Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0136, 1945-12-30.

Full Translation:

What and how the young people are thinking these days is reflected in the public opinion of the national school children, which was surveyed in HIROSHIMA-Shi, in the Second and HIJIGAWA National Schools.

The first question asked, was about their heroes. Forty per cent answered that they cannot find any eminent figure to save and reconstruct JAPAN. Twenty nine per cent of the pupils revealed themselves as admirers of Marshal YAMAMOTO, Isoroku. Votaries of farmers were 15 per cent, while the least number admired Premier SHIDEHARA.

The second question dealt with ideas for the future. Those who want the farmers to relieve the food situation were most numerous numbering 60 per cent. Those who want the factory workers to save JAPAN and make it a peaceful industrial country ranked second, while students favoring sailors to transport rice and cereals from abroad, took third place. While a number of them wanted to become scientists, no one desired to be a salaried worker.

The third question concerned their opinions on the present black market. Everyone opposed the operation of the black market desiring its immediate abolition and some proposed a boycott against such activety.

The fourth question asked was what would be their first task if they were to become premier. Their policies were numerous; charcoal production and distribution, delivery of military goods to war victims, donation of mattresses and clothing, abolition of black market establishment of low price markets, establishing amusement facilities, betterment of transportation facilities, building of good shelter, production of cheap kitchen utensils, and founding of public baths.

Summary:

In accordance with SCAP's directive abolishing licensed prostitution, steps were taken in HIROSHIMA-Ken and SHIMANE-Ken. Some 700 brothel masters were ordered by the Occupation Army in the HIROSHIMA. Ward on 17 December to emancipate the girls. Number of licensed prostitutes to be freed are as follows: HIROSHI A-Shi, 429; YANO, 100; YOSHIURA, 6l; KURE, 48; FUKUYAMA, 32; ONOMICHI, 30; OTODA, 32; HDAJIMA, 27; OTAKE, 7; TADANCUMI, 5.

Every prostitute has saved about an average of 3,000 yen. Most of them

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ITEM 2 (Continued)

are now staying in neighboring hotels or at their acquaintances, and a few have returned to their native districts.

Great care must be taken about the problem of private prostitutes, who are expected to increase in the near future.

Summary:

At the end of every year fires and crimes of various sorts are almost customary; it will be expecially true this year because of the prevailing food crisis. Under the guidance of the police department of the TOKUSHIMA Prefectural Office, strict precautions have been enforced throughout the prefecture since 20 December. Crimes relative to food head the list.

The black marketing of rice, wheat, soybeans, red beans and potatoes increases day by day. Police authorities are busy, grilling suspects, as there are also many cases of pickpocketing, thievery, shop-liftings, etc. The chief of the TOKUSHIMA City Police Office, OBAYASHI, stated in this connection

"It is a nuisance for us to see many citizens who are not yet fully aware of the importance of constructing a new JAPAN or how the prevention of crime will aid in doing so. Ninety eight per cent of the crimes committed are apprehended. As there is a fear that the number of crimes, especially economic ones, will increase around New Year's, police activity will be vigorously continued, but people must strictly refrain from vices, and they must endure the hardship of the current food shortage. They are also asked to do their best to prevent crimes and fires through organizing vigilance groups in each neighborhood association."

Summary:

SHIZUOKA, AICHI, and GIFU kens show much black market activity, after dark all streets are deserted and one sees people only when a grain arrives, with the exception of some overpainted Japanese girls with American soldiers. In all three kens occupation forces complain of the low moral of the people.

In GIFU City an American soldier asked a black market dealer for orange. "How much?" The dealer replied, "ten yen!" The American soldier waits, a young women comes to buy, them an old woman with a child; each time he says, "No, black market" The women do not understand, but they move on without buying much, to the disgust of the dealer.

The reporter has heard that the American Commander in SHIZUOKA has instructed the Governor to control the black market. The reporter believes that sooner or later the occupation forces will take a direct hand in controlling the black market.. American Officers told the reporter everywhere, "The Japanese say 'the war has ended' (SHUSEN) instead of 'we have been defeated' (HAISEN), but they will soon find out that defeat means the beginning of the struggle for existence.

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SOCIAL SERIES: 136 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

The reporter believes that the road to a sincere relationship between JAPAN and AMERICA is still remote. There is as yet no real collaboration between the Japanese authorities and the Occupation Forces nor between the Japanese police and the American Military Police. The only close relationship so far established is between the Japanese "night" girls and the American soldiers. There will soon have to be true collaboration if the Japanese people are to reconstruct JAPAN and pay reparations at the same time.

Full Translation:

The critical food situation is increasing the number of lunchless school pupils in farming villages as well as in cities. The present state of affairs in the southern part of HYOGO-Ken is as follows:

In SHOKUMA-Gun, out of 13,202 pupils in 21 schools 847, or 6.4 per cent, go lunchless. In KANZAKI-Gun, out of 12,177 pupils in 24 schools, 1,278 or 10 per cent go lunchless. In SHOKUMA-Gun, SOSA School with 152 lunchless out of 562 pupils, and YAMANOUCHI School in SHIKATANI-Mura with 90 lunchless out of 356 pupils, the situation is the worst. In KANZAKI-Gun, OCHITANI School with 209 lunchless out of 506 pupils; and TEBAMAE School with 294 lunchless out of 731 pupils are in the poorest conditions. There are only three schools without lunchless children in SHOKUNA-Gun, namely, KOCHI and CHIOKI Schools in CHIOKI-Mura and KAMISUGA School in SUGANO-Mura; three in KANZAKI-Gun, namely, KAMIODA and MINAMIODA Schools in TERASAKI-Mura and AMAJI School in AMAJI-Mura.

Many of these lunchless pupils in farming villages live in special areas or come from poor farmers with small farming areas or from families of salaried workers

The remedial stems for this lunchless problem are not satisfactory. At SOSA, IEJIMA KAMISUGA and YAHATA Schools in SHOKUMA-Gun, vegetables and potatoes are supplied to all pupils only during the busy farming seasons. In KANZAKI-Gun, SEKA School supplies food with side dishes to every class twice a week. TOYOTOMI School provided miso-soup to every class once a week, and MINAMIOKA School gives a dish twice a month.

Pupils suffering from malnutrition number 7 in HIROHATA School in NAKASHOKUMA-Gun and 10 in OBATA School in KAWABE-Mura, KANZAKI-Gun, throughout 45 schools of two guns, but their food supply is not good enough due to the food shortage.

The pupil's food supply is becoming a grave problem in conjunction with the terrible food situation.

Summary:

In KOBE, which is threatened by a terrible crime wave, peace and order is securely maintained in BANCHO by the Young Men's Vigilant Federation (SEINEM JIKEI RENMEI), which was organized on 3 November by MARUYAMA, Genzo (age 38), the chief of police in the YOBANCHO-SANCHOME Police Box

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ITEM 6 (Continued)

of the PAGATA Police Station.

The Federation was formed by the mutual co-operation of the police force and the inhabitants, who are greatly influenced and moved by the good character of the chief of police, who assists the guards and reeps crime out of that area.

Summary:

Since everything depends on the coming elections, we must push the spiritually-poisoned old-timers aside, making room for younger men eager to save the Country. Unfortunately, nobody here understands what Democracy is. Inflation is becoming more terrible each day; the salaries of most people are not sufficient for more than a third of the month.

This leads to a breakdown of morale everywhere. School children begin to steal each other's food, and the influence of the school is destroyed by poor conditions at home; life and love of book have become worlds apart. It also leads to an absolute psychological collapse, characterized chiefly in the loss of all confidence in hitherto constant values. The efforts by women's and student's leagues are of no avail as long as the food and clothing problems are not solved. Half of the students have returned to their homes because of the food shortage. War workers are unemployed. All those people learn that they can place confidence in no one but themselves. There is a growing belief that a new Cabinet, brought about by the coming elections, will not bring relief. The election candidates do not improve confidence either. For this reason the essential task is to restore confidence by building it up around values in which it has not yet been shaken. The Japanese were given freedom haphazardly and superficially. Since they have no idea how to use it, it is as it were, a liberty of hands and feet, but not of the head.

The whole problem is such that it can hardly be solved by rational thinking. What is needed is religion that is, - love and a sentimental approach, especially as far as the millions of women are concerned. To give political rights to the women without educating them is dangerous. A movement must be started inducing women to read the newspapers as the first step toward educating them politically.

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