Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0276, 1946-01-21.

Full Translation:

In a previous issue we discussed the difference in the methods of reporting employed by the MAINICHI and the ASAHI newspapers on the same subject. In the case of the ordinary reader, just reading the newspapers seems to exert no influence; however, when regarded from the standpoint that newspapers have an important mission of giving correct information, their potential influence is extremely great.

Major IMBODEM, who is the head of the newspaper section in General MacATHUR's headquarters, called all of the journalists in the TOKYO Area and demonstrated how to write up a news story. It would be well for the general public to read his speech and an outline of it.

Major IMBODEN, who runs a small newspaper in the UNITED STATES, when introducing the policies of the newspapers there said, "The newspapers in the UNITED STATES hold to the principle that everything they write in the newspaper is a true report." As an example he cited the handling of the war-criminal trial of General YAMASHITA. The American newspapers patented every detail of both sides of the testimony. However, there are some Japanese newspapers that printed only the favorable sides of the YAMASHITA trial and omitted the unfavorable, which is a very poor form of journalism. This indicates one method of influencing the public, and ho warns that this form of reporting will lead to misunderstandings.

He said next that it is the principle, of all American newspaper to report all shades of opinion. For example, they give considerable amount of space to contributions from people expressing their opinions, people such as factory workers, miners, farmers, housewives and. Others Even in the case of elections, they give their opinions on the characters of each individual candidate, and also on the good or bad policies of the political party to which they belong. The American newspapers assume as their responsibility the duty of reporting the truth about every social picture to their readers.

Major IMBODEN says, "Couldn't the Japanese newspapers help start the great movement in releasing the farmers, who compose the majority of the population, from the land laws and plan the raising, of the standard of living?" and also, "couldn't the Japanese newspapers help in carrying out the important mission of organizing the labor unions?" Whether a problem is important or not the American newspapers print everyone's opinion as in a public discussion.

The radio stations always broadcast public programs and give the facts General MacARTHUR gave the Japanese people freedom of speech, but can the journalists shoulder their responsibility of leading the people"? The journalsits should lead the people in discussing public affairs freely and report these discussions from every point of view. They should lead the people in abolishing militarism, in dividing the

EDITORIAL SERIES: 276 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (continued)

national income in a democratic way, end in respecting the rights of the individual.

If the journalists strive to correct the egotistical character of the Japanese and make them respect one another's rights, JAPAN will become one of the leading nations in creating world peace.

Full Translation:

The Government decided to submit the first bill for the reformation of the House of Peers to the special session of the Diet, before submitting the bill for the revision of the constitution. The bill was agreed upon in a Cabinet conference; but it was an extremely half-hearted one, drafted under the limitations of the present Constitution. Consequently, the people took little notice of it. However, as the general election is to take place after 15 March, the government's plan concerning the reformation of the House of peers will be changed. According to MATSUMOTO, Minister without Portfolio, we presume that if the bill for the revision of the Constitution is brought up for discussion in the session, after the special session of the Diet, it will be too late to satisfy the people. Therefore, the bill for the reformation of the Upper House, as well as the bill revising the constitution, will be discussed in the special session, and, in consequence, the reformation of the Upper House will be finally decided by the bill.

From what we know of the bill, the members from the Imperial Family and the peerage will he considerably reduced, and the representatives of the highest tax payers are to be abolished. "But to wipe the feudal influence out of the Upper House, all of the members from the Imperial Family and the peerage must, at the very least, be expelled. If this is not done, the people will be disappointed.

It vas expressed clearly by the spokesman of SCAP that the Supreme Commander does not support any political party, and that the freedom of selecting the political leaders of JAPAN belongs to the Japanese people. Hearing that, the conservative elements would have felt relieved.

The peerage of JAPAN has a fatal weak-spot in that it makes no contribution towards the development of democracy. It is unlike the peerage of ENGLAND. The peers in JAPAN, who have no real ability in politics, unlike the peers in the conservative party in ENGLAND will be unable to do anything but leave their fate to the current trends of democracy. The present Labor Ministry of ENGLAND will literally make peers of laborers, as the two Cabinets in the past did, and from this fact, we may conclude that the peers in ENGLAND have a firm social basis. It is at least presumable that the abolition of the Upper House will not be placed before the Diet, and it is in this respect that the communist party is unable to develop in ENGLAND. The Social Democratic party in JAPAN, even though it forms a cabinet, will not give the title of baron to Mr. ABE, Isoo, and pr. TAKANO, Iwasaburo, even though they would, of course, refuse it.

Full Translation:

I have some connection with a Town and village Agricultural Association. I want to appeal to the public, revealing some outrageous

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ITEM 3 (continued)

scandals carried out openly throughout the war, and even in these days of the extremely critical food shortage. When Town and Village Agricultural Associations allot the amount of compulsory food supply, few of them allot, fairly, an exact share to each producer (that is the farmer). A greater part of them tell each farmer to supply more than the amount fixed by the provincial office of the Agricultural Association, such is the well-worn device of the egotistic and bureaucratic Agricultural Associations. Then how do they dispose of the surplus supply of provisions, gained by exploiting farmers who are ignorant of the actual facts?

First, those driven by the desire for fame sell more rice than is alloted by the Government, in order to obtain a gratifying result. This was the factor that tormented farmers so much during the war. Often many of them were at a loss to explain the meaning behind the fact that the amount of their village supply exceeded more than 100 percent, despite the fact that they did not supply more than their share of the allotment.

Second, the Agricultural Association sets aside a sufficient amount for the purpose of bartering for necessary items.

Third, supplied crops are offered to the police when the association has some political interest.

Fourth, the association makes good any shortages in case the quantity of rice in storage, which is entusted to them, happens to become insufficient because of their carelessness.

Fifth, all the clerks of the association divide surplus amounts among themselves by mutual consent, or, some managing staffs usurp it secretly.

They complain of their small, salaries, yet if the truth were known, they are secretly very contented, because of the reasons mentioned above. In fact, they enjoy unofficial incomes several times as much as their salary.

Every fact mentioned above is scandalous, but of all five, the last is the most vicious. Yet they are inclined to revert to such a state in those days of low morality. What rascals they are to commit irregularities at the expense of simple-hearted farmers. It almost makes us shudder, when we consider its influence upon the farmer's supply.

For cases when the supply happens to fall short of the allotment, there are many loopholes prepared in advance. They take off a percentage from supplied crops, and sell the rest to the Government. They can contrive to hold rice easily and freely. Though food examiners are dispatched to every town end village, and the president of the association reports in detail concerning the allotment, most of the presidents are robots who have very little business sense, and the food examiners are easily bribed. I think a great amount of provisions are consumed by such unlawful means, all over the country and its baneful influence, visible as well as invisible, on society is beyond conception. The rage of democratic revolution is surging in every class of defeated JAPAN. Yet those impudent and shameless persons who rendered their sevices and were at the beck and call of the military cliques and ZAIBUTSU during the war, still play leading roles against farmers. Unless they are expelled from their present positions as leaders of farmers, the food problem can never be settled, nor can the democratization of agricultural villages be achieved.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 276 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Monotonous Broadcasts

Recent radio programs are not for popular amusement, statesmen's speeches in which they flatter themselves, street corner interviews, talks, listeners' opinions, the week's events, and so forth, are extremely dull. They may he intended to enlighten us, hut they are still exactly as they ware during the war. The radio cries out day and night as it used to do during the war.

what we want in radio broadcasts is pleasure and not politics. Announcers, too, are still at war. Why do they have to emphasize each word? They should stop that affected way of speaking and speak more naturally and smoothly.

Listen to the radio broadcasts for the Allied Forces. Someone said, "Have we ever heard a Japanese announcer laugh on the radio?" That is really worth thinking about. Formal broadcasts, like political speeches, lectures, and so on, should be given on the secondary frequency. In any case, make the radio programs more pleasant.

(MORIYAMA, Kei - TOKYO. A clerk of L.Y.K.)

Thirty Minute Broadcasts

What are the authorities of the broadcasting Association thinking about? Broadcasts change every half hour like school hours. English conversation used to be broadcast after 2100 hours and everybody could listen to it. However, it is now broadcast at 1830, when off ice-workers are on their way home, or having supper.

The authorities should plan their radio programs, especially the schedule and contents. A discussion meeting is good, but it must be on subjects in which the general public is greatly interested. If those who make programs would make them pleasant, it would be more of a credit to their abilities. There must be some other way than to divide the broadcasts into half hours.

(YAMAOKA, Takuo - KANAGAVA Clerk.)

Radio for the people

I wonder for whom the recent radio programs are being made. I don't ask them to exclude foreign music, but the programs should be more popular if they are for the general public. If there is a foreign word which people cannot understand, it should be translated into Japanese. Is it not their duty to inform us of matters in an easy way so that everyone can understand?

(YOSHIMURA, Hajime - SHIZTJOKA. Clerk)

Protest From Girl Students

I was [illegible]oked when listening to a radio drama "The Zelkova-Tree on the top of the slope", broadcasted at 1800 hours on 13 January. I think it insulted students. In the drama, students participated ' with a bourgeois who was a war criminal. They gave the listeners the impression that students were worse than laborers. We students willingly vent to factories and worked for our country at the risk of our lives during the war.

The war is over, and tyranny of the militarists, and dishonest acts in some factories, have come to light. We could not help crying our hearts out with mortification. Everyone can easily see whether or no we take sides with those persons who made unserviceable things, or th[illegible]militarists who deceived the people. I wish the writer of the drama

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ITEM 4 (continued)

would think again, and rewrite it, considering our feelings. (IWATA, Sachiko and many other students of MATSUMOTO Girls' High school, NAGANO.)

Bitter About Amusement Broadcasts

I have three children who study at a girls' college, a high school, and a boys' middle school. It used to "be my pleasure to listen to the radio with them every night. But, how dull and vicious the recent programs have become! They do not give us pleasure. I think it is indeed deplorable for the future of our culture if they try to gain popularity with such vulgar amusements. We want entertainment that will make us laugh heartily, now that the war is over. I think that this is indispensable under the present circumstances in JAPAN and it would help along the new culture. We desire broadcasts which will give us true pleasure.

(KUDO, Kikuko - CHIBA.)

From the Editorial staff:

Concerning broadcasting matters, we have received a. letter questioning whether or not Radio TOKYO is the organ of the communist party, and another letter saying that Radio TOKYO is a cat's paw of the bureaucrats of the Government. About ten letters criticized "Now It Can Be Told."

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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