Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0235, 1946-01-27.

Full Translation:

All political parties are strongly opposed to the compulsory measure, for the administration of staple foods, recently taken by the Government. Taking advantage of this, the Communist Party will shortly make a fourth proposal to the Social Democratic Party on the immediate formation of a democratic United front.

The Communists' views are as follows: the SHIDEHARA Cabinet's reactionary policy will only provoke the antagonism of the farmers. In order to prevent such a state of affairs, we need the definite co-operation of all the democratic political parties and organs of expression. As the leading element among these democratic movements, we Communists earnestly desire a united front between our Party and the Social-Democratic Party.

Full Translation:

The JAPAN Progressive Party, under the direction of SHIMADA, held a general conference on constitutional problems in the chairmen's parlor of the Diet Assembly, on 25 January. Mr. SAITO, Takao, and others expressed their opinions, but discussions reached no definite conclusions. Therefore, the conference is to be resumed in the House, at 1300 hours on 28 January. The general principles of the Party are to be decided at that meeting.

Full Translation:

Home Minister MITSUCHI, Vice-Minister of the Home Office OMURA, and other high-ranking officials of the same ministry had been cudgeling their brains concerning the reshuffle of 23 provincial governors. As the result of their selection, they decided to fill up those vacated seats of prefectural governors on 25 January. One of the main features of the changes is that five governors were appointed from among the common people, revealing the approach of the time when provincial governors will be selected from the public. How will these newly appointed governors behave themselves, or employ their political capabilities, handling

POLITICAL SERIES: 235 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

extremely stringent food problems and the problem of democratizing the Home Ministry? Let us tap the hopes and ambitions of these newly-fledged provincial governors.

The Views of ONO, Governor of NARA-Ken

Goods for Distribution in Stock to Agricultural Villages

ONO, Shuichi, aged 50, who has been newly appointed governor of NARA-Ken, spoke as follows, concerning his hopes for assumption of the governorship on 25 January, at MATSUMOTO's law office in the JAPAN Industrial Building, MARUNOUCHI: "Food and election problems are the two most important at present. NARA-Ken has been comparatively free from air raid ravages, so we need not be much concerned about reconstruction. As for the food problem, we will make investigations whether or not there are goods for distribution in stock; if there are, we will distribute all of them to agricultural villages. At the same time, we will go round the villages, asking the farmers for delivery of rice and other staple foodstuffs. Measures for increase in farm produce must be made as speedily as possible. No plan is yet fixed for the general election. We simply follow the directive of the Home Minister. As for myself, I have neither good will nor ill will toward any political parties. I think the Communist Party has become quite practical. As for the Emperor system, I am not disposed to support those who desire the abolition of the system."

After graduation from the higher course of a primary school at TAKIHARA town in WATARAI county, MIE-Ken, he became a teacher in a primary school, went to TOKYO, passed the examination for a teachers' certificate, entered the jurisprudence course of the CHUO University, and, after hardships and difficulties as a laboring student, successfully passed the higher civil service examination. Since July of 1926, he has been in the service of the YASUDA HOZENSHA.

"Am I to be appointed governor? That's nonsense," said KISHIDA, Yukio, as if he were not pleased with the news I brought him. He is the newly appointed governor of HYOGO-Ken, and when I called on him at noon on 25 January, he was in the dining room of the JAPAN Club, MARUNOUCHI. There was ample reason for his nonchalant appearance at the news of his appointment as governor. Since his graduation from the KYOTO Imperial University in 1916, he has been devoting himself exclusively to civilian work for many years.

He served first in the OSAKA Merchant Marine Company, then in the JAPAN Electric Power Company, and then in the Fire Electricity Generation Company, changing his posts several times. Recently he has been director of the JAPAN Electricity Distribution Company, and the role he has played, in the electric circles in JAPAN has really been enormous. Naturally, he is apathetic to becoming a Government or a public official, and though he took with success the higher civil s service examination in accordance with his father's wishes, he went against the call of officialdom to take up his newly appointed post in the OSAKA Merchant Marine Company.

In 1920 he went to ITALY as one of HORI's group to be present at the Second International Labor Conference which was held at GENOA. His views are as follows:

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POLITICAL SERIES: 235 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

"How can I, who have long been connected with business circles only, manage Government work successfully? A plain civilian, as I have been for many years, will perhaps awaken interest in the people. Many a time I have sent in petitions and pleas to the Government. Now I am in a position to receive petitions, but my feeling is that I will do my duties as if I were a representative of petitioners."

Full Translation:

A welcome Party to Mr. NOZAKA, Sanzo, was held on the 25 January, sponsored by YAMAKAWA, Hitoshi, ARABATA, Kanson, TAKANO, Iwasaburo, MATSUOKA, Komakichi, MIZUTANI, Chuzaburo, and KURODA, Hisao, of the Social-Democrat Party, and Professor OUCHI and other professors of the people's front group at TAISHOKAKU, IIDABASHI. Besides Mr. NOZAKA, TOKUDA, Kyuichi, SHIGA, Yoshio, MIYAMOTO, Kenji, and over 50 other men connected with the Communist and other Proletarian Parties were present. They had lunch together in a very amiable atmosphere. It was the first time that leaders of the Communist and various old Proletarian Parties met in one room.

The meeting was very significant in view of the opportunity for the formation of a people's front, recently proposed by YAMAKAWA, Hitoshi, and now fast maturing since NOZAKA's return. It also served as a preparatory meeting for the people's mass meeting for welcoming NOZAKA at HIBIYA on the 26th. All the attendants found old friends, and congeniality prevailed over the assembly. On this occasion OZAKI, GaKudo, sent a message of congratulation on NOZAKA's return, stressing that the construction of JAPAN is only possible by the formation of a people's front.

A roundtable conference was opened on Mr. YAMAKAWA's proposal under the chairmanship of Mr. ARAHATA. Mr. MATSUOKA of the Social Democrat Party, an old acquaintance of Mr. NOZAKA, rose and said:

"In those days, the press gave out to the public, as though they were matters for public entertainment, the internal strifes that occurred in the National League. These strifes had been caused by the conflict between intellectuals like Mr. NOZAKA and common laborers like myself. Though such incidents occasionally took place, we trusted each other and mutually co-operated, thanks to Mr. NOZAKA's personality. Unforhunataly, however, due to the difference of political opinions, friction arose from our mood of well-meant rivalry. Personally, I always thought of him, even after he went to EUROPE, and still think of him with friendly feelings. Without some well meant rivalries, I believe it is impossible to effect co-operation or amalgamation. Perhaps Mr. NOZAKA agrees with me on this point."

He further stated that, in spite of their positions as political rivals, there was no change in the friendly sentiments each entertained for the other. He further referred to the strong bond of friendship between their wives. Mr. NOZAKA's frank reply was very impressive, and called forth the warmest applause:

"I heartily thank you for this welcome party. Mr. MATSUOKA, and I have been spiritual friends since the YUAIKAI (TN. The name of a Labor Party which existed years ago) times. Messrs. TAKANO, YAMAKAWA, and ARAHATA, who are present, fostered me while Mr. MATSUOKA

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ITEM 4 (Continued)

educated me within the movement. My thirty odd years of experience, since emerging with the laborers in the YUAIKAI, are the very foundation of my movement. The men who assemble here are all over 40 years of age. Those who are between 20 and 30 are doing little, theoretically or practically, in our camp, because they have had no experience. I would like to point out that it is the duty of the men of our age to fill that blank. It is also for the men of our age to stand at the head of the formation of a popular front. This is an unprecedented event, in that men of various parties concerned with mass movements have gathered together in one room. The perfection of democracy and the formation of a democratic front are the dominant public issues at this time. All present must accomplish the objectives with their concerted efforts."

Full Translation:

The privileged position of Shinto-Shrines has been abolished by the SCAP memorandum issued on 15 December of last year. A Shinto-shrine, it was decided, will be treated as that of any other religion. It was decided to transfer matters connected with them to the Ministry of Education.

At the Cabinet meeting held on 25 January, matters falling under the jurisdiction of affairs concerning Shinto shrines was submitted. Education Minister ABE gave the following explanation: "A Shinto shrine is managed as a religion, the affairs regarding it are supervised by the Ministry of Education from the day the revised Religious Societies' (SHUKYO HOJIN REI) Ordinance is put into effect. However, unsettled affairs which were supervised by the Office of the Shinto Religion and the Office of the Great Shrine will be dealt with by the Ministry of Education." The Education Minister asked the people to appreciate this.

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