Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0368, 1946-02-06.

Full Translation:

The necessity of the democratization and the promotion of the cultural level of farming villages has often been emphasized with regard to the reconstruction of post-war JAPAN. To what extent are these two problems understood by the farmers?

These are important problems regarding the reconstruction of Japanese farming villages as well as JAPAN herself in the future. In the past, the culture and civilization of JAPAN were focussed only upon the cities, whereas in the farming villages uncivilized feudal traditions remained obdurate. In other words, the civilization of JAPAN was focussed at the peak of a triangle with the cities at the top and the rest of the country relatively empty and uncivilized at the base.

But it was believed that the peak of civilization was attained throughout the country, and it could stand up to the civilizations, of BRITAIN and AMERICA and other countries, in case of war. Herein lay the misunderstanding which was the cause of the sorrowful defeat in the war.

Now there are 80,000,000 people left to sustain life in this narrow country. This is twice the population of one hundred years ago. Such are the hardships of present day JAPAN. It is clear to anybody that the task of the farming villages hereafter is a great one, namely the production of provisions to food eighty million people. That is why the farming villages must stand up to their new duties and cast aside all old- time traditions and habits. This can only be achieved by complete democratization and promotion of the cultural life of the farming villages.

In speaking about the increase of provisions, the farmers would toll of the need for more fertilizer. Of course this is of utmost importance but even if an ample supply of fertilizers were to be given to the farmers, would they be able to produce a sufficient amount of provision to feed eighty million people? This could never be done under the present conditions which exist in farming villages. It is only possible to get an average crop of rice of sixty million koku a year, taking weather conditions and other factors into consideration. Beside rice, the shortage of provisions can be further remedied by wheat and potatoes, but a shortage of ten million koku will still exist. In order to cover this shortage there is no other way but to import provision from abroad.

In this connection, there are certain necessary materials to be used in foreign trade for the Import of provisions. Raw silk and tea, are the products which will answer this need, although the major parts of industrial installations arc now in the hands of the Allies as reparations. This burden shall also fall upon the shoulders of the farming villages.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 368 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

In addition to this, the farming villages must stand upon steady ground spiritually as well as economically as the balancing power JAPAN. There are no greater or heavier responsibilities than those of the farming villages. Farmers might complain that these things that arc demanded of them cannot be done because during the war they were called upon for too many sacrifices and demands and then efforts have already been sapped to the utmost. However, there is another point to be considered by the farmers. In the past, major parts of the farming villages had undergone hardships because of the bad politics in JAPAN, and because systems and traditions of the villages themselves restrained them, But now is the time to cast aside all of these obstacles through the efforts of the farmers themselves embarking upon assumption of their new duties. Moreover, there are helping hands being offered them from the outside to enable them to achieve those purposes. These outside aids are, namely the abolition of the feudal system which will liberate the centers of the cultivation of rural lands, and the revision of political leaders which will be brought about by the coming general election, through which the promotion of the cultural level of farming villages can be attained. However, this must be achieved through the efforts of the villages themselves. Only then, can it be said that the duties and the responsibilities of the villages have been fulfilled in the new reconstruction of JAPAN.

The basic meaning of promotion of the cultural level of the farming villages lies in the problem of a scientific study of old-fashioned agricultural administration and arts. Scientific allotment of agricultural lands, their utilization a study of administration from all different angles, and electrification and mechanization in the farming villages must all be adopted completely. Herein also is the important problem of eliminating thinking in terms of slave relationships and the time worn traditions of the farming villages, which have interrupted progress so much in the past.

At Present, there maybe, in certain parts of the villages those who are enjoying the inflated prices and profits brought on by the defeat in the war, but we cannot help thinking that this is too near-sighted an attitude to adopt.

Now is the time to strengthen the fundamental standing of the villages in preparation for the period of deflation that may come, along within a few years. For that purpose the individualistic doctrine of self-Preservation, which existed in the past must be cast aside by awakening in the people the important standing and mission of the farming village as a whole. Strong co-operative organizations must be formed upon this basis.

It emphasized here again that the achievement of the reconstruction of JAPAN depends entirely on the awakening of the farmers of the villages in JAPAN.

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