Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0080, 1945-12-13.
Date13 December, 1945
translation numbersocial-0307
call numberDS801 .S84
Persistent Identifier
SOCIAL SERIES: 80
ITEM 1 What will become of Religious Bodies. [illegible] [illegible]inic[illegible]i, 5 December 1945. Translator Ogawa, Ponoye.
Summary:
The Religious Body Law, which has been controlling religious affairs in our country
for many years will be abolished by a
[illegible]irective from General M[illegible]’s Head quarters. Suesequently it is
understood among informed so recs[illegible]t[illegible]t an Emergency Imperial Ordinance
will be issued on 15 December to replace the bolished law. No instruction, however,
has yet been received by the prefectural
authorities in this regard. Under such circ[illegible]stances, want will become of the religious bodies in
our prefectural in answer [illegible]such [illegible]
[illegible]estion, the [illegible]IIGAT [illegible]I[illegible]C[illegible]I reveals the following forcast of their destinies:
1. Shinto Shrines:
Following the tragic end of one war, the nation’s faith on Shinto shrines has [illegible]inled. When the
number of [illegible]orshi [illegible]ers at the "GOKOKU JINS[illegible]A", [illegible]prefectural shrine dedic[illegible]ted to the local war-dead, has
re[illegible]r[illegible]bly ciminiched of late. The Bureau of S[illegible], of me [illegible]aucation Ministry has already been abolished, while the new
private body in charge of SA[illegible]has not been established yet. As a result of this the following
problems are expected to occur, this [illegible]antici[illegible]tes:
a. Problems of personnel: Shinto priests have been treated on the same looking with
Government officials. They will however,
have to become ordinary civilians [illegible]after. This my result in the spontaneous resignation of
priess.
b. Problems of funds: Government and State shrines [illegible]been supported by State subsidy, while
prefectural or village shrines, were subsidized by prefectural fin[illegible]ace. [illegible]bsence of these sources of revenue, will [illegible]ut shrines from fin[illegible]straits.
c. Repairs: Supposing no source or revenue is available for payment of [illegible]intence ex[illegible]enses, the s[illegible]ontaneous disa[illegible]earance of shrines
is inevitable. Consequently every effort is being exerted to maintain endowments.
2. Buddhist Temples:
The Budist temples are apparently maintaining silence as heretofore. Assumming they
are also subject to scientific analysis
they could not remain so optimistic. The stagnation of BUDDHISM may be attributed
to the fact, that it has lost the support of
younger people and middle-aged group. It will be forsaken by the people at last, unless
some prominent priests appear to take
up a positive campaign for the public inlightenment. The current number of Buddhist
temples in the prefecture is as
follows:
Total of Buddhist temples amounts to 28.75 (including 925-OTNI Sub-sect, SHINSHO
sect; 728-SODO Sect; 138-SHINGON Sect;
268-HONGANJI Sub-sect, SHINSHU Sect; 134-[illegible]ICHIREN Sect.
SOCIAL SERIES: 80 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
3. Christian Churches:
There were 32 during the prewar period. At present, however, this number has been
reduced to 26 in all. Out of these, six
belong to JAPAN Roman Catholic Church: 16 to JAPAN Christion Brotherhood Church: four
to Anglican and American Episcopalian
Church in JAPAN. These churches were under restrictions to some extent during the
war, but their earnest religious work is
being continued now. The local Allied Headquarters has summoned the missionaries living
in the NIIGATA-Shi to the
Headquarters.
ITEM 2 Delinquent Girls. Niigata Nippo. 6 December 1945. Translator O. Masashi.
Full Translation:
Amidst the storm of social changes resulting from our defeat in war the minds of
boys and girls are inevitably affected. The
increased numbers of delinquent youths in NIIGATA Prefecture is remarkable. They numbered
142 in 1937, 206 in 1940,922 in
1942, 1,002 in 1944 and now when the country is defeated the number is thought to
be greatly increased. These facts it is
considered, are due to various reasons such as immoral living, lowering of the educator's
influence in schools, lack of a
social crime prevention system and the impotence of the Police. Plans of the Prefectural
authorities for these problems based
on the Juvenile Protection Law are now under way.
The authorities started to expand the building of the NIIGATA Reformatory which is
now capable of accommodating 65 persons.
Recently the increased numbers of delinquent girls amounted one-third of all the delinquent
youths. The prefectural
authorities decided to take active steps to educate persons at homes, especially mothers,
as well boys and girls.
ITEM 3 The Crime Wave in Tokyo. Tokyo Shimbun and Nippon Sangyo Keizai. 10 December Translator Nishihara, H
Summary:
Crimes in Tokyo are increasing and the crime section of the Tokyo Police office arrested
young criminals in the ASAKUSA, UENO
and MARUNOUCHI Areas. The reports state that the tendensies in crime made known through
these arrests are as follows: Formerly
their crimes were trivial matters, but now theft, are common among them, and many
of those arrested were trying to sell stolen
goods. Ages ranged from 18 to 20. The majority of them were formerly factory workers
and seamen. The stolen goods were mostly
clothing, and in order of importance, money and machinery. Crimes of impersonating
policemen are most numerous, As the number
of amusement resorts has decreased during the war, pickpockets seem to have chosen
vacant cars as the scene of their crimes.
The following table shows the number of items stolen:
Years | (From January to October | |
Places | 1945 | 1944 |
In Streetcars | 296 | 290 |
In Trains | 263 | 147 |
In Suburban Electric Cars | 71 | 101 |
Taking into consideration the fact that the number of cars has decreased owing to
the war, the rate shows upward tendency this
year. In this connection, Chief of the crime Section, TAKAHASHI, said that crimes
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SOCIAL SERIES: 80 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
are expected to increase by the end of the year. The TOKYO Police Office will order
all efforts to prevent them.
Paralled to this report the NIPPON SANGYO KEIZAI Newspaper reports that the TOKYO
Juvenile Court has consulted the public
prosecutor's office and the TOKYO Police Office to find measures to prevent juvenile
crimes. Juvenile delinquents will be
arrested, but everyone desires to guide them into the right way of living. The former
measures of placing young criminals in
the imperfect police buildings are not desirable.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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