Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0149, 1946-01-11.

Extracts:

In the war as many as 119 cities and 2,250,000 houses were destroyed. The latter may be further increased if we add 600,000 odd houses in the cities destroyed by our own hands to limit the influence of air-raids. The total number then amounts to about 3,000,000, more than 80 % of them being dwellings. Thus, more than 8,995,000 people have lost their homes, about 40 % of these homes have been destroyed and about 48 % of the population are homeless. There is. moreover, a great number of repatriates who need homes. It is estimated that about 4,000,000 heuses, must be constructed. This is one of the [illegible]that our country must undertake and complete in the next few years. In addition, we must observe all the provisions of the POTSDAN Declaration which has a great influence not only upon structure of industries, but also all our territory and we must adjust [illegible]to the circumstances. finding all possible [illegible]ways to [illegible]industries, rivise our culture, re-[illegible]the population and reall cate the land. The Reconstruction Board (FUKKO IN) under the presidency of state minister KOBAYASHI, which was established 5 November 1945, aims to have charge of all round plans and designs for re-construction shortly after the war. [illegible]4 September 1945 the cabinet decided to build about 3,000,000 dwelling bouses for those whose homes had been [illegible]. The plan was originally sat up by the Welfare Ministry of the HIGASHIKUNI-Cabinet, and was taken over, when that Cabinet [illegible]by the Reconstruction Board. However, as yet it is only half-way done. The construction of 3,000,000 houses, simple dwellings as they are is not an easy task, especially with the present shertage of materials. According to the investigation by the Reconstruction Board on 5 November 1945, in TOKUSHIMA Ken which had a [illegible]of 270,170 houses, only 20,848 or 8 % were actually built, are the completion of 79,087 houses, or 29 %, is considered possible by the end of the year. It must further be remenbered that these are simple dweldings and that there are other ordinary dwellings to be constructed, numbering 34,330, and 134,800 temporary buildings totaling 247,000 which are, however, only 11 % of the total number of dwellings destroyed in the air-raids. On 21 November 1945 the Emergency Dwelling Order (JUTAKU KINKYU SOCHIREI) was promulgated and carried into effect on the same day, giving opportunities to utilize unoccupied dwellings. The Land and Construction Control Law (TOCHI KOSAKU BUTSU KANRI SHUYOREI) and Air Defense Law (BOKU HO) could justify the application of compulsory measures to utilize buildings as dwellings. The Government, however, did not apply these compulsory measures after the war, and the Reconstruction Board was empowered to enforce this new law. Utilization of extant structures as dwellings can be applied to barracks, solid buildings and dormitories attached to industrial works as was pointed out by the authorities. Yet sometimes it has been extremely difficult for

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the people to obtain these structures and make them suitable as dwellings. The above mentioned law was enacted in the belief that the present state of affairs could not be settled without taking strong measures. The order proved to be somewhat effective, but not sufficiently effective, and another plan must be set up after the plan for constructing 300,000 homes is completed. The first program that the Board of Reconstruction took up was the reconstruction plan of 119 cities. The plans to be used will take into consideration the population in each city, the distribution of industries, cultural institutions, etc. First, the contents of the reconstruction plan must be made known to the control authorities. Then the technicians of the local authorities make up the program in its basic form for discussion by members of the municipalities. Next it is to be approved by the prefectural government. The draft of the plan is then given to the Board of Reconstruction by the local Governors. The Board of Reconstruction, turns it to the local committee of city planning for discussion and advice, and then the plan is finally carried into effect. The direction which our city planning will take cannot be predicted immediately, but the general lines of the reconstruction program under study by the Board of Reconstruction, are probably as follows:

• 1.Complete network of reads, extension of common grassy lands, reduction of the density of dwelling houses will keep the inhabitants healthier, more efficient and reduce danger of fires. Reasonable arrangement of farm-villages shall be also established.
• 2.Giant sized cities shall not be allowed. Setting up of new areas for factories shall also be considered, and the location or the restriction of the location of high-schools, colleges, universities shall be considered.
• 3.Cities that had been set apart solely for military use, but which have a basic reason for existence, shall be reconstructed through inviting institutions of science and culture to settle there. As for naval parts, with certain changes they can well survive as proper places for peacetime industries.

All the cities that have been damaged in the war are endeavoring to carry out reconstruction work and are expected by the Board of Reconstruction to have their reconstruction programs ready by March 1946. The Cities of TOYAMA and KOCHI have presented reconstruction plans to the Reconstruction Beard, which handed them to the Local Committee of city planning (TOSHI KEIKAKU CHIHO I-JNKAI) for advice on 26 December 1945 when their plans are approved and authorized the first will be the rearrangement of the wards in these cities.

Summary:

The new price of ammonium sulphate to be fixed from January to July this year by the Ammonium Sulphate Association (RYUAM-KUMIAI) is under the consideration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The matter will be determined and the results announced by the middle of this month at the latest.

The important items expected are: the double price system, the purchase price and the sale price, will be continued as heretofore. For the balance of these two prices, government subsidies will be paid to the producers. The new purchase price will be fixed to average more than 1,000 yen by means of the same method used

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heretofore. The highest price in the former term was 450 yen.

The selling price, which has been kept fixed for about six years, is due to be increased. On the other hand, rice and coal prices are already increased, and in addition to them, the revenues of farmers are also increasing under present conditions. This increase of price doesn't seem to affect the farmers. They consider it a natural course of events.

Full Translation:

Ever since the Farmland Reform Law, the first step towards the re-construction of JAPAN'S economy, was proposed, there has been much discussion as to what extent the landowner can hold his farmland, as it is a problem significant enough to be compared to the Reformation of the TAIKA Era in its distribution of farmland. The law has at last passed the two Houses with the understanding that farms will be an average of 5 Cho in every part of JAPAN, and that the minimum will not be much less than 4 cho, with details left to Imperial ordinances. A meeting was held by the Farmland Readjustment Council (KOKI SEINGIKAI) in order to decide areas specifically for each prefecture. After an elaborate discussion upon the tentative plan furnished by the authorities, some defects were found, and it was re-examined at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Finally decision was reached on this problem which was a center of discussion in the rural communities, making the maximum 19 cho in HOKKAIDO and the minimum 3 cho 6 tan in OSAKA and five other prefectures, as shown in the table at the end of this article. Calculations were made on the basis of the cabinet decision of "five cho in average", the request of the House of Peers for not much less than four cho, and the standard maximum area of independent farm system. Efforts have also been made to keep larger area in prefectures in which average farming area per house is larger, and to keep a smaller area where crops per tan cost more or the price of land is dearer. All of these four conditions were given equal consideration. In addition to this, specific conditions peculiar to each prefecture were also taken into consideration. In those prefectures where there is a great difference in conditions due to the flatness or hilliness of the area, classification of land into more than two grades may be made with the approval of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry on the condition that in so doing the average approximates the fixed figure.

TABLE OF PROPOSED MAXIMUM LAND PER FARMER IN EACH PREFECTURE (Unit Cho)

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ECONOMIC SERIES: 149 (Continued)

Full Translation:

In contrast to the rapid expansion of currency end the rapid rise in prices, deposits recently have shown a remarkable decrease. According to the lastest calculations of the TOKYO Bank, at the end of November 1945 deposits totaled 33,215,000,000 yen and loans 50,936,000,000 yen; but on 10 December 1945 deposits totalled 32,583,000,000 yen and leans 51,419,000,000 yen. In comparison to the decrease of deposits by about 600,000,000 yen, loans have increased by about 500,000,000 yen.

As inflation has been getting worse, it was decided by board of directors on 7 January that banks in the Combined Banking Association (GINKO KYOKAI) were not to make loans which would be used for dangerous speculation, the hoarding of food and goods, or for black market dealings. The decision was immediately reported to the banks and offices concerned. At the same time, the JAPAN Bank decided to act in concert with them.

Bill-clearing has been decreasing owing to the fall in credit deals and the increase of black market activities. This fact also is an indication of inflation.

Summary:

As a result of the SCAP political purge directives, the combined committee of the Japanese Economic League Association (JUYO-SANGYO-DANTAI KYOGIKAI), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Japan (NIPPON SHOKO KEIZAIKAI), and the central organ of the Commerce and Industry Associations (SHOKO-KUMIAI CHUOKAI), held its standing members' committee meeting on 8 January to discuss the future activities of these four associations.

It is understood that these associations will re-organize as rapidly as possible along democratic lines. Points to observed are:

• 1.The function of the present combined committee of the four economic associations will be strengthened in order to discuss overall economic problems.
• 2.The Japanese Economic League Association and the Consulting Association of Essential Industrial Bodies would be consolidated into a new economic association.
• 3.The new economic association will have as its subordinate organizations self-governed trade associations transformed from the present control associations.
• 4.Both the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Japan and the central organ of the Commerce and Industry Associations would also be reorganized to meet the new situation.
• 5.former leaders of these economic associations will be retired en block to make way for new men.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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