Amercan troops from farmers are groundless. If I the police did such a thing, they shall be punished. Occupation troops depend only upon food and provisions imported from overseas, not on anything produced in Japan. Food, fuel and clothing made in the occupation areas in Japan are to be used by the general public of Japan.

Full Translation:

The most miserable of all repatriates, are the Okinawans whose homeland was once a battle field. 2,300 Okinawans are now in Fukuoka, 2,700 are in Kagoshima and 2,000 are in Uraga; all are repatriates from the southern areas, 100 persons out of 2,300 in Fukuoka have died already. All the people have no clothing other than summer suits, and they feel resentful because of miserable conditions of their housing and living faciliteis.

Besides the repatriates from the southern areas, about a hundred thousand men of Okinawa, including sixty thousand in Kyushu, are suffering bitterly as they have practicalle no homeland to which to return. The Okinawa Men's Union will hold a meeting to rescue the repatriates, at Kanda Education Hall on 9 December, and will make on appeal to the public.

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SOCIAL SERIES 75 (Continued)

Full Translation:

The Japanese publishers are planning to publish translations of Amercan books, a practice which had been discontined during the war. But because of difficulties of securing translation rights and approaching the American publishers, plans are not yet complete. In this connection the Japanese publishers have sent a petition to General Headquarters, and discussions will be held before long, as to how many of the Japanese versions of the Amercan books will be on the market.

At present, the publishers are taking measures to petition General Headquarters directly but they are planning reformed measures to send all petitions concerned with translations through the Publishers Association. General Headquarters will also allocate the translations of books it desires to have published in Japan. Since Japan has lost all ordinary rights under the Hague Treaty, the translation rights in Japan depend upon a decision by UNITED STATES, authorities. General headquarters has favorable opinaions on the matter and it is hoped that it will aid in obtaining permission to make the translations.

Some ten books are to be translated, and several essays written during the war, including "Ten Years in Japan", by former Ambassador GREW, and novels which were very popular, will appear on the market before long. The revised translations of books, which were translated before the war but not published during the war, including "Gone with the Wind", by Mitchell, will be published. These plans are also subject to the new decisions on translation rights.

Full Translation:

The neighborhood group associations are now preparing to make a new start, on 1 January 1946, as an organ of self-government representing the public. In connection with the reform, many opinions were promulgated in all circles.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Office is planning to establish a Relations Department for smoother relations, and secure mutual understanding between the word offices and the neighborhood group associations. The organ will also concern itself with consulting members of neighborhood associations. For instance, if an unreasonable amount of its savings is allocated to members of neighborhood associations, the Relations Office will try to settle the matter satisfactorily on both sides.

The office also aims to be an organ for carrying the opinions of the neighborhood associations to the officials of the Tokyo Metropolitan Office, as a means of creating active discussions at the neighborhood meetings. It was formaerly a organ to give directives of officials to the members of the neighborhood associations.

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