Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0163, 1946-01-14.

Summary:

The visitors to the Shrine have not decreased after the Japaneses defeat nor after the issuance of the SCAP directive. There are ceaseless visitations by worshippers. The large New Year's throng from outlying districts was only reduced by traffic and food difficulties. Still there was a considerable number of pious visitors even from FUKUSHIMA and HOKTKAIDO. Many believers who could not come sent letters with monetary contributions. The yearly expenses of the ISE Shrine have been three million yen. What the income of the Shrine will be in future is, however, an open question, as public contributions were formerly not welcomed. For instance, after the air raid on the ISE Shrine, a great number of public contributions were refused, but they will be accepted in the future. This New Year's several people made anonymous contributions. By Imperial Command the preparation for the rebuilding of the Shrine was halted. There exists the possibility that the building material will be turned over for civil reconstruction work, but believers have sent in letters protecting against such a possibility and suggest that the materials be kept until there is a suitable opportunity for rebuilding the Shrine.

The Shrine is built in a traditional primitive fashion, so that it decays rapidly, and even with repairs, reconstruction is necessary every 21 years. Everything possible will be done to win public affection for the Shrine, and the Shrine guards will be specially retrained to observe civility towards the public.

Summary:

One of the most important items imposed on the prefectural administration for the future is the eradication of militaristic thought from schools and the dissemination of true democratic education. In order to solve the questions relative to the entrance examination and the treatment of teachers, which from the promise for the realization of the foregoing, and to discuss various other problems awaiting solution in prefectural educational circles, the MIYAGI Prefectural Office is going to open a conference of the principals of secondary schools within the prefecture on 4 and 5 January in the city of SENDAI. This will be attended by principals of 17 middle schools, 17 girls' nigh schools and 24 business schools. The Governor of CHIBA and the Chief of the Internal Political Department, NOMURA, are expected to preside over the conference along a new administrative principle. The chief items to be submitted

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for discussion are as follows:

1. Abolition of government guarantee, assistance, protection, control, and propagation of State Shinto and Shinto shrines. 2. Dismissal of teachers who had army or navy careers; 3. Steps to be taken, for students attending schools by steam trains, in view of the situation caused by the coal shortage; 4. Treatment of teachers and their livelihood; 5. Entrance examinations.

Item three is motivated by the fact that higher class students have not had sufficient time to study even their regular lessons due to their frequent absence resulting from student mobilization during the war and increased food production after the war's end, in addition to the recent overtaxed food and traffic situation. They should be given some assistance in school to supplement their lack of study. As regards the treatment of teachers, instructions were received at the Prefectural Office on 3 January from the Vice-Minister of the Education and Home Ministries to increase teachers' salaries by 200 per cent; this will be announced at the conference. At present the average monthly salary of middle schools is 123 yen, girls high schools, 110 yen; and business schools, from 118 to 123 yen.

The old system of entrance examinations was conducted strictly in conformity with the instructions from the central authorities, who are responsible for the development of militaristic and nationalistic ideas through formal totalitarianism, so opinions are required of these principals in order to establish a new system of examination conforming to the prefectural conditions, and to be applicable in the next school year. The conference will be an epoch-making one for educational circles of the Prefecture.

Summary:

The following are the reports of the ISE, ATSUTA, KASHIWARA and OMI Shrines since the issuance of the SCAP Directive on Shintoism:

ISP Shrine: The ISE Shrine occupies a special place among all SHINTO Shrines, as it enshrines the grand ancestors of the Emperor and at the same time is considered the mother of the 110,000 Shrines scattered throughout JAPAN. Therefore, all SHINTOISM is affected by the future of the ISE Shrine. The Emperor will continue to make offerings to the Shrine of his grand ancestors, report on vital matters relating to the Imperial family, and lead all other Imperial rites, while remaining festivals will be dependent upon the free will of the people. The management of the Shrine will probably be transferred from the National Board of Shinto to a Civil Board of Shinto. The representative of the committee for this Civil Board, the Head Priest of ISE, FURUKAWA, who is now in TOKYO, stated in this connection that ISE will act as a Mother Shrine to other Shrines similar to a main Buddhist temple towards its subsidiary temples. The Civil Board for Shinto will take over the management of all Shrines, while the Board of the Imperial Shrines will concern itself with the execution of Imperial festivals ordered by the Emperor and the execution of all popular festivals as ordered by the Civil Board for the Popularization of the ISE Shrine.

ATSUTA Shrine: The ATSUTA Shrine is generally known as the Shrine of the war god. It enshrines the spirits of the sun

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goddess, her brother SUSONO (TN. Storm and Wind God), YAMA-to TAKERU NO MIKOTO (TN. Mythical Imperial Prince renowned for his war powers), and the goddess of Agriculture. Originally, it was known as the Shrine of the Divinities of Agriculture and Textiles, and the war god, whose function was, however, restricted to keeping JAPAN orderly. In the future, the ATSUTA Shrine will be subject to the management of the Civil Board, which will appoint the SHINTO priests for the Shrines. The ATSUTA Shrine has, however, subsidiary Shrines in AICHI, NAGANO, and SHIZUOKA Prefectures, and will organize a governing body of her believers. ATSUTA Shrine expenses amount to 500,000 yen per annum, of which the State contributed only 5000 yen. It will, therefore, be able to take care of itself financially, without the State subsidiary, through voluntary contributions and offerings. It will, moreover, endeavour to popularize Shinto weddings.

As the ATSUTA Shrine enshrines the Divinity of Agriculture, it may also co-operate with the Agricultural association in offering agricultural subsidies and rewards. For the time being the ATSUTA Shrine, however, will experience some financial difficulties in connection with her building projects when the State subsidies in this connection are halted. ATSUTA Shrine has recorded 12 million visitors a year.

KASHIWARA Shrine: (TN. Enshrines the first mythical Emperor JIMMU) The Shrine is a subject of great veneration, by the people as the Shrine of the State's Foundation. Believers coming from all provinces will be fed with vegetables and wine from the Shrine's lands, and for this purpose intensive agriculture enterprises have been undertaken in a joint effort between priests and believers. Shrine festivals and Shinto weddings will be popularized. Yearly Shrine expenses are 300,000 yen, of which the State subsidy is only 5000 yen. The question is how to solve the problem of State property of the Shrine, as it was built with an outlay by the State of almost 5,000,000 yen.

OMI Shrine: This Shrine enshrines the Emperor TENCHI, who saved the country during a difficult period. It is under the special patronage of Prince TAKAMATSU. Its yearly expenses are l45,000 yen, of which the State subsidy was 5000 yen. The balance was covered mainly by regular subscriptions of the Believers Body (HOSANKAI), which is composed of the 800,000 people within the OMI Province and 100,000 people in other parts of JAPAN.

At about 1500 hours on 8 January, a group of approximately 30 burglars broke into the underground factory of the former TACHIKAWA Air Arsenal at NISHITAMA-Gun, threatened the watchmen, then headed for TOKYO along the OME Highway riding on a r truck with about 37 tons of duralumin, whose estimated value is 300,000 yen, 23 drums of gasoline valued at 46,000 yen, and 40 bales of charcoal.

The watchman, SAKAKAZU, rushed to the HIKAWA Police Box where the matter was telephoned to the OME Police Station. The head of the Station happened to be talking to Lieutenant Charles of the military police, and four subordinates. Lt. Charles immediately offered his assistance. More than 20 policemen were put in readiness, and before long, the nine trucks used by the burglars approached the Station. Lt Charles fired his pistol as a warning and the trucks were forced to a stop. In this manner, the 45 burglars, including the leader, ISHIKAWA of MEGURO-Ku, were arrested and taken

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to the TOKYO Metropolitan Police Board.

The gang leader, ISHIKAWA, stated that he knew of the existence of the goods in the underground factory at the end of the war, and set about making plans to steal it together with 26 Koreans and 19 Japanese. He intended to sell the duralumin at the rate of 6,000 yen per ton, allotting 1,500 yen per ton for commissions.

At about 2300 hours on 8 January, 8 men in a truck stole six drums of fuel alcohol, three coils of manila rope, and four petrolium cans from the former TSUBAME Unit warehouse at KITATAMA-Gun.

A masked burglar broke into the house of IWASAKI, Seiji at MUKOJIMA-Ku and, fled with 4,020 yen, at 0230 on 9 January.

At about 0530 hours on 9 January, a man impersonating a police officer entered the house of YOSHIDA, Masahiro of TOSHIMA-Ku, claiming to be an officer of the UENO Precinct. He fled with an overcoat and 18 suits of clothing, valued at an estimated 1,285 yen.

At about 1930 hours of 8 January, two masked bandits beat TANGUCHI, Joichi about the head and took from him 50 yards of white HABUTAE silk, and a purse containing eight yen. The robbery occurred near IKEJIRI-Cho in SETAGAYA-Ku.

Summary:

A conference of presidents of the courts of Appeal, and chief, Public Prosecutors throughout the country will be held tomorrow and the day after tomorrow at the Justice Ministry. It is understood that they will discuss the dismissal of officials in accordance with the Government policy on administrative readjustment. It is expected that the number of officials affected by the planned readjustment will reach unprecedentedly high figures.

The status of judges and public prosecutors has been guaranteed by law, and their dismissal at the discretion of their superiors has not been permitted. Accordingly, among the judges and public prosecutors, there are a great many superannuated officials, and incompetent officials who, despite their youth, have remained too long in the same position by refusing to be transferred. But, consistent with the situation since the war's end, a law which provides for the dismissal of juridical officers has been enacted. The law provides for the discharge of 17 per cent of the total number of officials, or approximately 400 men.

There are many superior officials who have intimated their intentions to resign leaving the responsibility of dismissal with their subordinates. No one, however, has yet tendered a resignation.

The dismissal of judges will be ordered in the form of dismissal at their own request. Should the order be rejected by the listed officials, the list will be brought before a plenary session of the Supreme Court, and the final, decision will rest in a two-thirds majority opinion of the participants.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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