Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0345, 1946-02-02.
Date2 February, 1946
RepositoryRauner Special Collections Library, Dartmouth College.
Call Numbereditorial-1074
Call NumberDS801 .S82
Persistent Identifier
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 345
ITEM 1 The Existing Cabinet and the Change of Provincial Governors - Provincial Newspaper
Kochi Shimbun
(Kochi) - 27 Jan 46. Translator: K. Nobunaga.
Full Translation:
When the election of local governors by a public vote is expected, it is rather peculiar
that the present interim Cabinet
which cannot settle down to work has carried out such a large seals reshuffle of governors.
However, this is natural because
governors were obliged to resign according to SCAP's purge directive. This is also
positive action towards the absolute
removal of the militarists and the general election of Diet members for the reconstruction
of a new JAPAN. However, the
delivery of rice and other important problems should not be disturbed as a result.
Since this is the first personnel administrative act by MIZUCHI, the Home Minister,
who is recognized by everyone as being
competent, it may be expected. As a spokesman of SCAP said, it depends upon the support
of our people and in turn upon the
results of the new governors. Anyhow, the fundamental indication of this change is
indeed positive. It is natural that
heretofore the provincial governments were branches of the Hone Ministry, but hereafter
they should be branches of all
ministries. Judging from the present situation, is it possible for then to be branches
of all ministries? To accomplish this,
the Home Ministry is said to be removing its bureaucracy in order to become familiar
with the prefectural governments and
civilians. This is only an ideal. However complete the Ministry reform, it would not
exert its influence upon the local
governments, to say nothing of other ministries. Therefore, the government's policy
is positive as a policy but not
practical.
It is fine that technical and former public officials have risen to the rank of governor
or director. However, it should still
include more civilians. The selection of only five civilians out of 28 new governors
is insufficient. Though in this change
the number of civilians increased slightly compared with the former, we are not satisfied
at the selection from such limited
circles as farmer directors of companies, members of the Diet and attorneys. It should
include men of ability from a bread
scope.
The Government declared that it selected the governors from the viewpoint expressed
in negotiations with SCAP. SCAP, as the
spokesman stated, cannot concern itself with personal affairs. Therefore, the statement
by the Government is not worth
mentioning. We do not like such an opportunitic attitude, even though it agrees with
SCAP. Anyhow, the government itself
speaks too much on the change of provincial governors. We prefer results to advertisements.
The longer the Cabinet is an
exterim one, the greater is its responsibility.
EDITORIAL SERIES: 345 (Continued)
ITEM 2 Raise Political Consciousness of Women - Provincial Newspaper Hyuga Nichi Nichi
Shimbun (Miyazaki)
- 27 Jan 46. Translator: I Hotta.
Full Translation:
It is hardly necessary to say that the coning general election has an important function
in our history. Why is the coming
election more important than any of the past 21 general elections? No one can deny
that it is because JAPAN is now in a
serious situation of defeat, which we have never experienced before.
The election aims at the democratization of JAPAN under the POTSDAM Proclamation.
The struggle for woman suffrage and
eligibility for election these past 15 years will be ended at the coming election.
It means that women have an important
position upon which the democratic movement in our country depends.
As regards the electors, the number of women electors is greater than the men by
2,700,000. It is not therefore too much to
say that the result of the general election will be decided by the women. Nevertheless,
the general public, especially women,
is little interested in the election, as has been previously mentioned in this newspaper.
They may well say that the food
problem is far more serious to them than politics. However the coming election will
accomplish the democratization of
politics.
Politics will then be closely connected, with the kitchen, and the housekeepers,
who are least interested in politics, will be
obliged to pay attention to the Government. A vote given to a member of Parliament
may decide the loading party and also who
is to be Prime Minister. Food problems, which are the greatest concern of the public,
will also be solved by this vote.
From such a point of view, raising the political consciousness of women is vary necessary
for the construction of new JAPAN,
and this movement is the pressing need of the hour.
We shall cite one example here: We collected essays on woman suffrage the other day.
The essays we received from women were on
the whole more serious and lively than those of men. However their words were vague
in general, and most of their essays were
written out of such rebellious feelings as concerned the discrimination between man
and woman in the past or on the partiality
of the family system. Few of them seemed to have definite or original ideas. In short,
their opinions are borrowed plumes
which are unworthy for housekeepers to listen to.
Formerly women advocated that they should study politics and hold meetings to enlighten
themselves. However we have not heard
that such a meeting has been held since the vote was given to them. One may well1-
blame the confusion among young
ex-soldiers, but what do young women of HYUGA think of it? We eagerly desire them
to think of their important position instead
of spending time going to the nonsensical "AIZSN KATSURA" (TN: Name of a film).
Even in democratic AMERICA, it was not until 1920 that the vote was given to women.
We cannot say that political consciousness
had been encouraged among women before them. In AMERICA, nine women have held seats
in Congress, and there are many women
politicians. We too have to take every possible step to raise women's political consciousness.
Fortunately the date of the
general election was postponed and women have been given time to
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 345 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
study politics. The political movement by the women's department in each party is
growing more active, following the examples
set in AMERICA.
Now we have to convince women that a comfortable life will be created out of good
government. They should be awakened to
political consciousness now that the significant general election is in sight. They
should impress on their mends that this is
the only way to create a new HYUGA and also a democratic JAPAN.
ITEM 3 "Simplification of Complex Problem of Emperor System" - Provincial Paper Kahoku-Shimpo
(Sendai) -
28 Jan 46. Translator: H. Furukawa.
Full Translation:
The discussions on the Emperor System are becoming hotter mid hotter as the general
election and the constitutional amendment
are approaching. The opinions of each party for this issue were set down in our paper
some days ago. We cannot but be doubtful
of the knowledge of the general public about the scope of the problem. Without defining
clearly the meaning of the conceptions
and terms used in the discussions, the issue will cause confusion, in people's minds
and be of no benefit. Above all, whether
the sovereignty should be vested in the Emperor or in the people is the question most
frequently discussed.
Originally, the prevailing theory of state law was that the sovereignty (more correctly
the governing power) rests with the
state. The so-called "organ theory" holds the view that tie sovereignty rests with
the state and the Emperor is an organ who
exercises it for the sake of and in the name of the state. This view is the most adaptable
as the legal interpretation of all
the phenomena effected by state power, and the jurists adopted this in general. This
theory, however, is only a legal
interpretation of the governing power of the Emperor. This theory cannot make any
contribution to the solution of the problem
of the Emperor System.
The discussions on the Emperor System at present do not aim to interpret legally
the sovereignty excercised by the Emperor. It
is debated whether or not the sovereignty of the Emperor should be justified and whether
it is adequate or not. In other
words, the problem lies in the judgment of the preceding facts which the old legal
theory of state is intended to interpret.
From this point of view, the Liberals' plan of amendment must be regarded as nonsense
when it says that the state is the
sovereign body. The matter being such, the problem, the Emperor system is related
to two points; one is the reason why the
Emperor holds the position as the supreme ruler; and the other is about the merits
and faults of the Emperor system as a state
institution.
The phrases "the Emperor's sovereignty" or "the peoples sovereignty" which are now
used so often are in reality terms which
were produced in connection with the discussion on the former point. That is, those
who favor the Emperor's sovereignty argue
that the Emperor's position as a state organ is ascribable to his original power and
is not derived from any other.
Consequently, an explanation for the basis of the Emperor's original power is required,
if the theory of Emperor's,
sovereignty be admitted.
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 345 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
In our country, the Emperor's power seems to have been assumed on the basis of historical
facts. The preamble of the
Constitution in which it is stated that "succeeding the distinguished deeds of our
Imperial ancestors and coming to the Throne
according to the line of emperors unbroken for ages eternal" shows the traditional
belief. It holds the view that the Emperor
is the descendant of the Imperial ancestors who set up the foundation of the country,
and so he is duly qualified to govern
the country. The Government is reported to adopt the theory of the Emperor's sovereignty.
The Government's motive in adopting
this theory is not manifest in detail, but the original meaning of the theory of the
Emperor's sovereignty is as
above-mentioned.
The opponents of the Emperor's sovereignty insist that the people should be the state
organ due to their natural rights. This
view is called the theory of the people's sovereignty. The social contract theory
is the historical basis for it. The contract
theory was originated by those who argued that the state was based on the free consent
of the people in its origin and
consequently the sovereignty should naturally rest with the people. According to this
argument, all the state organs outside
the people can stand only as the people's representatives. The plan drafted by the
Constitution Investigation Association
manifestly represents this idea, as is shown in that plan which declares that "the
sovereign power emanates from the Japanese
Nation or "the Emperor performs the state rites as the representative of the Nation".
As can be judged from the above whether the sovereignty should be vested in the Emperor
or in the people is a purely
theoretical problem on the basis of the Emperor's or people's power as a state organ.
Accordingly, it seems to be unrelated to
the second problem, of merits and faults, while in reality is not so. For instance,
if it is correct that the Emperor is
sovereign, and he is originally qualified to be a state organ, the abolition of the
Emperor System means the cessation of the
existence of the state which is the same as the change of state polity in the above
sense. On the contrary, if it be not so,
the abolition of the Emperor System means only a change in the form of government.
Therefore, the problem of sovereignty has a
deep practical significance.
The problem of the Emperor System has many complex points to be discussed, as can
be seen in this brief explanation, Since the
Emperor System is one of the important subjects in the coming general election, each
party should make a more precise
explanation of this problem for the people in clarifying their attitude toward the
Emperor system.
On the side of the people, it is necessary to grasp scientifically this problem or
at least the points of discussion to
determine their attitude towards the election. For both the parties and the people,
to act in such a manner as the above is
quite necessary for solving this important issue calmly and reasonably without making
it a mere sentimental conflict.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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