Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0009, 1945-11-14.

Full translation:

Labor in JAPAN is on the eve of organization. But because most important factories engaged in munition industries during the war and are now in the process of reorganization, with consequent large scale discharge of workers, 3,000 to 60 organization movements are still at the low ebb.

The employees of the JAPAN Shoe Manufacturing Co. (NIPPON SEIKWA) set up a union on November 1. Workers of ISHIKAWAJIMA Heavy Industry Co. (ISHIKAWAJIMA JUKOGYO), KWANTO Electric Distribution Co. (KWANTO HAIDEN), NIPPON [illegible]TETSU, NIPPON Hide Co. (NIPPON HIKAKU), and others show moves toward organization. Workers of NIPPON SEIKWA held a meeting on November 1 and adopted general plans for organization which include (l) abolition of the class exploitation and class rule; (2) the economic and political liberation of the workers; (3) building up of a labor kingdom based on autonomous labor unions, and other principles. The organization meeting in which 477 men and 267 women assembled also passed on emergency resolutions and handed them to the company. The resolutions include following items: (l) stabilize workers living conditions; (2) distribute living necessaries fairly; (3) indicate the plan of company management to the workers; (4) equal pay for equal work irrespective of sex.

On the other hand, a survey made by the Metropolitan Police Bureau on 20 major factories in its jurisdictional area shows a lack of positive attitude on the capital's side about unionization of the workers. The survey covered ISHIKAWAJIMA Heavy Industry Co., Scientific Research Co. (RIKEN), Greater NIPPON Textile Co. (DAI NIPPON BOSEKI), and other companies. This survey showed that relative to the question of unionization one factory showed a hostile attitude, but all others were passive in their attitudes and hoped for healthy unions.

About the same question representatives of one company (NIPPON KINZOKU KOGYO) stated that during the war the company had to pay more or less 50,000 yen annually to the SAMPO (TN The official organization which substituted for unions during the war.) and to control companies and others and that company wonders whether or not this money could not be used for the unions. Although the central organization of the SAMPO has been dissolved, factory units of it are still surviving. Many companies intend to use them as the capital - labor cooperating bodies. At least four companies showed plans to that end.

On the whole capital's slogans are cooperation of capital and labor and the idea of "enterprise family." As practical steps many are planning payment of higher wages. For instance the RIK[illegible]N advocates the minimum wage of 200 yen[illegible]a month. Next, many wish to distribute

ECONOMIC SERIES: 9 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

food stuffs among workers. And, finally, many companies also advocate abolition of discrimative treatment of clerical and manual workers in factories. Some factory showed a plan under which female workers of l6 to 22 or 23 years of age dwell exclusively in company dormitories, which in practice may amount to the revival of the "Sorrowful Episode of Female Mill-hands" of the pre-war textile industry.

As to the demands of capital on labor, many expressed the opinion that the union fulfil their duties as responsible organizations instead of acting as complaining organization only. It is to be hoped that they will be autonomous organization only. It is to be hoped that will be autonomous organization, free from external influences. The "boss" and "leader" system in case of disputes was decried by the capital.

Full translation:

Coke production which had Presented the greatest difficulty during the war is still a bottleneck hindering production of civilian necessities. According to the Commerce and Industry Ministry investigation, the available supply is only l9,000 tons per month against, a monthly need in JAPAN proper of 55,000 tons about 35 per cent of the demand.

Current production and transportation limitations, make it appear impossible to remedy quickly. The Commerce and Industry Ministry's investigation report on supply and demand is as follows: Rehabilitation is retarding industry. Present coke production quotas are 60,000 tons monthly, in the following categories:

(Classification by producers)

Gas industry about 55 per cent.

Chemical and other industries, about 45 per cent.

(does not include the iron industry)

(Classification by district)

HOKKAIDO - 15,500 tons

HONSHU - 31,900 tons

KYUSHU - 13,600 tons

Stocks in HOKKAIDO about 20,000 tons.

Stocks in KYUSHU about 20,000 tons

Stocks in KANTO district 8,000 tons

However, these quantities are not available on account of transportation difficulties. About 10,900 tons to HONSHU and about 40,000 tons to the whole nation are being supplied monthly.

While the demand cannot be accurately determined on account of the very unstable industrial conditions, there is an increasing need for the manufacture of ammonium-sulphate, calcium-nitrate and carbides; farm implements, medical instruments and supplies; iron and steel

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 9 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

tools; and for the maintenance of transportation facilities, etc.

Immediate minimum coke requirements are estimated at about 71,000 tons per month. The greatest amount is required in HONSHU.

Production is about 3,000 tons in HOKKAIDO, 55,000 tons in HONSHU and 13,000 tons in KYUSHU.

It was planned to transport 8,000 tons of KYUSHU-coke and 17,000 tons of HOKKAIDO-coke to HONSHU, however, the transportation capacity is only about 20,000 tons a month, 35 per cent of HONSHU's required 55,000 tons.

The supply would be adequate if it could be brought to the required areas, so the entire problem depends upon the improvement of transportation facilities. In the near future industry will be operating more smoothly and coke demands may well rise to 18,000 tons monthly, with coke for casting estimated to about 50,000 M tons. Bituminous and anthracite requirements are considerably difficult to anticipate

Summary:

The All JAPAN Agriculture Association (ZENKOKU-NOGY-KAI) has set for its goal the production of 1,200,000 KAN (KAN - 8.27 lbs) of green tea for the latter part of this year. The central organization will demand an increase in price as well as a supply of firewood from the authorities. Raising the price of SEN-CHA (green tea) is also demanded. The present producer's price is as follows: SEN-CHA: A class, twenty two YEN per KAN. B class, sixteen YEN per KAN.

A substantial advance in price is especially desired. The present producers prices are as follow,

ARA-CHA (coarse green tea)

A class, nine YEN per KAN (8.28 pounds)

B class, six YEN per KAN

KARI-BAN-CHA (Low grade of coarse green tea) four YEN per KAN

The price demanded, in the case of "A" class ARA-CHA, is thirteen to fifteen YEN per KAN.

Full translation:

The Allied Headquarters issued directive on the 3rd through Post-war Affairs Bureau (SHUSEN JIMU KYOKU), to export about 150,000 JAPANESE silkworm egg cards to KOREA and necessary measures should quickly be taken.

The consignment is to be addressed to Commanding Officer of American KOREA Occupation Army.

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 9 (Continued)

Summary:

Radio manufacturers, who have been making military short wave sets during the war, can now reconvert with comparative ease to post-war industry. With the clarification of the policy of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, radio manufacturers began manufacture materials at hand and have already reached the stage where they can stock up.

In the KANSAI area, OSAKA-FU had authorized, lifting the price of radios to three times the original level. Five plants in the area planned to produce 80,000 sets, place them on the market by 1 November.

But in accordance with the newly announced policy of the Commerce and Industry Ministry, the new price cannot be more than twice the former level and consequently plants in the KANSAI area, not being able to sell at that level, suspended all sales. The representatives of these plants were sent to TOKYO to confer in the revision of the fixed price, and. until the price situation is ironed out, radios will lay idle in factory warehouses. Everyone is looking forward to sale of these sets.

Summary:

Private and unlawful procuring of sweet potatoes by the people of Tokyo in neighboring provinces has become so widespread that the Government has at last decided to intervene. TOKYO will, at the direction of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, collect sweet potatoes from producers in the CHIBA and SAITAMA areas at the unprecedented official price of 5 yen per KAN. At first 3 million KAN will be gathered then distributed as supplementary rations to the citizens of TOKYO at the rate of 1 KAN per person, at a probable price of ¥ 5.20 or ¥ 5.30.

This step taken by the government is important because it means the substitution of public effort for illegal and uneconomic private efforts.

Agricultural authorities expect that if this trial plan for procuring sweet potatoes succeeds, the same method may he applied to the garden radish and the rape, whose harvest season is also approaching.

Meanwhile, individual buying of city people at farms will be restricted.

Full translation:

The world is still economically stagnant because of the dispersion of labor, the instability of the value of currency, price fluctuations and the shortage of various essential materials.

Coal mining is approaching a crisis. Companies can not operate because credit drafts do not circulate smoothly and because of the deadlock in the stock market. The financial world is in a state of continued inactivity as a result of uncertainty involving reparations and the increasing number of companies which are unable to pay dividends. Economic inactivity has brought about unemployment. Under the circumstances, Japanese economy can neither improve itself, nor contribute to the reconstruction of a new Japan.

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 9 (Continued)

ITEM 7 (Continued)

The following measures to end the stagnation are demanded by all parties:

• 1.Financial offices must be more efficient and must have closer liaison with Allied Headquarters.
• 2.The authorities must disclose promptly their plans concerning industry and finance before the problem becomes a political one.

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