Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0116, 1945-12-23.

Summary:

The Crime Prevention section of the TOKUSHIMA Prefectural Police Department has begun a crime prevention movement, laying emphasis on the prevention of crime and making proper arrests. Various officials were active all over the prefecture and as a result of their work, many complicated circumstances of economic crimes have been revealed. The following statement was issued:

"A continued rise in prices is the cause of indescribable difficulties for these who are dependent solely on their ration of food. The efficiency of hard-working laborers is reduced by hunger. Laborers in reconversion jobs receive specia1 rations, but war sufferes and evacuees have been squandering their yen on such black market commodities as five-yon rice ball, or expensive .potato-puddings. Some of them have become so impoverished that they can not pay for their regular rations. We (TOKUSHIMA Police) are going to take measures toward their relief.

"War-time millionaires, on the other hand, who are apprehensive of heavy taxation, continue to corner commodities. This causes further aggravation of economic conditions. These loathsome black market dealers and brokers are to be arrested, whether it be during the crime prevention movement period or some other time. All who are ready to co-operate with the crime prevention movement are requested to make reports on all shady dealings of these social vermins.

"In view of the increasing economic crime wave during the year's-end season, all TOKUSHIMA police stations are having crime prevention conferences to devise plans for proper action."

Summary:

A round table discussion on he democratization of the Japanese police system, consistent with new trends in JAPAN, was held under the auspices of the [illegible]HOKU SHIMBUN.

ABE Shungo, a participant who spent more than 20 years in AMERICA, was once the president of the Japanese club in Los Angeles, and who is at present the lega1 advisor to SHIGAMA City, gave his observations of American police administration:

"In AMERICA there are separate police systems under the municipal,

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state, and national governments; The range of their activities varies, but they are all, equally, friends of the people. The police are regarded as public servants who look after the welfare and prosperity-of people and respect their individual rights. Their pay is sufficient to support their families properly and they enjoy the confidence of the people.

"The evidence presented, for instance, at a court by a policeman leaves no room for doubt in the minds of the people."

Mr. ABE went on to say something about the present Japanese police system, which has been improved somewhat though there is still considerable room for improvement. He pointed out many instances of misconduct by Japanese police, such as the ransacking of private houses against the will of the presidents. and the illegal use of police administrative rights in the enforcement of official distribution of rice.

In reply to a question pertaining to the attitude of Japanese police toward improving their manner of speech and conduct towards the public, Mr. ABE said, "Of course their speech and conduct must be civil, but the most necessary change concerns the illegal use of a policeman's rights. In AMERICA, for instance, unless properly authorized, the police are not allowed to search a private house or to arrest a suspect. There is no hope for democratizing the Japanese police so long as they persist in such practices as detaining suspects for as long as 20 days, while an investigation is being conducted."

FUKUSHIMA, Eikichi, a city assemblyman of SENDAI, who has the most requent contacts with police authorities, as well as with people in general, stated:

"In JAPAN, not only children but all grown-up people are afraid of the police. Their speech and conduct should be changed, and they should become friendly and popular. They are apt to take sides with provincial bosses and not care what happens to the poor. The rich and poor must all enjoy their protection if there is to be a really honorable police system in JAPAN. Scientific investigations, rather than impositions on civil rights, should be resorted to. Their pay, too, should be increased to an amount sufficient to enable them to support their families. For this purpose, policemen's co-operatives should be organized."

HATA[illegible]YMA, inojo, stated, "I have a long experience with the police, having myself been, in police service for a long time, and I admit that their attitude, especially their speech, has been offensive to the people. The fact that even a most faithful policemen does not enjoy friendly intercourse with civilians, one he resigns from his post, is proof that they are no regarded as friendly authorities."

KONDO, Masaji, TOHOKU University Medical School professor, described, the kindness of a LONDON policeman who politely directed him to his destination. He further stated that Japanese police boxes should be equipped with ample first-aid kits.

Mr. YASUON, chief of the MIYAGI Prefectural Police Department, said, "The old Japanese police system has any drawbacks. During the war especially, the tasks of the police are too heavy and they

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had numerous duties to attend to. In many respects we are all responsible for the protection of the people. Now that the war is over, we are doing all we can to preserve peace and order and to stabilize, living conditions, another object of police activity. However, the arrogance of police officials should be completely changed and a true friendly democratic police system to protect human rights should be established.

"The MIYAGI Prefectural police staff will, I hipo, be a good example of the new Japanese police, serving the public welfare."

Summary:

The repatriates from abroad who have just landed on their long-dreamed of homeland are confronted with sevare cold and starvation. As a number of victims have already appeared among these helpless people, the Welfare Ministry has drawn up a plan for a nation-wide relief campaign. The campaign will be held throughout the country under the auspices of the Repatriates Relief Association for a period commencing on 20 December and ending on 31 January. Clothes for women and children are to be contributed by the sympathetic public, and there will be delivered free of charge to the repatriates in need, who are staying at various repatriation camps all over the country. This campaign as supported by the Foreign, Home and Education Ministeries. The TOKYO SHIMBUN Office, TOKYO Braodcasting Bureau, and other newspaper offices are also included among supporters.

The campaign will be enforced on the following basis:

• 1.In conjunction with the central campaign, a. "Relief Week" will be established during the period. In this week a wide-range campaign is scheduled by not only utilizing school children, posters, travelling exhibitions, circular-notes, railway-trains and street cars, but also lectures by repatriates at Public Halls and the movie theatres during intermissions.
• 2.The goods to be contributed are as follows: clothes for women and children, MONPE, JUBAN, underwears, socks and stockings, TABI, GETA, rain-coats and shoes, swaddling clothes, scarfs and underskirts.
• 3.The contributed goods will be sorted into two classes those to be given away free of charge and those to be paid for.
• 4.The contribution of goods will be voluntary.
• 5.Two-thirds of the contributed goods will be shipped to each repatriation cane, while the remaining one-third will be kept in custody by each prefectural authority to be delivered according to the need of the repatriates.

DISTRIBUTION: "X"

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