Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0251, 1946-02-02.

Summary:

Vice-Minister OBAMA of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry explained the recent rice situation at the meeting of the Vice-Ministers held on 31 January as follows:

"Although there were some who feared a food crisis toward the end of January or in February judging from the markedly bad delivery of rice at the end of last year, fortunately it has been improving lately. If the farmers understand the real situation and co-operate with us in rescuing their follow citizens with full sympathy, the way will be cleared for the solution of the food problem."

General Outlook By Districts

The Food control Bureau of the ministry of Agriculture and Forestry gathered the following reports from local food offices.

HOKKAIDO is still in a difficult condition. Total of government's purchase as of 30 January is 9.4 Per cent of the allotment and it seams hardly possible to attain the goal of 15 per cent by the end of January. Even if the unexpectedly poor crop in HOKKAIDO were taken into account, we could not deny the farmers' lack of interest in rice delivery.

In the North-Eastern Prefectures (TOHOKU), rice delivery is also low, especially in AOMORI and AKITA Kens. Progress rates as of 20 January was 30.8 per cent in AOMORI Ken, 44.4 per cent in AKITA Ken and 38.3 per cent in MIYAGI Ken. There are some who attribute the case of AKITA to confusion of thought resulting from the farmers' movement. Poor crops seem to be the case in AKITA, but some quarters observe there is room for batter efforts.

In the KANTO District, the situation is bleak in CHIBA Ken which is the production center, while it is quite satisfactory in TOKYO TO and GUMMA Ken which are consuming centers. The progress rate in TOKYO is expected to reach 90 per cent by the end of the month and GUMMA is expected to pass 80 per cent by the end of the month. It is believed that living close to their consumers in the same prefecture has caused farmers to feel keenly the need of rescuing their follow citizens. The authorities say it is hard to understand why delivery is not satisfactory in KANAGAWA ken which is practically in the same situation as TOKYO and GUMMA.

Conditions in the HOKURIKU District are unsatisfactory in TOYAMA Ken, gloomy of late in NIIGATA and ISHIKAWA Kens, very unsatisfactory in YAMANASHI Ken.

In the TOKAI District, supplies are generally low in every prefecture. Yet the authorities are optimistic about them judging from results of the last two years.

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ITEM 1 (continued)

In the KINKI District, authorities are seriously concerned about the dullness of SHIGA Ken as it has long been a source of supply to KYOTO, OSAKA and KOBE. But OSAKA and HYOGO Kens are quite excellent. Both of them can achieve 80 per cent of their quotas by the end of the month. The reason is considered to be the same as that of TOKYO and GUMMA.

In the SHIKOKU District, conditions are unsatisfactory in KOCHI Ken which is the poorest in all JAPAN for it has to have a supply of rice from KAGAWA Ken every year. But the KAGAWA Ken harvest is not good this year.

In the KYUSHU District, the supply is generally low, above all KOMAMOTO and OITA Kens are dull. But the February delivery rate of the past two years was quite excellent end for this reason, there is some optimism.

In summary, rice delivery of this year cannot necessarily be said to be the worst from the point of progress, although it shows a decrease in quantity as compared with the past two years. And if the farmers' enthusiasm remains unchanged, it will not be so difficult to attain the desired goal.

As to the exercise of authoritative power for the compulsory delivery of rice, farmers are gradually getting to understand its real meaning that it is to punish the dishonest. There are some who wish earlier enforcement of the act. At any rate, there are rice stocks for more than 10 days in the big cities, and deliveries are showing an upward tendency though small in quantity.

Summary:

The Minister of the Imperial Household, MATSUDAIRA called on the Minister of Finance, SHIBUZAWA on 30 January 1946 to exchange views between the government and the ministry of the Imperial Household.

The government has decided to take the policy of opening up the assets of the Imperial family. GHQ, announced that the assets of the Imperial family amount to about 1590 odd million yen (except for works of art, jewels and ingots of gold and silver), and on 30 October 1945 had ordered, the Japanese government to institute a more thorough investigation. On 20 November 1945, a directive was issued to block the assets of the Imperial family.

It was announced on 25 November that the assets of the Imperial family would, be subject to the war-time profit tax and property tax. This is a great revolution in Japanese constitutional law and the Laws which state that the Emperor and the Imperial family are not subject to taxation. The assets of the Imperial family will surely be made public. Hence the assets of the Imperial family must be adjusted if the Imperial family is under the obligation to pay the property tax and the other taxes just like the people. The problem of revealing the Imperial family's asset will be deliberated by the Government and the Ministry of the Imperial Household.

The Imperial estates end forests will definitely be the object of the war-time profit tax and the property tax, and the majority of them will be sold. At present the problem between the government and the Ministry of the Imperial Household is how much of the estates

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ITEM 2 (Continued)

and forests should be sold. The extent of the disposal is being watched. The means of disposing of the Imperial estates and forests will depend upon whether or not the estates end forests will first be assigned to the Government and then disposed to the people through the Government. The problem of opening up the assets of the Imperial family will be watched with keen interest considering revision of the Constitutional Law.

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