Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0145, 1946-01-12.

Summary:

Agriculture and Forestry Minister MATSUMURA has very often expressed a wish that the staple food shortage he alleviated with a plentiful supply of fish. A food rich in proteins, fish would surely play major role this year, when other main food supplies are expected to be most scarce.

Removal of the wartime obstacles for the supply of fishermen, materials, and boats and the subsequent improvement in conditions have caused a gradual increase in catches. The greater the catch, the lower the price. Fish will be easier to get this year According to plan drafted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, by the end of 1946, fish supplies will reach market in an amount sufficient for general Consumption (30 to 40 momme daily).

Fishing Ground

By a SCAP directive, JAPAN is denied access to the rich Russian waters, and Southern and Northern Ocean, where she formerly engaged in fishing. Japanese fishing is now limited to the waters within 500 miles of the home islands. These waters will become the [illegible]reas of vigorous Japanese fishing activity. Whaling in the waters around the OGASAWARA archipelago is very much to he hoped for. Fishing activities in the EAST CHINA Sea, and off SEIKOKU has already resumed active operations.

Coastal Fisheries

Even before the outbreak of war, coastal fishing brought more than 70 per cent of the total of Japanese fishing. Having suffered little war damage, its future is most bright. It must not be overlooked, however, that as coastal fisheries are scattered throughout the country, their products cannot be collected easily, and are therefore, likely to slip out of the usual channels of distribution. Whether or not the surely will become plentiful in the areas where consumed, depends largely upon the revival of transportation facilities.

Fishing Boats

The total number of fishing boats on hand is estimated at 318,000 (795,000 tons), including 246,000 boats without engines (369,000 tons), and 72,000 boats with engines (426,000 tons). The figures indicate a decrease of 36,000 boats or 283,000 tons from stock before the outbreak of war when there were 354,000 boats or 1,078,000 tons. The number of boats actually operating are only about 30 per cent of the existing number of boats. This part is one of the most important causes

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of the current low catches. Full operation of boats on hand is expected after spring, and an additional 330,000 tons are also expected to begin operation by the end of this year.

Oil

Before the war, about 560,000 Kilolitres of fuel oil and about 90,000 Kilolitres of kerosene and light oil were consumed annually. At the war's end, the consumption of fuel oil dropped to 5 per cent of the above figure, and that of kerosene and light oil to 10 per cent. An increased oil supply is expected for this year.

Fishing Equipment

The increase in the number of fishing nets will be difficult to realize since the materials are entirely imported. But this obstacle may be overcome by increasing production of collateral goods such as canned fish, the expert of which was exceeded only by that of raw silk before the war.

Labor

What matters most is how to obtain ample food for fishermen, though this problem can be solved by giving them supplementary rations.

Full Translation:

The overseas Assets of the Imperial Household and Private overseas assets, are being compiled by the Government in accordance with a SCAP directive. [illegible]total will amount to about 100 billion yen.

According to the calculation on August 1944, the assets of Japanese cotton spinning companies in CHINA, including machinery, buildings, real estate, and manufactured goods, is estimated at about 10,000 Billion GEN (Chinese unit of money) as compared with 4,000 Billion GEN, were issued by the CHOBI BANK. The Japanese cotton spinning companies' assets in CHINA will be more than adequate when JAPAN pays her indemnities with a part of the bank-notes which the CHOBI BANK issued (4,000 Billion GEN) after the war.

Full Translation:

The Agriculture and Forestry Ministry, which is investigating a plan for the supply of timber, mainly for use as material for the restoration of buildings in 1946, is trying to come to a decision as quickly as possible. The planned yield of timber is expected to be not more than about 80,000,000 koku.

The demand for timber is so great that, owing to the shortage of food, the difficulty of delivering materials and lumbering in deep forests, the demand cannot be met. The estimate of about 80,000,000 KOKU, is the greatest possible, under the circumstances. The timber is to be used for the restoration of buildings, pulp, piles, electric-light and telegraph poles, and packing cases. Material for the restoration of buildings will take 40,000,000

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ITEM 3 [illegible],000 KOKU of pulp.

Summary:

The War Rehabilitation Board (SENSAI FUKU KOIN) announced a rehabilitation plan for devasted areas on 7 January. This fundamental policy is to be the basis for the reconstruction of over 120 damaged cities in JAPAN. The plan contains the following items: the district of rehabilitation, land availabilities, chief institutes, adjustment of land management of gutted areas, building works and costs of undertaking.

This plan differs in several ways from the rehabilitation carried out at the time of the KANTO Earthquake Disaster. The rehabilitation work in that case was managed by the State, However, in the above plan the work carried out is the responsibility of the heads of cities, towns and villages, and, if necessary, the local governers. A large part of the cost of this rehabilitation would be met by the State.

Main streets in medium and small towns are designed for a width of 36 metres and in large cities for more than 50 metres. This is somewhat wider than the present SHOWA Street in TOKYO, which is 44 metres wide. The other main streets in towns, are to be over 25 metres wide, and in the large cities they are to be over 36 meters wide. Even side streets have a minimum width of 6 metres. On the other hand the green areas would be expanded to about 10 per cent of the total areas of the city. This figure is about four times the 2.4 per cent scheduled in the rehabilitation after the KANTO earthquake disaster.

The land adjustment would be carried out rapidly for s areas of war damage. To help town planning, the purchase of land, or if necessary, an issue of title deeds are under consideration. The areas gutted during the war would be chiefly converted to areas for public use. To consider the realization of this plan, the War Rehabilitation authorities will hold a conference on the l4 January, composed of the heads of each prefectural office and the mayors of four large cities.

Reconstruction based on this plan has already started in the city of TOYAMA. It will also start in KOCHI in the near future.

Full Translation:

A group of the workers discharged just after the war at the former OKIKUBO works of the FUJI Industrial Company (the former NAKAJIMA Aeroplane Manufacturing Company) formed a Labor union and held a mass meeting on 7 January 1946. They made 10 demands of the Company among which were the following: the immediate return of the workers discharged just after the war; the transfer of savings from the Industry Patriotic Service Assembly to the Labor Union; a. public statement concerning the disposal of goods produced since the end of the war; a seven hour day for all employees.

The Company authorities will reply to them at 1500 on 10 January 1946.

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