Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0213, 1946-01-08.

Summary:

The year 1945 was a cursed and also a blessed year. JAPAN, being favored by geographical conditions, had very few opportunities to compete with other countries. The Japanese Nation could seldom test its real strength against that of other nations. The victories in the Russo-Japanese War and Chino-Japanese War were not achieved solely by virtue of JAPAN'S military might. Nevertheless, the Government and the people at that time were proud of these two victories. Thus, the Japanese people, who possess the virtue of modesty as individuals, lest it as a nation. This made the Japanese nation presumptuous and led it to utter defeat.

Now, the Japanese nation has had a chance to reflect on it self as a result of the defeat. However, the actual state of affairs caused by the defeat is too severe, and JAPAN has been led to her present desperate plight. We think that the root of moral decadence in JAPAN lies here. However, with deep reconsideration, we have had a fine opportunity to judge ourselves properly. This is the reason we bless the year 1945. Although morality has lest its hold on the Japanese people, we don't consider it to be true of the Japanese Nation but merely a transitional phenomenon. We hope and expect a new JAPAN. But for these hopes and expectations, our existence is useless and meaningless. In this sense this year is indeed a hopeful one for the Japanese Nation.

We have many accumulated problems at present. Whether we can solve these grave problems or not is a question which dominates the fate of JAPAN. One of the most important problems is the coming general election. It is held that a great change to a democratic JAPAN is expected after the general election. Without this conversion, the new JAPAN can not be established. The aim of democracy is to protect and aid the weak. That is the first step toward the establishment of a new JAPAN.

Full Translation:

Delinquent Demobilized Servicement

Recent arrests of burglars who infest the capitals have again revealed that the criminals are demobilized soldiers. After the end of the war many cruel actions by the Japanese military men were brought to light and for the first time

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the Japanese people have known the real aspect of their own military. Furthermore, demobilized soldiers are disturbing the establishment of a peaceful JAPAN by their misdeeds. Those who have not become burglars, have become dishonest brokers of black marketeers. The impression of the people in general is amazing. I am, too, a demobilized soldier and feel very sorry for that fact.

It is a shame that even former members of the Special Attack Corps and ex-naval air cadets are participating in such crimes. For what purpose were they given military education? Why did the late Minister of War, SHIMOMURA, appeal in the Diet to all demobilized soldiers? Do you know how ugly you thieves appear to the people who were much more impressed by the War Minister's appeal? I don't mean that all demobilized men are acting alike but analogy is a habit with all human beings. Are you aware of the fact that many comrades will be embarrassed and ashamed? Reflect upon your own deeds with conscience. Use the spirit with which you were ready to sacrifice your lives in this evil war and your hardened body to work for the establishment of a new, moral, peaceful JAPAN!

Letter from (HAMA, Yonesaku)

The Darkside of Military Life

Our military life ended in boundless wrath against the tyranny of our superiors. Perhaps there is no one else who received such severe ill-treatment as Japanese recruits. Nowhere in the world was there a place like the Japanese Army where only smart double-crossers could get ahead.

The superiors demanded from their underlings strict obedience to their orders while they destroyed military discipline. "We have endured more hardships than you in the past. If we are acting in a slovenly way, you ought not to imitate it," they said proudly. "Only soldiers can save the nation's honor" is a very well taken point. But officers and non-commissioned officers, have they ever felt any patriotism? Only because of ambition and vanity did these fellows enlist in the regular army. Those who mistreated the soldiers, partly for amusement and partly from mischief, should repent their past crimes, and begin a new life by trying to improve themselves and become a good citizen.

Letter from (KAZUMATA)

Full Translation:

General MacARTHUR concluded that JAPAN became a fourth-rate nation when she signed the surrender terms on 2 September of last year. However, in what position in the world did JAPAN stand before she started the recent war?

One opinion rated JAPAN a third-rate nation after the Sino-Japanese War, a second-rate nation after the war with RUSSIA, and a first-rate nation after World War I. But JAPAN, which stood in the favor of GREAT BRITAIN from the beginning of the NORTH CHINA Incident up to the WASHINGTON Conference 22 years later, and often received favors from AMERICA as well,

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can neither be called a first nor a second-rate nation. Immediately before the Manchurian Incident, the president of the Manchurian Railway said to one of his employee, who had just returned from a study tour of EUROPE and AMERICA, that JAPAN should not study the policies and economics of European first or second-rate nations, but that she should only be interested in lower-rate nations. If we continue with this theory, I believe that we need not be very disappointed by being termed a fourth-rate nation.

The only means of attaining this end is to find a means of gaining inquality what we have lost in quantity, as quickly as possible. Whichever pattern we may use, Swedish, or the Swiss, our duty is to stabilize the Nation's welfare and to render a service to world civilization.

Full Translation:

The two directives issued by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers on 4 January, ordering the dissolution of various ultra-nationalistic organizations and barring from public office all militaristic leaders, will surely prove of great encouragement for the establishment of a new democratic JAPAN. We expect these new directives will put into rapid motion the work of reconstruction which has been seriously delayed.

In regard to this, it is regrettable that measures were not taken on the initiative of our own Government before these new directives were instituted, since these measures are of fundamental necessity in the establishment of democracy in our country. At the same time, we should stop to reconsider whether we are doing our best. Of course, the SHIDEHRA Cabinet may well be blamed for its incompetence and irresponsibility, but at present we have no new political force capable of meeting the current situation. This political vacuum probably will be carried over after the forthcoming general election if we are lacking in determination and courage in the reconstruction. Our reactions to the exclusion directive should bring about the growth of righteous political influences which will be in control of the new JAPAN. Toward this objective, not only must we carry out faithfully the new directive, but we must also take positive measures in accordance with its spirit.

What changes will conform to the spirit of the directive? Forcing the smaller militaristic leaders, who are exempt from the order to retire in shame and repentance-may be a first reform. The establishment of a system which will enable new leaders to come to the fore may be a second one. Sending men of knowledge and character, who are really representatives of the people, to the political front can be a third one. However, we shall not discuss these problems in detail in this article.

The problem we wish to discuss in the following paragraphs is economic in nature. We believe that these economic Problems will be very important in bringing home the spirit of the directive and toward properly conducting the forthcoming elections.

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On the economic side, there are two measures necessary for the elimination of militarism. One is a thorough investigation of the money collected by various militaristic bodies during the war and in the confusion of its sudden termination. It is well known that many of these militaristic bodies grew and developed under the financial protection of the ZAIBATSU and the militaristic clique since the outbreak of the MANCHURIA Incident, or, even earlier. Judging from the fact that the notorious KODAMA, Yoshio, made a fortune of hundreds of millions of yen in four or five years, the amount of money those societies have accumulated in secrecy must be very large. Moreover, we can safely guess that a considerable portion of the approximately 50,000,000,000 yen of the extraordinary military expenses distributed during the few weeks after the end of the war was illegally disposed of as operating funds for these militaristic forces. A search for these concealed funds should be conducted to present militaristic activities and to ensure a fair election, even to the extent of ignoring activities aimed at the realization of social justice and the prevention of inflation.

Second is the equalization of wealth and the search for war profits. It is generally recognized that the wealthy and privileged classes may prove to be hot-beds of militarism, and an obstacle to the establishment of popular government, if they are allowed to possess great wealth. At present, however, we are most concerned in the effect on the election that war profits may have. In the forthcoming election, many candidates will draw their campaign funds from war profits. It is plain to see what the conduct will be of representatives who succeed in campaigns with such dirty money. The search for war profits, or the temporary blocking of war profits, and the equalization of wealth are surely indispensable steps toward banishing militarism and establishing democracy.

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