Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0103, 1945-12-17.

Summary:

We Japanese are now suffering from a coal shortage as well as the shortage of food. Though the coal shortage does not effect us so directly as the shortage of food does, it is no exaggration to say that we cannot live without coal.

The coal famine is drawing near at present production in factories is about to be stopped. The stoppage of production is the suspension of supply of necessary commodities to our lives, which means the end of national life. Coal invites food. We must send 70,000 tons of coal to KOREA in return for Korean rice, which will relieve the present food shortage in JAPAN.

Then, on the one hand the operation of trains for passengers and goods has been remarkably reduced on the Government railway lines because of the coal shortage. When goods remain undelivered, it will soon have a direct effect upon production in factories. It is, however, even more difficult for us to be forced to stay at home due to this reduction in train service About 310,000 tons of the total coal in JAPAN is needed in HONSHU, and the requisite amount for the operations of trains is 300,000 tons. What can be done with only 10,000 tons of coal remaining?

One of the causes of this coal famine is the lose of foreign coal mines as a result of our defeat. Another is the need for miners caused by the return of Chinese and Korean miners to their countries.

Now the only one way for passing the crisis facing us is to increase the coal production. The Government desires us to go to the coal mines, and has decided upon such favorable inducements as special supply of 5 go of rice and other necessary goods to miners. Moreover, the Government has asked the Supreme Headquarters for the Allied Forces to grant permission to raise the current price of coal from 20.13 yen to 85 yen per ton until 1948, in order to increase the incentive to mine owners.

The coal famine has led us at last to a turning point in life. If we don't fulfill this present need, national life will be thrown into ruin after all. Let us go to the coal mines to save our country, our follow countrymen, and ourselves from ruin, also considering that it is fully a glorious way for demobilized soldiers, the unemployed, and those who are to be thrown out of jobs to work at coal mines.

Summary:

EDITORIAL SERIES: 103 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

The Government wants more marine products in order to alleviate a shortage of staple foods. Marine products can easily be acquired compared with the difficulties in the production of agrarian products by reclamation of farming lands as two crops a year.

The actual production of rice for the current fiscal year reaches as low as 48,000,000 koku, which means about a 20,000,000 koku shortage for the basic food requirements of the people. To this amount must be added the production of wheat, barley, potatoes and other crops, with marine products playing a great role in the relief plan.

We produced 12,000,000 tons of marine products yearly before the war, 60 per cent being inshore fishery and the remainder pelogic products.

Because of the recent removal of restrictions on the price of fish and the length of the fishing season, we car. now get various kinds of fish in the market, although they are sold at high prices. We are not sure how long the masses can keep pace with the terribly high price.

Were lies the necessity for a fundamental policy to solve the problems of fisheries. We now do not run short of fishermen since many, experienced fishermen have come back from the army. We shall be able to attain a great production of fish only if we can supply them with heavy oil as fuel, fishing nets and ropes, little boats and other necessary fishing equipment. The enlargement of experimental stations as well as the development in research on marine products must be considered, to make these products contribute the maximum food, value during this food crises.

The budget for fisheries is now under consideration in the prefectural (TOKUSHIMA-Ken) assembly. But we must remember that such a small budget as is now being considered is not enough to bring ashore the treasures from the sea, and it must be greatly increased in amount so as to maintain the lives of the people. We will state the nutritional value of fish in the conclusion of this editorial. Marine products are full of albumen with an average content of 20 per cent and a maximum content of 70 per cent. The heat-producing power of marine products is also great. The tummy having 157 calaries, has the highest; the[illegible]s rdine has 146; the mackerel has 129; the harse-mackerel has 93. Among the products of fisheries the dried herring has 401 calories; the bonito has 356 when dried; the dried cuttle - fish has 315 and the salted salmon has 135. Thus, we can not emphasize too much that the policies to increase the production of the inshore fisheries must be put in practice as early as possible.

Full Translation:

It is reported that in the near future a fundamental change in the education system will be initiated, involving the status of bureaucratic school inspectors and headmasters. A wholesale change of personnel is anticipated.

We heartily endorse this charge and. request that it be carried out thoroughly. The system of recommendations from higher quarters in the education field is a direct product of the school inspection system, All schoolmasters maintain their close material and spiritual

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ITEM 3 (Continued)

relations with inspectors by a system of bribery. These relations are hotbed of black marketuring. School inspectors are the very will recipient of bribes. Recently, on the pretext of holding an educational inspection they held an investigation of drinking thus exceeding their authority.

When an inspector visits a school, presumably to inspect, the schoolmaster, who aspires to a better position, obsequiously welcomes him, The poor teachers are obliged to work long after houres, and the women teachers must wait on him much like geisha girls. Such service for the inspector is mandatory. The opinions of the common teacher are always disregarded. If the inspector finds the treatment to his liking, the inspection becomes a drinking party.

Under present conditions, 89 per cent of normal school graduates become schoolmasters. This is the academic cligue. The position of schoolmaster or assistant schoolmaster can be procured by bribery and solicitude to the inspector. Even unqualified teachers can become schoolmasters by this means. There are many young and capable men, some of whom are assistant schoolmasters, who are qualified by ecamination.

All schoolmasters are cultivating militarism, even throughout the national schools. Nevertheless, the authorities have no intention of deposing them.

We, the common school teachers, suggest that all inspectors and headmasters be dismissed at once. The authorities should see to it that assistant schoolmasters be promoted. What of morality in education if it is left in a feudalistic and bureaucratic state? If the system of recommendations by higher quarters induced with bribes is permitted to exist, and even a small vestige of militarism remains, where will the democracitic reformation begin? (From a NAGANO school teacher.)

Full Translation:

A poor yield is feared in the farmers current delivery of rice to the Government. Up to the present, results have been worse then were expected. The major cause of such a shortage may be attributed to last year's crop fail[illegible]res, the worst in recent years. However, we can disclose many other causes, such as reaction against the forced delivery by Government order during the war, the breach of promise on the part of the Government in not returning rice once delivered to farmers, ill feelings on the part of farmers as a result of the illegal disposition of food retained by the Army and Navy, etc. Nevertheless, it is recognized that the authorities must exert all their efforts, taking new and determined steps, in order to make farmers deliver 30,000,000 koku, of an estimated crop of 46,600,000 koku.

The Government, well aware of the existing situation, did not fail to take necessary steps in enforcing the synthetic delivery system or raising the price of rice to be purchased by them. But the synthetic delivery system, which permits farmers to deliver rice substitutes, proved incomplete and the newly-raised official price of rice is out of the question in comparison with the abnormal rise in prices of vegetables, which resulted from remoral of control restrictions. Thus Governmental policies serve only to make the farmers' delivery

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ITEM 4 (Continued)

continually unsatisfactory. The authorities now realize that they cannot expect satisfactory results from technical improvements alone and consequently must resort to a nation-wide appeal to farmers, saying that they must protect the rest of the nation from starvation. However, the movement has progressed no further than the meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence between uncerned officials and civilians.

The Government also intends to encourage farmers' delivery by promising to distribute a certain amount of chemical fertilizers to them. The latter, however, is too cautious to blindly accept the offer. For these reasons, it is quite evident that the results regarding farmers' delivery, are quite unsatisfactory. If this situation continues, it is clear that our food situation next year will be critical even if the food imports permitted by the Allied Powers are made fully available.

Consequently the food problem is a difficult one. Both Governmental authorities and House members lack enthusiasm in solving it, a fact which perplexes the farmers. Therefore, farmers never respond to the repeated appeals by urban populations regarding food. The Diet seems to be absorbed in the election problem, while local officials as well as the leaders of agricultural societies idle away their time despite the impending food crisis, there is no enthusiasm to be found anywhere. It is evident that any favorable results regarding the rice delivery cannot be expected under these circumstances. And farmers will regard it more and more useless to deliver portions of their crops to the Government.

The food situation is becoming worse, not only in cities but also in rural areas. It is reported that the number of old persons who commit suicide because of food shortage is increasing. We wonder if the present cabinet ministers or House members are aware of this fact.

In order to remedy this situation, the Government must utilize all available facilities, but what is required above all is enthusiasm for action. Without this, the current food crisis will never be solved,

Summary:

• A.Freedom of Youth by UCHIDA, Toru. The article "Spoiled Freedom", which appeared, in these coin[illegible]ms, sharply avoided the ills of present day society. We long for freedom, and for this very reason we are apt to be misled by false "freedom" if it's given us. Freedom should be based upon the performing of our daily tasks and the respect of other people's rights. Of late, the per centage of self-indulgent and vulgar men, especially young men, has increased; perhaps because they were suddenly freed from oppression. a few days ago at the ODAKYO Railway, I saw many young men climbing into a tramcar through the windows. When a railway service-man resisted them, some of them shouted, "Shut up! You don't know liberalism!" A friend of mine scolded his son because he was idling every day after having been demobilized. The reply in this case was also "Liberalism".
• B.Freedom of Schoolgirl by MIYOSI, Motoko.

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Several schoolgirls were playing ball in their classroom during a self-study hour. They think it justifiable because it is how the era of liberalism. Schoolgirls! I You should not confuse liberalism with over-indulgence. The UNITED STATES is a country of freedom, yet I have heard that they are absolutely faithful to their duties. The duty imposed upon schoolgirls is to study earnestly. JAPAN was led to ruin by male leaders who lacked an earnest attitude toward their duties. Every Japanese, male and female, must become earnest from now on. You girls are to become the mothers of future Japanese. Why should yon mistake liberalism for over-indulgence or lack of earnestness?

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