Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0063, 1945-12-06.

Full translation:

Mr. K. HAYASHI, lecturer on the Medical Faculty of TOHOKU Imperial University, stated, "We lost the war, and so we may not be qualified to advise the victorious Chinese Nation. But it is my duty to answer Mr. KAO Yu-shu's contribution.

"The Japanese people fought the Chinese in the theater of CHINA, plungin the Chinese into a great ruin. We were even so haughty as to "build memorial obelisks for our dead in CHINA. We are now ready to atone for past misdeeds. We frankly admit that the past Sino-Japanese conflicts were based upon the desires of the Japanese.

"We neglected to curb our military clique in its aggressions. In a certain stage of the CHINA war, our people indulged in hearing war news with a map of CHINA unfolded on the table. We are forced now to reflect on Japanese culture. Eighty years since the MEIJI Restoration was too short for Japanese culture to attain maturity through contact with Western culture. All this tended to load JAPAN to the present surrender. We are ready to apologize to Mr. KAO Yu-shu, to the Chinese people, and to your wise leader, CHIANG Kai-shek.

"We should like to ponder on some aspects which Mr. KAO did not mention in his letter. Is Mr. KAO justified in deciding to be "unreasonable" in regard to our sense of superiority over the Chinese? The chaos of Chinese politics and economy accounts for our sense of superiority over the Chinese. It is a matter of regret that as soon as the Japanese troops were disarmed, civil war broke out in CHINA.

"We are resolved to assume our responsibility for the past tragedies between both Nations. However, the Chinese people, too, should reflect upon the causes of our superiority complex toward the Chinese. We heartily expect CHINA to improve in culture, morale and strength. Perhaps the Chinese people will be surprised to hear such an answer from a defeated Nation? We firmly believe, however, that success in constructing a new ASIA depends upon competent advice and co-operation among the Asiatic Nations."

NAGAI, Makoto (Doctor of Literature) stated: "I was overwhelmed with shame as I read Mr. KAO Yu-shu's letter 'From a Chinese'. I do not favor the self-complacent theory of narrow minded nationalists. Self-pride of each individual is a basis fom our mutual respect. Who spits

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 63 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

against the wind, spits in his own face. Contempt for others is contempt for one's self. JAPAN introduced and digested the Chinese, Indian, and European cultures. That means JAPAN had a proper culture, for a savage nation cannot introduce and digest any foreign culture. Confucianism and the works of CONFUCIUS have been as highly esteemed and as widely read among our people as in CHINA. In the scientific study of Confucianism, JAPAN has no equal.

"I believe, moreover, that Confucianism is emphasized in our Nation's daily life rather than in that of CHINA, the birth place of CONFUCIUS. We have no alternative but to resume our life as cultured Japanese. The Chinese people from olden times have thought more of the pen than of the sword. We hope to contribute a great deal to world culture in close co-operation with your Nation."

Full translation:

I feel great sympathy for the unemployed person who contributed an article to this column of the 'Tokyo' dated 28 November. Though I am not responsible for such an advertisement, as you stated, I will answer you in my capacity as the master of an employment station. This advertisement is being carried by newspapers and other mediums, but it is a pity that sometimes subscribers disagreed with employers as to the conditions they desire.

You say that the advertisement asked the unemployed to go to employment stations quickly. Indeed, it is true. At every employment station, we have enlarged the employment station, have made efforts to find positions for demobilized soldiers, and for those who have been thrown out of munitions factories and other jobs. In this manner, many jobs have been found. It goes without saying that in order to carry out one of the items of the POTSDAM Declaration, we must do our own best to gather as many workmen as the American Forces demand. To establish a new JAPAN, we must also secure enough laborers for Japanese industry which, since the end of the war, is now producing civilian goods.

I hope you may find a regular job, after consulting with the authorities of the employment station in your neighborhood. Employment now will aid in bridging the present crisis in JAPAN's national life.

Full translation:

Women's suffrage is the most important point of the Election Law Reform Bill. Since it was introduced to the Diet by direction of General MacARTHUR's Headquarters, the Diet is forced to give tacit consent to it. Now that the women are favored with the same political rights as men, the same social position should also be given to them. Women's suffrage is another step towards the establishment of sex equality in criminal and civil law. The criminal code of JAPAN does not demand "the husband's chastity". Adultery is limited to the wife, and her adultery can be discussed as a crime only by prosecution of the husband.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 63 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Such unequal treatment of women in the criminal code is supported by the principles established in the family system of JAPAN. But now, with the views of the world, expressed in the "Male State" by Dr. ROSENBERG making it unavoidable, it must be regarded as a remnant of feudalism. We remember that the beginning of the KYOTO Imperial University Incident" was caused by the radio broadcast of Professor TAKIKAWA of KYOTO Imperial University on the criminal code and by his work, "Lectures on the Criminal Code."

Mr. HATOYAMA, then Education Minister, dismissed Professor TAKIKAWA because he insisted in his work that the provision on adultery should be omitted from the criminal code so long as it was based on the sex inequality principle, which he regarded as irrational. Therefore, he was dismissed on the charge that his "dangerous" theory could be harmful to the manners and morals of JAPAN. Opposing his dismissal, Dr. SASAKI, Soichi, professor at the same university, protested for the sake of "academic freedom". His protest led other professors of the Law Faculty to resign and created a sensation in the academic world.

Lately, this important problem has come to a peaceful settlement; the resumption of professorships by Messrs. SUEKAWA, TSUNETO, TAKIKAWA and TAMURA was decided on, and Dr. SASAKI has become a professor emeritus. Now Mr. HATCYAMA is the leader of the Liberal Party and is an ardent supporter of female suffrage.

The theory of Mr. TAKIKAWA is commonly exercised in a democratic country, and in many countries adultery is admitted as sufficient reason for divorce. Dr. HOZUMI holds the opinion that adultery should hold equal punishment irrespective of sex. Furthermore, the woman's position provided in the civil code of JAPAN is pitiful because it implies that a wife is an incompetent. The wife has no more legal power than incompetents with mental derangement or mental disability, deafness, or dumbness.

It is interesting to note that the above provision stems from the theory that the man should be superior to the woman in order that married life be harmonious and peaceful. In other words, the wife has no legal capacity to manage her property, let alone that of her husband, nor can she assume a debt without her husband's permission.

On the other hand, a woman who is not legally married is fully endowed with her legal powers, which are never restrained by a husband. The legislation which is designed to protect a wife who is not legally married has increased during the war. This is due to the fact that common law wives are very numerous in JAPAN. A common law wife is free from her husband's control, according to the civil code, and she nay still enjoy her marital position just as a legal wife may. The position of the common law wife is quite favorable, compared to that of a legal wife. The position of a legal wife is very low, and her "real power" is another problem. The civil code is based on the inequality of husband and wife, rather than that of man and woman, and it goes without saying that such irrationality cannot find a place in our new democracy.

Distribution "X"

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