Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0039, 1945-11-29.

Summary:

After the Emperor notified Agriculture and Forestry Minister of his intention to donate art works to help pay for the importation of food, a movement for collecting art works, was started covering all the artists and makers of industrial works. This is a result of consultations among the following members of the Japanese Art and Industrial Art Co-operation. KODAMA, chief director; TAKAMURA, Hoshu, hanging committee member of the Education Ministry Art Exhibition (BUNTEN); YAMASAKI, Kakutare, another hanging committee member; TAKIMURA, Heizo; NISHIJIN Art Embroidery artist in KYOTO; KAWASHIMA, Jinbei; NISHIMURA, Soemon; ANDO, noted SHIPPO maker; MIKIMOTO, pearl dealer and lacquerware artist in ISHIKAWA-KEN.

Petitions were submitted for procuring materials from the General Headquarter of the Allied Forces and from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Art works valued at 5,000,000 yen were collected and exhibited at the MITSUKOSHI Store during the middle of last month. Colonel KUREMAA indicated the art works suitable for exportation.

The JAPAN Art and Industrial Art Co-operation has submitted the plans already, and is preparing to begin the production of art works as soon as possible after the materials are procured.

The materials desired are silk, HABUTAE silk, silver, lacquer etc., which were stocked for military production. From these materials will be made NISHIJIN Embroideries, silver articles, draperies, lacquerware, HAKATA dolls, china, etc., which will be suitable for daily use.

Production of one billion yen is expected to be completed before long. In this connection, KODAM, chief director stated:

"Industrial art works are most suitable for exportation to pay for the importation of fond. We want to refrain from exporting national treasures and important art works reflecting the Japanese culture, moreover splendid draperies and SHIPPO Chinese, etc., are far more pleasing than priest's painting. Now we are striving toward production, but it may become necessary to export ancient works. Anyhow procuring material is the most urgent matter."

SOCIAL SERIES: 39 (Continued)

Full translation:

An Educational Information Bureau was established in the Education Ministry as the first official step toward democratization. This organization will solicit the opinions of the common man on education. Any suitable ideas will be submitted to the Vice-Minister or the Minister of Education and matters beyond the jurisdiction of the Bureau will be sent to the proper department for further attention.

Summary:

A dining hall was opened on the 20th of November in RIKKYO University in IKEBUKURO. The Mutual Aid Section of the RIKKYO Students' Society, newly organized since the war, planned this dining hall as a first step toward the settlement of the food problem of the university.

On 20 November, the meal consisted of two pieces of potato, one orange, and a cup of black tea without sugar.

This scarcely filled the students' empty stomachs, but it was better than nothing, and the price of one and a half yen was reasonable compared with black market prices. The potatoes were a part of two thousand kan of potatoes which the students obtained from farmers through the aid of the Agricultural Association in the province.

MORI, Shizuko, is the full-time employee in the new dining hall, TOMITA, Keitaro is chief of the Mutual Aid Section, OGASAWARA, Hideo, son of the Commercial and Industry Minister, is chief of the dining hall. Eight committee members, and thirty students manage all business of the organization.

Since the most important problem of students is the food shortage, this plan is regarded as most timely. If dining-halls are opened in other schools and a pooling of resources is made, many students may be relieved of their worries over the food-shortage.

Summary:

According to TOKYO SHIMBUN, young policemen of the TAKASAKI Police Station in GUNMA-KEN called a strike on Monday asking for better treatment. Surprised by this move, the Police Station authorities, together with the prefectural Police Department, stopped the strike and are now taking measures to remedy the situation. This is the first case of a policemens' strike ever to occur in this country.

The direct cause was the unfair distribution of surplus commodities of which the Army had disposed. The strike was initiated by two policemen, TAMURA and SATO, of the KATAMACHI Police Box who told their fellow policemen about what had happened to these items and encouraged them to strike.

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SOCIAL SERIES: 39 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

The strike, however, was quelled just before its outbreak owing to timely measures taken by the Station authorities who were aware of the situation beforehand. Nevertheless there is still a feeling of resentment among the dissatisfied policemen.

Full translation:

A conference of TOKYO schoolmasters which was attended by HIROSE, Chief of the Metropolitan Office, MACHIMURA, Vice-chief of the same office, and TATEBAYASHI, Director of the Educational Bureau, was held at the KUDAN Middle School at 1000 on 20 November.

At the meeting, the fundamental educational policies of the city were revealed by HIROSE who said, "I will make the utmost effort to eliminate extreme nationalism and standardization of education in order to educate the people who are to live in true freedom and peace. When you can't carry on as usual because of meagre attendance or food shortages, you may take whatever steps you deem necessary on your own initiative."

Summary:

TSUJI: I observed an American soldier in a cabaret with a beautiful Japanese girl on his lap. An American officer entering the establishment was also struck by the girl and told a Japanese policeman to get the girl for him. The Japanese policeman did as he was told and the girl went meekly over to the American officer. But, then the American soldier jumped up and showed himself to be very angry and the American officer had to give him back his girl.

I have also noticed that an American soldier never offers his seat to an American officer in such public places, where they seem to meet on equal terms, so that the Japanese may come to doubt the discipline in the American Army, but I am told that once the soldier returns to the barracks he strictly observes discipline and the rules of rank. As a matter of fact the Americans seem to me very much superior to us in their policies.

OTSU: I opened a free clinic for the needy and went to the MacARTHUR Headquarters and applied for medicine. They received me very courteously and told me that they had transferred the medical supply section to the Japanese Ministry of the Interior. So I went to the Ministry of the Interior.

But there they made a lot of fuss about nothing and did not get anywhere. Imagine, however, my surprise when next day two officers from the MacARTHUR Headquarters arrived to inspect my free clinic and even carefully examined and questioned a needy patient.

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SOCIAL SERIES: 39 (Continued)

Summary:

ICHIBASHI, Masao, manager of the HSINKING Branch of KOMATSU KOGYO (industrial enterprise) escaped on 7 September from HSINGKING and arrived on 10 November in JAPAN. He told the reporter of his experiences and the conditions of the Japanese in MANCHURIA. At present he is living in the RYUMEIKAN Inn at KANDA.

The SOVIET army entered HSINGKING on 17 August and disarmed the Japanese self-defense corps and Manchurian Army units. Later, they formed a public security bureau composed of Manchurian police and former Manchurian soldiers. Japanese in HSINGKING stayed behind locked doors for the first few days, but, after that hunger drove them into the open.

Manchurians sold them food at exorbitantly high prices, and as their income and accounts are blocked, their situation will become more and more desperate as time goes on. ICHIBASHI heard that in HARBIN the Soviets interned Japanese men, but made young Japanese women serve the Soviet Soldiers. In a certain district in NORTH MANCHURIA the Japanese inhabitants co-operated with the Japanese soldiers and burned their houses and possessions.

ICHIBASHI managed to get on a train on 7 September. When he got to MUKDEN, the Manchurian security police and Chinese Communist soldiers relieved him of his baggage. After that he travelled on the roof of the train for fear that his identity as a Japanese might be discovered. When he arrived in ANTUNG, he found there approximately 200,000 Japanese, 140,000 were local Inhabitants and 60,000 from other districts. The Soviet Commander in ANTUNG knew how to have his orders strictly carried out, and the Manchurian Security Bureau in ANTUNG sympathized with the Japanese. Consequently they were able to live there in comparative security.

On the night of 19 September, a party of 45 men, women, and children escaped from ANTUNG under the leadership of ICHIBASHI. They wore chased by the police of the Security Bureau and questioned by Soviet soldiers, but, after an eight mile hike, they reached the river and later, KOREA by sailing boat on 24 September.

Unfortunately they beached their boat near a Soviet air field where they were discovered by Korean security police and relieved of their baggage and possessions except for 200 yen cash per person. The party finally arrived in KEIJO on 2 October, sick and in a beggarly condition. There they received care and were able to continue safely their journey to JAPAN. ICHIBASHI describes the 25 days journey from HSINGKING as a "ride of death".

Summary:

At a time when a just distribution of army surplus goods is needed most by the Japanese public, dishonest practices are being carried on by the officials in charge. Major SPENCER, commanding officer of the UNITED STATES Military Police Headquarters in KAWAGOYE-SHI, SAITAMA-KEN, visited the IRUMA District Office at 1400 17 November, and questioned

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SOCIAL SERIES: 39 (Continued)

ITEM 8 (Continued)

SAKAMAKI, a technician of the Economic Section; TAMADA, chief of the same section; OKANO, director of the District Office; MATSUBA, chief of the General Affairs Section; YOSHIDA, chief of the Welfare Section; and 3 others.

Previously the Military Police Headquarters had received letters to the effect that a great many items scheduled for distribution were being concealed at the home of SAKAMAKI. Hearing this, Military Police Headquarters decided to make an investigation.

As a result, it was revealed that more than 2,000 pairs of underwear both summer and winter issue are missing and a search is now being made for the missing items.

Summary:

Along with the increased Government purchasing price of rice, the control of illegal disposal of staple food will be reinforced in order to break the deadlock in the food supply situation. In this connection, Public Prosecutor General NAKANO yesterday issued to the Chiefs of Public Prosecutors throughout the country, a directive referring to the policy of arresting all offenders of the Staple Food Control Law. The directive instructed that whenever arrest and control of farmers is necessary, a sharp lookout is to be kept on the professional black-marketeers and amateur brokers.

These consist mostly of demobilized soldiers and discharged workmen, who are like parasites, in the farming communities. It also instructed them to make arrests for a considerable period and to redouble the control on the misappropriations of food by the farmers who have not delivered their allotment.

In addition to this, further control is to be exercised regarding the embezzlement and other illegal action by the officials of return purchasing organs, such as the Foodstuff Supply Corporation (SHOKURYO EIDAN) or the agricultural association (NOGYO KAI, unjust delivery by means of fake population figures, pretended occupation, larceny or robbery of foodstuffs kept in custody by the Government or the Foodstuff Supply Corporation, or the hijacking of goods. The range of supervision and control will be expanded in general. In the directive it was also demanded that the prosecution authorities should appeal to the peoples' co-operation by letting them know the intention of this control through newspaper announcements or circulation of notices before adopting penal action.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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