Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0100, 1945-12-20.

ITEM 1 YAMAGUCHI to Take Up Local Broadcasting - Bocho Shimbun - 13 Dec 45. Translator: Ohno.

Full Translation:

The YAMAGUCHI Prefectural Agricultural society (YAMAGUCHI KEN NOGYO KAI) has begun negotiations with the BOFU Radio Broadcasting station about revised broad casting hours, especially for the farmers in the Prefecture. The local broadcasting hours of the provincial Radio Station were scarcely observed.

The new plan proposes to facilitate the propagation of cultural materials to the provincials by broadcasting or a new and longer schedule. The Agricultural Society is establishing not only special farmers' broad-casting hours, but also private broadcasting hours for the society. Toward the aims, MATSUNOTO, executive director of the Agricultural society, said as follows:

"The negotiations with the BOFU Radio Broadcasting station have almost been concluded, but we are distressed over the problem of broadcasting scripts which must be sent to TOKYO for clearance by General MacARTHUR's Headquarters before they can be broadcast. We must wait for about 10 days for the return of the scripts. Owing to these difficulties, we can not broadcast fresh news. "It is reported that a radio inspector from General MacARTHUR's Headquarters will come to the BOFU Radio Broad-casting Station. Upon his arrival, our new plan will be realized at once.

"In the future when radio receivers for all waves are provided throughout and private broadcast by short wave becomes possible, we will set up broadcasting hours for the farmers in YAMAGUCHI Prefecture only."

"For the purpose of promoting the cultural knowledge of farmer who are busy all day, radio will be the most suitable meant. We earnestly desire to realize the plan though many materials are required."

ITEM 2 NAGASAKI Medical College and Hospital to be rebuilt - Nagasaki Shimbun - 13 Dec 45. Translator: J. Kinoshita.

Summary:

Devastated NAGASAKI, a memorable city where western medical science was first introduced into JAPAN, has recently been selected as the place for reconstruction of the NAGASAKI Medical College, although there were many who suggested that it be built in another city. This official decision was made in accordance with the desires of professor KOYANO, the president, the students, and the graduates, and especially the late president KADO. Until the reconstruction of the college which is now expected to take a considerable tine due to the scarcity of materials

SOCIAL SERIES: 100 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

for building is completed the existing education system will he kept. The same holds true for both the attached schools of medicine and pharmacy. The College Hospital will be operated in the repaired buildings of the SHINKOZEN National school.

ITEM 3 Crimes - Asahi Shimbun - 17 Dec 45. Translator: H. Nishihara.

Full Translation:

As five crime were committed in TOKYO on 15 December, apprehension on the part of the public is increasing. The most striking feature of these crimes is that the criminals seems to be demobilized service men.

At 0230 on 16 December, a group of four burglars broke into the house of NAKAGAWA, Jiro, china-dealer, of 74 chome, SAKUMA-Cho, KANDA-Ku. The criminals were in military uniforms, and covered their faces with towels. They threatened the families with pistols, and bound, and gagge then. The burglars stole five thousand yen, clothes and watches.

At 2130 on 15 December, SOTOI, Shigo, student of FOSEI University, of 1, 2 - chore, KOBIKI-Cho KOYBASKI-Ku, was struck with cudgel by three men, apparently demobilized men, and was robbed of his overcoat.

At 2340 on 15 December, a group of three burglars broke into the house of INABA, Saichi, of 543, 2-Chome OKU-Cho, ARAKAWA-Ku, the burglars fire two pistol shots to threaten the families who cried aloud, and they fled. They stole nothing.

At 2330 on the same day, three men with military caps broke into the house of TARUYA, Kimiko, of 1100, 2-Chome, MIKAWAJIMA, ARAKAWA-Ku, and threatened the families with kitchen knives, and robbed their two hundred yen.

At 2000 on the same day, a man in a military uniform came to the house of KISHI, Kane, of 434, DAITAI, HIGASHI-MURAYAMA, KITA-ZAMA-Gun, and lighted a cigarett. Then he threatened the family, defending money. The family refused and said they had no money. Then the burglar wanted food, which the family refused. Two men who were outside the door, stru KISHI, with bamboo sticks, and robbed him two sho of rice and 5 sho of barley as well a five yen.

The ASAHI further reports two arrests, and a ubbery case. Two burglars who broke into the house of [illegible], Yoshitaro, of 276, 1-Chome, NISHI OSAKI, SEINAGAWA-Ku, at night 11 December, were identified at TAKAHASHI, Yoshishige, with one previous conviction and OHI, Kyusaku. Both of them had no definite residence. OI police station officials arrested

The criminal who killed NOBUZAWA, Yoshikatsu, as primary school teacher at OHANAZAWA-CHO, KITAMURAYAMA-Gun, YAMAGARA-Ken, in 1941, was revealed to be TAKENAKA, Masataro, born at NAKA-Cho, OHANAZAWA Cho. TAKINOGAWA Police station officials arrested the criminal. A contribution to the police station offered a clue to the crime.

FUNAKA, Yonetaro, of 80, YARAI-Cho, USHIGOME-Ku, tobacco dealer, was robbed, in his store, of 14,500 cigarettes which were to be allocated of the citizens of the districts.

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SOCIAL SERIES: 100 (Continued)

ITEM 4 Educators Meet to Discuss Measures Against Demoralization of Japanese womanhood - Tokyo Shimbun - 17 Dec 45. Translator: H. Nishihara.

Summary:

In connection with the current problem of prostitution among Japanese woman, the New JAPAN women Educationist Union, held a conference to discuss plans, at the Japanese physicians' Hall on 13 December.

A member stated that the girls were lured into prostitution by men, but great number supported the opinion that it was something unevitable in a defeated country, and that it was also caused by poverty.

The chief opinions at the conference were: 1. MORISHITA, Azuma: The current manners of a certain number of the Japanese women have brought disgrace upon the nation. I want those girls to think and reflect. Many girls seem to think it permissable to be engaged prostitution to rescue their parents from poverty, but we must make them know that it is great mistake. But if the girls are persistent in believing that it is permissable, we must devise a measure to disuade them. I think it proper to make them wear badges, which show that the bearer are women of those profession. I think we must make our school girls refrain from looking at there darker side of life.

2 MAEDA, Wakao; 1. I want an organization in each school, to which the graduates of the school may turn for advice. I want to put up written slogans which will help to make them recall that loose morals are as bad as death.

YOSHIOKA, Yayo: Educators who refrained from letting the girls know about social matters, are to be blamed; women must know about men. The Japanese women are very weak when they come to troubles concerning feminine virtue. Educators ought to let them know what are the proper virtues in society.

ITEM 5 KAIKIN Hotel destroyed by Fire - Asahi shimbun - 17 Dec Translator: M. Ohno.

Full Translation:

The KAIHIN Hotel, YUIGAHAMA, KAMAKURA, a two-story building with 1,350 tsubo of floor space, was destroyed by fire on the afternoon of 15 December. Losses, based on current value, were estimated at 10,000,000 yen. The Hotel had been used as a club for Allied troops.

ITEM 6 Danger Signal on NAGASAKI Railways - Nagasaki Shimbun - 17 Dec 45. Translator: H. Nishihara.

Summary:

The railway within the Jurisdiction of the NAGASAKI Railway office proved very weak as a result of an investigation made by the office, and it is feared that there will be derailing and other accidents as heavy traffic continues because of demobilization, repatriation, and other matters.

The railway investigated is between NAGASAKI and YUE. The space between rails has become too wide, and the roadbed is not perfectly level. In some places, the rails are bent, and dogspikes are loose.

The NAGASAKI Railway Office is unable to make repairs because of the shortage of materials. For instance, of 150,000 ties 50,000 must be replaced, but there is only a stock of 1300 ties. Rails and ballasts are also unavailable in the required quantities. They are, therefore, a loss to meet the situation.

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SOCIAL SERIES: 100 (Continued)

ITEM 7 Democratization of the Grand Shrine of ISE - Mainichi Shimbun - 17 Dec 45. Translator: Y. Akabane.

Full Translation:

In accordance with General MacARTHUR's directive, 200 Government and national shrines, not excepting the Grand shrine of ISE, will be transferred to private management. All state connections will be severed.

In the history of Japanese Shrines, extending over 1950 years, this is an unprecedented event. Although it is not yet clear how the shrines will operate, Shrine authorities contemplate creating a tentative "Shrine Board", to include the existing Office of the Grand shrine, the office of shrine Building and Repairs, and the museum, library, university, agriculture, and other offices attached to the Grand shrine. This body will then supervise all shrine affairs such as, festivals, Sacred music and dance prayer performances, distribution of calendars, building and repair matters, and cultural projects.

If and when the shrine Bureau of the Home ministry is abolished, the new body is expected to replace it almost at once. Thus the shrines will be separated from the state and placed on air autonomous management basis.

Even when the new system is adopted, it is natural that the offerings of cloth and other goods will be made by the Emperor as heretofore, through the Imperial Household Ministry, the ISE shrine being treated on the same basis as the special Buddhist temples which are under Imperial protection. The freedom of festivals for the people at large is, of course, expected and the offerings such music and dance will hereafter be treated with more religious respect than heretofore. Through the abolition of officialism, the Shrine will become more popular because of its democratization. This, together with the distribution of calendars, will constitue, an important item in the management of the Shrine and will become one of its principal activities.

Owing to the imperial order to stop the construction of a new shrine, the 59th periodical removal of the shrine, the most important festival, cannot be held in 1949, but the construction of a new shrine building will hereafter be made possible by public support which is the expression of earnest popular devotion.

The Question of the Grand Shrine University will also easily be settled by transferring it to the management of the new Shrine Board, which will form a large cultural institute, including a woman's technical college.

The annual operating expenses amounted to 3,000,000 yen. State subsidy totalled only 230,000 yen and Imperial offerings and forestry revenues 20,000 yen. The property of the Shrine, excepting immovables such as forests, lands and buildings, is estimated at about 4,000,000 yen. There need be no uneasiness about maintenance of the Shrine without the help of the state, if a more positive management is effected by the Shrine authorities.

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