Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0088, 1945-12-17.

Author Supreme Commander for The Allied Powers. Allied Translator and Interpreter Section.

Date17 December, 1945

translation numbersocial-0348

call numberDS801 .S84

Persistent Identifier
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS
ALLIED TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER SECTION
PRESS TRANSLATIONS
No. 348 Date: 17 Dec 45

SOCIAL SERIES: 88

ITEM 1 Settlement of Yomiuri Dispute - Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri-Hochi - 12 Dec 45. Translator: C. Gilbert.

Summary:
(TN: See Okuyama Service of same date.)
The YOMIURI Newspaper employees held a general meeting yesterday at which they unanimously accepted the decision of the arbitration committee, and then voted their special thanks to KIKUNAMI, Katsumi, Chief of the Employees' Union of the ASAHI Newspaper, TOKUDA Kyuichi, of the Communist Party, and SUZUKI, Mosaburo, for their efforts as labor representatives in the arbitration committee.
YOMIURI-HOCHI expresses editorially special satisfaction over the agreement to establish a Bureau of Management composed of representatives appointed by the President and the staff which are to discuss future management as well as the editorial policy of the paper. The establishment of this Bureau results in a division between capital and management and thereby ensures democratization of the paper, and precludes sabotage by the capitalists.
The chief of the special arbitration committee, Dr. SUEHIRO, Izutaro, also declared that the most gratifying result of the present arbitration has been the clear-cut division between the roles of capital and management in a newspaper organization. However, this division is by no means complete. It will be the mission of the employees' union to safeguard the management of the paper from undue interference by the capitalists.
The new President of YOMIURI-HOCHI, BABA, Tsunego, declared that it will not be an instrument of either the GUMBATSU, the ZAIBATSU, the Bureaucrats, the President, the shareholders or employees of the paper, but rather an organ to serve and reflect public opinion.
YOMIURI-HOCHI describes President BABA as having at one time worked for the JAPAN Advertiser. He then resided for four years in NEW YORK, and upon returning to JAPAN, became editor of the Oriental Review, a magazine published by the NIPPON Times. He resigned when TOKUTOMI, Soho, became President of the NIPPON Times. He was then editor of the NIOHIYO HYORON Newspaper from 1934 until he was forced to resign five years later by the GUMBATSU after the outbreak of the CHINA Incident. During the war his activities were limited to the publication of his biography on "ITO, the Scholar" and some poems. He was frowned upon by the GUMBATSU because he has always maintained his attitude as a staunch supporter of paslia-mentary politics and liberalism.
SOCIAL SERIES: 88 (Continued)

ITEM 2 War Devastated Cities to be Turned into Recreation Cities - Asahi Shimbun - 12 Dec 45. Translator: T. Ogawa.

Summary:
Nation-wide interest has been placed on the rehabilitation of war-destroyed cities and towns, in anticipation of the important role. This will play in the construction of a new JAPAN.
Our cities and towns have never been provided with a single athletic institution for the citizens' use up to this time. Consequently, the life of urban inhabitants has naturally been affected by this situation to no small extent, physically, mentally and sentimentally. The necessity of solving this problem completely before proceeding with the reconstruction work has been shorn by several people. In this connection the representative plans introduced by the ASAHI Newspaper are as follows
A plan by KAWASHIMA, Shinichi, Doctor of Medicine calls for a citizens' athletic ground at least one tsubo in width for each person using the field. One large athletic ground in each ward in Tokyo, for example, with an area of 12,000 tsubo is necessary; two smaller ones, the total area amounting to 24,000 tsubo would be absolutely necessary. The difference between the larger and smaller ones would be only in the lengths of their tracks. In the following chart all figures are in meters:
Specification of Grounds

Scroll Table to show more columns

Track. Straight Course.
Width Length of a Lap. Length.
The Larger One. 15 400 200
The Smaller One. 10 300 100
An athletic hall would be attached to each ground. This hall would have an area of 40 meter by 70 meter, and a swimming pool of 20 meters by 50 meters would be built in its basement, with a shower-room on one side. The first floor would be designed as an indoor sports hall; a stand on the second floor; an auditorium on the third floor; and offices and a Health Information Bureau would be located on the fourth floor. Around the athletic ground a recreation field would be provided. In the auditorium, they would occasionally hold movie shows and concerts Also lectures and reports on athletics would be given periodically.
"I think it is high time to materialize such an institute now that 119 war-destroyed cities and towns are going to be reconstructed", the doctor said.
A plan by Mr. KURIMOTO, Yoshihiko, Chief of the Physical Training Section of the Welfare Ministry call for an urban recreation ground of 10 square meters for each person using the field, for an athletic ground two square meters per capita, and for a children's playground of 0.5 square meters, per capita. The area for each athletic ground would be 5,000 tsubo.
According to this plan the detailed figures will be as follows: In 178 urban areas there are now 148 athletic grounds (628,8 hectares). The number planned is 3,351 (5,529 hectares). At present there are 348 children's playgrounds (124.4 hectares). The number planned is 4,617 (1, 385 hectares). This shows a shortage of 2,974 (TN.Sic)
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SOCIAL SERIES: 88 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
athletic grounds (4,907.2 hectares), and 4,202 (TN. Sic ) children's playgrounds (1,160.6 hectares). Therefore, the number of those grounds to be established would amount to 20 times and 12 times the existing athletic grounds and children's playgrounds respectively.
A plan by Mr. KITAMURA, Tokutaro, Chief of the Institution Section of the War Calamity Rehabilitation Board calls for athletic institutions in urban areas to promote national physical well-being. He says, "The establishment of recreation grounds, including athletic grounds, is being considered in our rehabilitation plans for urban areas. Furthermore, 5 million tsubo of recreation grounds are planned for 119 war-destroyed cities and towns throughout the country."
In this plans, a large athletic ground in each district and a comparable one in each city or town will be provided. Besides, a recreation ground within five minutes' walk from nearby places of business or homes based on one tsubo per capita will be provided everywhere. Primary school children and students of secondary schools can utilize their own playgrounds.

ITEM 3 Conditions in South KOREA - Chubu Nihon Shimbun (Nagoya) - 12 Dec 45. Translator: M Ohno.

Full translation:
A demobilized soldier, MIYAJIMA, Minoru, who returned home recently from the south district of KOREA where he had been engaged in delivering Japanese weapons, made a statement regarding the attitude of Americans and Koreans toward Japanese.
"The American troops, in short, deal leniently with Japanese military men, but they keep their dignity as victors. When accidents occurred as a result of our carelessness while delivering Japanese arms and ammunition, they overlooked them. We were deeply impressed with the punctuality and eagerness of the American personnel. The American officers as well as their subordinates were cleared away the table thing after meals, while in JAPAN soldiers alone were forced to do such things. The Americans permitted us to bring home various foods and gave us trucks to carry our goods to the station. The Koreans were apparently against the Japanese and even Japanese soldiers on sentry duty were scorned by them. Consequently, the American troops allowed the Japanese military men to use weapons when they were attacked by Koreans.
The situations of the Japanese in Northern KOREA and MANCHURIA is unknown, but, it is considered, they are certainly suffering from many difficulties, so their rescue is desirable.

ITEM 4 Reorganization of the YASUKUNI Shrine - Asahi Shimbun - 13 Dec 45. Translator: Y. Akabane.

Full translation:
Since the end of the war, the attention of the Nation at large, to say nothing of the bereaved families throughout the country, Is being attracted by the YASUKUNI Shrine in conjunction with the question of Shintoism, As the Shrine was established by the august will of the Emperor MEIJI and accordingly has a special history and relation with the bereaved families all over the country. Preparations have been made to reorganize it into a natural shrine, and all the bereaved families will form its nucleus. It will be quite apart from all other shrines.
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SOCIAL SERIES: 88 (Continued)
ITEM 4 (Continued)
In consequence, it has recently been decided to rename it as "YASUKUNI BYOGU" after the old name of "KASHII BYOGU" of the present KASHII NO MIYA, a first class Government shrine, which is dedicated to the Emperor CHUAI and the Empress JINGO. The administrative of the Shrine would be handled by a council, composed of councilors selected from among bereaved families. Also, it has also been decided not to get any subsidy from the Government.
At the instigation of Emperor MEIJI, the YASUKUNI Shrine was established at KUDAN in 1869 with the name "TOKYO SHOKONSHA" which was changed to the present name In 1879, and at the same time it was elevated to the position of a special Government shrine. According to the august will of the Emperor MEIJI, gods to be enshrined here were not limited to soldiers who died in wars and emergencies, but all those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the State. It has been generally considered as a shrine solely intended for soldiers because it was transferred to the control of the Army and Navy Ministries in 1887. Efforts were made by the former chief priest, the late GAMO, Shigeki, to correct this misunderstanding, but the control of the militaristic clique was gradually strengthened through the Manchurian and Chinese emergencies, resulting in his retirement. He was succeeded by General SUZUKI, Takato, in 1938. From that time on, military authorities participated or rather intervened in all the business of the shrine, directing the staff of this sacred site as their employees and utilizing it as an organ of their propaganda. Now, there is no more army and navy, and the YASUKUNI BYOGU has been restored to its true function. It will now begin anew, gathering the true and sincere respect of bereaved families.
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