Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0267, 1946-01-19.

Full Translation:

The three new taxes, recently announced by the Government, on property, individual property, and corporation war profits, aim at the collection of revenue of 100,000,000,000 yen. The sum is equivalent to one fourth the national assets, which are estimated by the Taxation Bureau to be 400,000,000,000.

The Government plan to collect such a large sum at one time naturally has a serious effect on all classes. However, very few have expressed direct opposition to the plan, although there are many criticisms regarding details and technical points of the drafts. Public opinion is nearly unanimous as to the absolute necessity of establishing these new taxes. Some people advocate devaluation in fear that these taxes may accentuate vicious inflation, contrary to expectation. However, we do not believe that they oppose the fundamental aim of the new taxes. They are reluctant to approve the plan only because its reasonable application is very difficult.

The new taxes aim at the prevention of inflation, which is becoming increasingly vicious, the recovery of solidity in national finance, the revival of the war-wrecked national economy, and an amendment to the inequitable distribution of income. In short, the object of the three taxes is the stabilization of national life and the reconstruction of a peaceful state. This is comparatively well understood by the people.

Therefore, the three taxes should be sufficiently rational in order to accomplish their objective. Keeping this in mind, there seem to be certain dubious points. First, the exemptions on the individual property tax are too low. The Government has estimated expenditures on the presumption that current prices are five or more times higher than official prices. Under the present price situation, how long can 20,000 yen, which is the exemption, ensure our maintenance? The exemptions in the plan of the Tax Association (ZEIMU KYOKAI) were 150,000 yen. Those in the draft of the Currency Measures Inquiry Committee (TSUKA TAISAKU IINEAI) were 100,000 yen.

Taking these plans into consideration, the authorities should raise the exemptions by a substantial degree. To compensate for the decrease in revenue and to maintain the "taxation according to capacity" principle, they should apply for higher progressive rates on large property holders. As it stands, some people rightly argue that this property tax will fall most heavily on the masses. To avoid such criticism, the abovementioned measures are necessary.

Secondly, it seems that the authorities have not fully studied the method

EDITORIAL SERIES: 267 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

of discovering concealed movables and stocked goods, in spite of their efficiency in the pursuit of deposits, savings, and securities. If so, there will be considerable inequality between those who have been faithful to national policy and others who were disobedient. As a result, the authorities cannot depend on the people's co-operation in enforcing the taxes. On the other hand, if a convenient method of using exemptions as National Savings Bonds (KOKUSAI CHOKIN) on tax payments is allowed, the Government will achieve national co-operation.

The next problem is the time and speed in the execution of the new taxes. Ths sum of bank notes issued by the Bank of JAPAN amounted to 55,400.000,000 yen at the end of last year, and at present this amount has not decreased. Therefore, it is not presupposition to say that the property taxes are too late to be enforced. Consequently, the Government should enforce these taxes as soon as possible, making full use of the rough estimates collection system. Moreover, the stipulation to "allow postponement of payment under certain conditions" should be clearly defined. It is now evident that the revenue collected from the new taxes will be used to redeem national bounds. In that case, preference should be given to the bonds held by the Bank of JAPAN, in order to decrease the amount of bank notes. Those national bonds held by government organs and other organizations should be dealt with in turn.

Lastly, since the Government has determined to accomplish deflation by taxation, it should be careful not to adopt contradictory measures, that is, pro-inflation policies. Most important is that the Government exert conscientious efforts to prevent indemnities to munition industries, which amount to 43,100,000,000 yen. The Government should insure the success of this unprecedented large tax.

Full Translation:

I whole heartedly agree with Mr. HIRABAYASHI's view which were mentioned in this column. The neighborhood association was allowed to remain as an organization for the distribution of necessities of life, though it should have been dissolved soon after the war. However, it is a useless thing now that the distribution of rice, the staple food, is removed from the ban[illegible]s, of the Food Distribution Corporation. It is a well-known fact that sore of the leaders of neighborhood associations often committed dishonest acts during the war. We cannot forget that the existence of the Civil Defense Corps (KEIBODAN) resulted in even more abuses.

In the northern part of YAMATO-cho, NAKAN0-ku, where I live, some learned persons once began a movement to clean up the street association and to awaken the inhabitants to action. The members of the Civil Defense Corps attended the meeting of the leaders of neighborhood associations and controlled the freedom of speech. It was like a village assembly held 20 years ago. The result was no better than before. A greedy moneylender remained in office as president of the association saying that he would work without pay. Aged men, near 70 and with no occupation, were also reelected to the staff.

These facts are contrary to the times. As I have mentioned, those which have a direct connection with the life of the general public are the street and the neighborhood associations. Those who can not do good for the people are therefore no good. We should not let them remain. The system of these associations should be abolished at once.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 267 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

If not so, the authorities should order the old leaders to resign from their posts, following the spirit of the SCAP directive which banishes former leaders.

(AMANO, Eiichi)

It is a surprise to us that women of rank have not been called to account as war criminals. They supported the cursed and aggressive war as leaders of the reactionary groups of women, and now they intend to obtain a seat in the Diet through the women's department of the Progressive Party without reflecting on their own misconduct.

The leaders of the former Women's Patriotic Association (AIKOKU EUJIF KAI), the Women's National Defense Association (KOKUBO FUJIN KAI), the Women's Aviation Association of JAPAN (DAI NIPPON KOKU FUJIN KAI), and the later formal Women's Association of JAPAN (KAI NIPPON FUJBT KAI) were the wives of general officers, noblemen, and plutocrats. They were also militis[illegible]educators. Retired officers actually assumed leadership of these woman’s associations. These women treated these organizations as society [illegible]rcles and entertained persons of high circles of the countries in the south who came to JAPAN to study. We may pardon this fact [illegible]by of leisured women. However, we can never overlook the fact that they co-operated with the militarists to send many husbands, sons. brothers and fathers to the front without thinking of the sorrow of their [illegible], mothers, sisters and children. They solicited large sums or money from us regardless of our circumstances. They forced us to contribute money for national defense and ordered mothers who had little children to go out for war work. These orders were issued to us through the neighborhood associations whether we liked them or not, and if someone disobeyed, it resulted in a decrease in the distribution of food.

These women's groups were dissolved, and the "Women's Co-operative Association was established instead. It is said that the latter intends to hold the properties of the former Women's Association of JAPAN, but they must be returned to us for they were given by us. If it is inexpedient to return this property to us, it should be held in trust till some really democratic women's group is established. We do not want to leave this wealth to those women who want to use the general public as they like to satisfy their ambitions. Why do reactionary women's groups still remain though militaristic and reactionary organizations have been ordered to be dissolved? We hope that all the parsons responsible for the war will be swept away lest those who are now babies should be driven to an aggressive war when they are adults.

(CHIBA, Hanako)

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