Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0173, 1945-12-28.

Summary:

"From the MUKDEN Incident to signing Surrender Terms on the MISSOURI, a "History of the Pacific War", by Allied Supreme Headquarters" is a momentous document, which explains to us how and why the destitution, hunger, uneasiness and humiliation which we face, now, has fallen upon us. It is a prophecy, an historical sentence which leads us to the dawn and the accomplishment of perfect politics, economics, and social revolution. It tells of the abandoning of such ideas as militarism, a chosen people, ultra-nationalism and fascism, and it heralds the realization of pacifism, internationalism, liberalism, and democracy. In short, it implies the end of old JAPAN and the birth of new JAPAN.

Now, we are going to consider two or three instances among many of those which perhaps the people of new JAPAN can get from "A History of the Pacific War." 1. Self-complacent self-aggrandizement commits serious errors from want of knowledge of international relations. 2. The fact that the Government hides truth from the people resulting in irredeemable and disastro[illegible]s results. 3. The propaganda and diffusion of distorted words cause grave calamity. The former two are reported completely in "A History of the Pacific War," but the last one can still be corrected.

There are some examples of "distorted words", today. JAPAN still uses "Greater East Asia War," while 49 Allied Nations use the name of "The Pacific War," and because of this fact, JAPAN might be regarded as self complacent. Next, the Government uses the phrase "termination of the war" instead of "unconditional surrender," and this fact hinders the people from staring at reality and devoting themselves to the reconstruction of their fatherland. Moreover, the Allied forces call themselves "Occupation troops," while we name them ''Expeditionary Army." Thus, we tend not to think of the fair but severe attitude of the Allied Nations' controlling JAPAN.

We must not take advantage of the ambiguity which is latent in words to become self-intoxicated. On the contrary, a real culture shall be nurtured by brief and upright means of expression. In the same way, a righteous attitude and action can be brought about by looking into reality and making the truth public. In short, a real democratization must first begin with the recognition and correlation of truth, that is to say, emancipation from ignorance. When we recognize our defeat from its origin, and experience its severe results, then we can push forth the great work of reviving our country.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 173 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Shintoism has been removed from its position as the national religion by a directive issued by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. It needs no discussion that both militarists and bureaucrats have used Shintoism as a mental stay for their war aims and as a mental base for the nationalistic policy of JAPAN. Shintoism is also filled with myths not based upon scientific evidence. It has made our written history unworthy of any scientific criticism.

Accordingly there has been no way for us to understand, through history, the processes of the evolution of the Japanese race, the development of its civilization, the transition of its social system and the present productive and social relations of the people.

When history is misused for the maintenance of powers which are ambitious to dominate morality or religion, it not only becomes an obstacle to the development of historical science but also deforms and dominates over morality and religion. History must be entirely be freed from these yokes and clarified upon a basis of scientific proof, taking into account the inter-relationship of various economic factors and personal institutions such as the family system. It must also make evident the evolutionary process of production relations which evolve upon higher and higher levels. The fundamental reason or inevitably of this evolution must be explained in terms of our economic system. When such or historical science has been inaugurated, we may be able to expel first the horror for reform and second cultivate a healthy scepticism, the best anti-dote to superstition or credulity.

History written from such a point of view can make clear the respective roles played by any race in the development of human civilization. The Japanese history now existing is pervaded by a single myth-an evasive ideology which emphasizes the superiority of the Japanese race and attempts to dominate the whole world under the principle of "Hakko Ichiu", or unification of the world under the authority of a single sovereignty. It has not given, has not been able to give, any exposition of the effect of various productive relations on the progression from primitive communism through feudalism to capitalism. Thus, it has never made any conspicurous contribution to healthy doubts or to the elimination of fear of reform—the original mission of historical science.

Therefore Japanese history has long been pure memory work and never an object of research for any students endowed with contemplative faculties backed by a scientific mind. We must rewrite the history of the Japanese race, nay, the Japanese people from the standpoint of historical science at this turning point when Shintoism—the absurdity in Japanese history—is on the point of being abolished. If the histories of all nations were rewritten in such a way, every inter-national conflict or enmity would be eliminated and the recognition of the inevitability of international peace for the development of civilization would be brought about. For example, H. G. WELLS' book on the history of world civilization may serve as a standard for what history must be. We are now standing at a turning point when Japanese history must be rewritten—a history of the Japanese race, fully emancipated from prejudice and baseless superstitions. The accomplishment of this task is a cultural mission imposed upon the Japanese people who are about to make a debut in international society as a peaceful, civilization-loving nation.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 173 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Last year the consumption of electric power per hour was 33 billion kilowatts. This year almost an equal amount is supplied, but consumption has been reduced to 16 billion kilowatts per hour. It is almost incredible that such enormous amounts of electric power are left unused at a time when, due to the shortage of coal the transportation by train has been reduced by 50 per cent, factories are not working, and inhabitants of devastated cities are suffering from lack of gas.

If this amount of electric power is utilized, trains can run at full speed, factories can be operated, and urban people will be relieved of suffering from the lack of fuel. It is true that the electrification of Government railways cannot be attained within a short period and that of rural districts also takes several years.

Nevertheless, there are simple devices to utilize the superfluous electric power. The first is the collection of transformers. The inhabitants of TOKYO have not been supplied with firewood or charcoal in this cold season. Moreover, they are annoyed by the frequent stoppage of electric current. This sad plight, however, could easily be improved if transformers could only be obtained. The authorities admit that there ought to be a sufficient number of them in munitions factories throughout the country. If they are gathered promptly, they can meet the demands of this winter. Some difficulties may be found. They have been scattered about in unknown places, and the official price for transformers is too low. However, at such a crisis, the authorities must not be too law-bound. The Government should send instructions to authorities in every town and village to buy them up at the current price. The owners also should accept the proposal with pleasure and offer them as soon as possible.

The mass production of cheap electric utensils will also serve in the improvement of the situation. The electrification of boilers is also desirable. It has been demonstrated that this can be realized without much difficulty. The collection of motors left unused in the munitions factories will also enable the rural districts to be electrified. In short, hydroelectricity is the only reliable motive power in JAPAN. From this point of view, the Government is reported to be creating in the near future a new department for the development of that line of enterprise. Of course this is very fine, but it is no less important to relieve this country from difficulties now confronting us.

It is reported, to our delight, that 1200 million kilowatts per hour are to be used for salt manufacture. Even if all the fuel of the great cities is replaced by electric power, this will only take 2300 to 2400 million kilowatts per hour. The universal application of electric power is one of the most urgent tasks before us.

Full Translation:

The delivery of rice to the Government by the farmers this year is very unsatisfactory. Of course, the principal cause lies in the bad crop.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 173 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

There are many other causes, namely:

• 1.Farmers store up rice to barter for their requirements in fertilizer, implements, working clothes etc.
• 2.The allotments for delivery were delayed by a month compared to last year's. That is, they were decided early in November this year.
• 3.The promist to return some of the distribution was not fulfilled by the Government.
• 4.The farmers are discontented with agricultural associations, which exist for facility in relations between them and the Government.
• 5.They hesitate to offer rice, for reasons of self-protection, in view of the present food situation.
• 6.They are tempted to get exorbitant profits by black market dealings.
• 7.Rice is very low in price in comparison with vegetables and fish which have risen extremely in price since the recent abolition of fixed prices.
• 8.The stocks of rice in the Army and munitions factories were disposed of in a very unsatisfactory manner.

Reasons two to eight seem to be mere pretenses, but the first reason appears to justify their conduct, for it means the transformation of staple food stuff into money. We believe that the production and delivery are sure to be improved, if the above-mentioned requirements are supplied. Therefore, the authorities should postpone production of other commodities and meet those requirements.

It stands to reason that fertilizer be supplied in proportion to the amount of their rice offering. Nevertheless, the greeting of a liquor supply delivery cannot a[illegible]eal to the farmers. Cabinet ministers' visits to rural districts are of no use except in that they are filled up with plenty of dinner.

Still another step in betterment is the improvement of the present alloting system. Under the present system, the authorized amounts for consumption per capita is fixed from the beginning for them. It cannot be changed in accordance with the amount of production. It follows that diligent farmers are disappointed and idle ones remain idle. Therefore, the present method in which the whole remainder except the authorized consumption amount must be offered, should be done away with, and a new system must be adopted, in which they should, offer an amount equal to the farm rent, and be allowed to dispose of the remainder freely.

This method is very simple, and does not need the troublesome procedure of allotment or return of some of their distribution. Complicated things are taboo among farmers.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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