Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0027, 1945-11-28.

ITEM 1 Women suffrage and Women's Bureau - Tckyo Shimbun - 19 Nov 45. Translator: M. Kato.

Full Translation:

The participation of women in politics will be realized through suffrage. The political system in JAPAN has heretofore restricted political activities to men only. Women's position has been greatly ignored which is not in unformity will the democratic way of life. Therefore the government has undertaken to improve their positions.

The current situation, however, is not entirely satisfactory. There is no positive attitude on the part of the government nor of the women themselves. Women are still following their old ways of life through force of habit. For example, new political parties, either already inaugurated or about to be inaugurated, have very little in their policies regarding steps to be taken in elevating the stature of women.

Moreover, policies which do concern women are being ignored. On the other hand, women themselves seem to be entirely indifferent to this lack of consideration, and show no reaction against it, apparently intending to let things run their natural course.

Is this attitude justifiable? There is naturally a difference in attitude between one who acquires some thing through conflict and one who receives the same thing as a present. Women are being given the privilege of voting, however, the lack of earnestness they are showing in politics is difficult to account for. The reason for this indifference can be explained, however, by the absence of organizations in which women in general can express their opinions.

Once this deficiency is remedied women's enthusiasm for politics will surely be greatly stimulated.

We believe the government should be responsible for making good this defect by undertaking the establishment of a woman's bureau attached directly to the cabinet. By this means, women's interest in public affairs and political activities could be promoted.

Politics should not be limited merely to idealistic endeavor, but should also be concerned with affairs of practical importance. And women surely play a very important part in the activities of daily life. As Mr. PAULEY declared, "Due to the payment of reparations by JAPAN to the Allied lowers, our present system of food distribution will continue for some time to come. And this will have a marked effect on our daily living."

From this statement, the position of women in politics can neadily be seen. Our proposed women's bureau will be closely connected with the

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neighborhood associations and will give women a chance to participate in affairs such as the promotion of welfare and cultural associations.

At present there is a tendency to replace women with men as a remedy for unemployment. The economic position of the women themselves seems to be entirely ignored. The illtreatment of women was strongly evident during the war when they were exploited as much as possible and then left to take care of themselves. The establishment of a women's bureau would remedy these evils. And the need for some sort of remedial action is seen from the fact that many wives who have lost their husbands during the war, are now compelled to support their families.

The development of a nation or a society depends entirely upon the qualities and contributions of its members. Since approximately half the population of a nation consists of women it follows that unless their status is equal to that of men, very little can be achieved. We must bear the fact in mind.

ITEM 2 The Government Should Anticipate the Allied Directive for Solving the Food Problem.- Mainichi Shimbun - 19 Nov Translator: H. Fuzukawa.

Full Translations:

The government issued a statement on 17 November that all markets will be strictly supervised, and severe punishment meted those engaged in black market transactions in rice, wheat, or other staples. Penalties will be imposed upon those responsible for corruption in the Foodstuffs Supply Corporation, and the agriculture associations. This applies, further, to persons caught stealing foodstuffs in the possession of the Foodstuffs Supply Corporation.

The government, we believe, has been inattentive in these matters, due, in all probability, to the bewilderment caused by prices of necessary commodities that have since the wars end risen as high as 2,000 per cent above the fixed price.

But the government, whose acts leg behind conditions, displays as much perplexity and seems to fear pillaging and corruption in agencies directly under its control, that the people have cause for alarm, believing that the critical point has been reached.

Staples at least must be equally distributed. The governments proposals which seem to be dependent upon the importation of 3,000,000 tons of food, is reprehensible. According to anticipated figures of the Ministry of Agriculture, solution for the food problem has reached a stalemate. The nation, therefore, can expect inadequate nourishment. Fortunately, rice and barley are still being supplied from some mysterious source.

It is common practice in the villages for clever farmers to keep a supply of rice called "BUTSKO YOMAI", or "rice for barter purposes." This supply will, indeed, prove a godsend.

The supply and production of rice is dependent upon the attitude of the farmer, and the amount of profit he can realize. For this reason the Ministry of Agriculture has decided to raise the ceiling price on rice produced in 1945 so that the producer will net 150 yen. The net receipt for the landowner will remain at the 1944 level of 55 yen per koku. With this in mind, it is apparent that in order for the

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ITEM 2 (Continued)

farmer to exact the full fruits of his labor, he should be permitted to pay his rent in money and not in crop shares.

The Government price to which producers wanted rice raised, was about 300 yen. However, the Agriculture Ministry explained that since the price of rice is the index for the prices of all commodities, it could not affix such a high price. We can accept this as a reasonable explanation, but to compensate for the lower price, the Agricultural Ministry is reported to be prepering commodities for special distribution to the producer who fulfils his duty in producing his quota. The commodities which are to be specially distributed to them are chemical fertilizer amounting to 50 thousand tons of converted ammonium sulphate; amounting to 100,000 koku; tabi for laberess; and farm implements. This promise must be fulfilled without fail. The reason for hoardin stocks of rice and withholding rice from the quota is that farmers find it difficult to buy fertilizer, farm implements, and other necessities without using rice for barter.

These actions are not being taken out of greed or for speculation reasons, but rather for an earnest desire to maintain a high rice and vegetable supply for the next year.

It is widely appreciated that only a policy that will stimulate the farmers incentive can increase output, and therefore, the quotas. Yet policies directed toward this end have been lacking.

The large majority of cur farmers are comprised of small tenant farmers therefore, a policy which will improve and stabilize conditions for the tenant farmers being closely related to a policy of strengthening productive capacity in agriculture, will lead to a solution of the food problem.

However, policies on this vital matter, were not out into force because of the prevailing attitude which agriculturists and farmers termed as temporizing. For instance, the Tenant Law proposed to the Diet in 1931, and the Fam Land Act of I937, were both left unanswered by the Diet and remaind without solution untill the present. The House of Peirs has always been more obstructive to their passage than the Lower House.

Social conditions are changing rapidly. There is no time to spare for disscussions on feudalism or liberalism. The Agriculture Ministry entends to present a bill for farm land reform to the coming extraordinary session of the Imperial Diet. By this bill they plan to have the government purchase all land owned by landowners whose estates exceed three cho. By reason of this purchase, 2 million cho land will be turned over to tenant farmers who will then become landed farmers. At present the tenanted land of the country amounts to 27 million cho. This bill was submitted to the l6 November cabinet meeting, but no final decision was reached. It was then taken into deliberation again at the consultation meeting of Ministers of Economics and as yet remains unsettled.

As we see from the foregoing facts, our government is conservative and obstinate, in so far as the land problem is concerned. However, no one will object to the fundamental policy of giving the producer his own land.

This problem has been discussed in the Diet and among the people since 1931, and therefore it should be approved by the Diet in the next session so that it can be finally realized.

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The present situation is so critical that 20 million people will face starvation in the near future. We hope that the Government will at least settle the food problem courageously with its own resources and not by direction of Allied Headquarters.

ITEM 3 Practicability of atomic energy - Mainichi Shimbun - 19 Nov 45. Translator: I. Imai.

Extract:

That atomic energy was first demonstrated as a weapon of destruction is deplorable, but considering its destructive capacity, it is only natural it was used during war. Atomic research was greatly accelerated during the war. The question now lies in how best to utilize atomic energy toward peaceful ends.

The UNITFD STATES, ENGLAND, and CANADA have jointly announced that the secret of atomic bomb production will not be released to any other nation until such a time "when all nations of the world can agree on safeguarding guarantees, and until enforcement measures are effectively and reciprocally completed".

JAPAN was the first nation to experience the full effect of the atomic bomb. For the sake of mankind, let us hope she is at the same time, the last.

The atomic bomb is the subject of wide political discussion, and has assumed a major role in shaping diplomatic policy. But in the last analysis, the "only absolute protection for the civilized world from the destructive use of scientific knowledges lies in the prevention of war". This is a problem to test the wisdom and conscience of all mankind.

Until now the atomic bomb represents the highest degree of scientific achievement in destruction, but it augurs weapons of incalculably greater destructive power for the future.

Since the maintenance of secrets is limited, atomic bomb production methods will sooner or later be known to the world. Hence, it behooves the UNITED STATES, ENGLAND, and CANADA to retain the secret as long as possible, releasing it only when peace can be safely assured. After that the benefits of atomic research should be made available to mankind.

Perhaps the apprehension concerning atomic bombs will end when the UNITED STATES devises a means to can atomic energy and export it to all parts of the world in much the same manner as petroleum, medicines and so forth.

ITEM 4 Two Problems Expected to Arise Following Abolition of Privy Seal Office - Tokyo Shimbun - 19 Nov 45. Translator: K. Nagatani.

Summary:

The abolition of the Office of the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal is now definite. The Office of the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal has been the subject of frequent discussion in higher political strata. The general public has seemed outwardly detached as far as

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this organization is concerned but actually through its activities in creating cabinets, the Privy Seal office has most directly affected national life. Accordingly, it is quite natural that the Privy Seal Office should he abolished in a democratic JAPAN.

With the discontinuance of the Privy Seal Office, two problems are expected to arise: One concerns custody of the Imperial Seal Office and the Great Seal; and the other is the recommendation to the Throne of a Prime Minister for a succeeding Cabinet. Under the responsible Cabinet system, the Imperial Seal and the Great Seal should be retained by the Government. This is favorable also from the standpoint of "assistance to the Throne."

Concerning the recomendation of a premier to His Majesty, such conversions as have been observed up to present, should be scrutinized from the purely democratic point of view. We should question on necessity of such practices in a democracy.

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