Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0210, 1946-01-21.

Full Translation:

Various parties have now manifested their attitude towards the Emperor system. The Communist Party has decided to amend its attitude, while the Social Democrat Party has made another proclamation, and the problem of the Emperor system has come to assume a decisive nature at the present time. The Communist Party, which had proposed the absolute overthrow of the Emperor System as one fundamental of its policy, has amended its attitude, upon NOZAKA's return, to deprive the Emperor of his political power, but with the continuance of the Emperor on the Imperial lines dependent on the will of the people.

The Social Democrat Party, while it insists on the democratic amendment of the Constitution, advocates the continuance of the Emperor system. Based on the discussions at its central executive committee on the 16th, the Party has decided that, relative to the democratic revision of the Constitution coupled with the continuance of the Emperor system, the Emperor's sovereignty should be greatly diminished, the Emperor system should be continued with part of his sovereignty as a symbol of respect, but that this last point should be determined by a national vate in the future. Thus the Party has given out its attitude quite clearly. The Communist Party has altered its attitude as stated above, but fundamentally it upholds the downfall of the Emperor system, and its attitude is quite different from that of the Social Democrat Party, which supports the continuance of the system.

While these two parties have clearly manifested their attitude toward the Emperor System, the Progressive and Liberal Parties on the other hand support the Emperor system and the maintenance of the national polity as their platforms. In connection with the revision of the Constitution, mere absolute maintenance of the Emperor system is so abstract and obscure that it is inadmissible, resulting in the necessity for the Progressive and Liberal Parties to make their real attitude clear.

Accordingly, the Liberal Party held a conference of its general affairs' directors meeting on the 18th and discussed the Constitution revision draft made out by its committee. The Progressive Party is now deliberately making investigations about the problems of the Constitution and the Emperor system.

Along with the clarification of attitude by the Communist and Social Democrat Parties concerning the Emperor system, the Progressive and Liberal Parties, apart from this farmer abstract theory are now requested to manifest their attitude toward the Emperor system in close connection with the Constitution revision problem. The extent to which the two parties will admit the scope of the Emperor's

POLITICAL SERIES: 210 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

sovereignty in proposing a revision of the Constitution is a forerunner to the establishment of the national attitude centered on the Diet.

Full Translation:

Home Minister MITSUCHI is to execute the reshuffle of provincial governors in the course of a few days, selecting them on his own initiative. His choice will be viewed with considerable interest because the newly chosen provincial governors are to be placed in a position of determining the adequacy of candidates for the general election. In the Home Ministry the authorities concerned are making plans for stabilizing the provincial Governments, and at the same time are holding conference after conference with the Home Minister and Vice-Minister OMURA to select governors. They have been negotiating at the Home Office since the 18th.

As the result of appointments from the people, about half the number of those selected appear to have accepted the invitation. The score of those selected covers business, literary, and other circles. This time chiefs of internal affairs are not necessarily promoted in place of retired governors. New governors are to be appointed from among engineering officials, scholars, businessmen, etc, and not always graduates of the Imperial universities as has been customary un to now. Thus the traditional monopolization of governorship by Imperial university graduates has been completely removed, introducing a fundamental innovation in our governmental system.

Full Translation:

The conference having ended in this manner, the Ministers at once assembled for a Cabinet meeting at which a decision was reached in accordance with the Imperial wish. Then with myself in charge we set about drafting an Imperial Rescript. Established precedents led me to anticipate an order to the Government to proceed with the Rescript, so I had already prepared a draft conforming to the Emperor's expressed desires. The Imperial speeches on the 14th caused a revision and supplementation of the material resulting from the conference on the 9th. Then with the assistance of YASUOKA, Masaatsu, and TAKEDA, Mizoko, Vice-Minister of Greater East ASIA, TAJIRI and KIHARA, Michio performed the final editing. After the Cabinet had passed approval, the document was submitted to the Emperor. It was about 2100 hours. The Rescript was subsequently issued at 2300, and immediately afterward, the Allice were notified of our accepting the terms of the POTSDAM Declaration. The Greater East ASIA War came to an end.

The Imperial Rescript announcing the termination of the war was a verbation text of His Majesty's utteringstat the two conferences. Hence, if the public, with this point in mind re-reads the document, it will appreciate his infinite mercy and clearly envisage the lines along which this Country should be reconstructed. As a result, the public will respond automatically with a constructive enthusiasm.

In compliance with the Emperor's wish, the date for his personal broadcast of the Rescript was set for noon of the 15th. Chief of the Information Bureau SHIMOMURA and technicians were summoned to the Palace, and the records were prepared, and only completed shortly after midnight.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 210 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

To Premier SUZUKI's honest mind it was unforgivable to have had to trouble the Emperor twice for a decision; this sentiment vas expressed in his letter on the general resignation of the Cabinet. Whatever may have been the agreement between the young sagacious Monarch and the old disinterested Premier, it saved the Nation from ruin just: before it was too late. Though I am not well versed in Court affairs, I imagine the Lord Keeper of Privy Seal KIDO was greatly instrumental in crystallizing the Emperor's wishes.

In the Cabinet, both the Ministers of the Army and Navy did their best to accomplish the purport of the decision as quietly as possible. The War Minister committed suicide soon afterward like a true Samurai. Though the rumor is current that he took his own life because his opinion was not accepted, according to my belief, the motive was not be so simple. True, his way of yielding to the situation differed from that of Admiral YONAI, but fully realizing the great part he played in the termination of the war, I do not begrudge him the prox foundest respect. Also, I pay respect to the Foreign Minister TOGO, who with constant and firm conviction defied all opposition.

After receipt of the report that the recording had been completed, I went to bed at about 0200 for the first time in several days. As both my private and official residences were burnt by air raids, I was sleeping in an office room of the Premier's official residence. At 0430 I was awakened by the sound of machine gun fire. Looking Out of a window, I found the building was being attacked by a detachment of troops. I had had a similar experience in the 26 February Incident when I was private secretary to Premier OKADA. After instructing men nearby to warn the Premier at his private residence immediately, I found my way out through the air raid shelter and hastened to the Metropolitan Police Board, where I learned that communications between the Imperial Palace and the outside had been cut since about 0100; that the Ministry of the Imperial Household appeared to be surrounded by a detachment of troops; that the President of the Information Bureau, SHIMOMURA, seemed to be detained by those troops; that the Minister of War ANAMI had committed suicide; and that some of the troops which attacked the Premier's Official residence stormed the private residences of the Premier and the President of Privy Council HIRANUMA and burned them down, but both statesmen, having been warned by the Police beforehand, had taken refuge elsewhere.

A number of impulsive young officers who had transferred the Imperial Guards Division, intruded into the Household Ministry and searched for the records of the Imperial Rescript, but failed to find them. They were eventually peacefully dispersed at about 0800, being pacified by General TANAZKA, Shizutoyo, Commander of the Eastern Army District. After this, with the exception of a few minor incidents, the situation took a very smooth course, mainly because of His Majesty's gracious personality.

Summary:

What are the Japanese women doing? Let us see who is going to run for the coming election.

The Social Democratic Party: Mrs. YAMAZAKI, Michiko (SHIZUOKA-Ken), who has rendered great service in farmer's unions and in children's homes, wants to connect daily life directly with policies.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 210 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

Mrs. KATO, Shizue (TOKYO), will fight the election on the issue of birth control, while Mrs. JUKAYA, Haru, said that it is her duty to make rural women free. Mrs. MIYAI, Kiyoko, is also expected to run in the election.

The Communist Party: Although the women's candidates have not been decided on yet, Mrs. KUTSUMI, Fusako, who established the first organization of women proletarians, the Red Wave Society (SEKIRANKAI), Mrs. KATSUME, Teru, who played an active part in a co-operative society in TOKYO, and Mrs. KOMIYAMA, Tomie, a wellknown protazonist of labor, will be candidates for the election.

The Liberal Party: Two women were selected as candidates. One, Mrs. KUBUSHIRO, Ochimi, said, "Though my long-cherished desire, abolition of licensed prostitution, is now realized, there is still the system and tradition whereby women are treated only as trifles, and I want to do away with this." Dr. TAKEUCHI, Shigeyo, expressed her desire to stamp out tuberculosis.

The Progressive Party: Mr. KORA, Tomiko, a professor of the Japanese Women's College, and Mrs. KIUCHI, Kyo, the only school head in JAPAN, will run in the election. The former stressed the necessity of at least one woman candidate from each province. The latter hoped for better conditions for women teachers.

The New Japanese Women's Party: The candidates will be MIYAHIGASHI, Katsuko, the president of the party, MATSUDAIRA, Toshiko, the vice-president, HORI, Kowasa, TANAKA, Tomiko, HIGUCHI, Yone, SUZUKI, Kimiko, NAGAMATSU, Kinu, GOTO, Shiki, and SEKI, Eiko. The president said that she wanted to improve the deplorable conditions of Japanese wives and mothers.

The JAPAN People's Party: Mrs. FUKUCHI, Fumino, who wants improvements in women's education, the raising of the standard of culture and assistance for families of deceased soldiers, is an official candidate.

Independents: Mrs. YONEYAMA, Hisako, stated that she would appeal on behalf of women's difficulties in daily life. Mrs. SHIDA, Hide, the founder of a Girls' Professional School and a girls' practical high school, and SAKAKIBARA, Chiyo, an ex-teacher at JIYUGAKUEN, are expected to be candidates.

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