Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0499, 1945-12-25.

Summary:

There have been frequent discussions regarding the question of whether the Board of Information should he dissolved. As a result of the exchange of opinions on this question at the Cabinet meeting on 27 December, it is likely that a conclusion has been reached to discontinue it.

Though there are differences of opinion regarding its future structure, it is supposed that the information services will probably be restored to the cabinet and various related ministries.

The Information Board was first established on 13 August 1940 by enlarging the structure of what was then the Cabinet Information Department, this action representing the policy of the second KONOYE Cabinet, with Mr. ITO, Jitsushi, as president. After several changes in its organization, the president was allowed to attend Cabinet meetings, as the spokesman of the Government, and to participate in important deliberations on state affairs. Simultaneously; his status was elevated and placed on a per with three other Cabinet chiefs.

The part this organization played during the CHINA Incident and the Greater East ASIA War is well known. Following the end of the war, however, it was revised and made into organization seeking to promote culture in general instead of "guidance and control."

Summary:

INAMURA, Yahei, aged 27, an employee of the TOKYO Optical Company in OMIYA-Shi, was arrested on the charge of making illegal purchases of foodstuffs, soap and cigarette, amounting to 14,300 yen, from American servicemen. He was held Friday afternoon at the URAWA District Court, in with Captain WEARI and Lieutenant ODINGU, of the United States Army, as witnesses. At the trial the accused was sentenced to two years penal servitude and fined 500 pen.

SOCIAL SERIES: 119 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Summary:

It is a cold wintry night in the directive room of the fire brigade of the Metropolitan Police Bureau. The workers in this room have sin entirely different kind of job in fire prevention than those who work in the other rooms of the Bureau, conducting research work on the increasing number of crimes. The signal of the telephone is accompanied by the blinking of a light on the wall. The first report is in. then the second, and the third-they are all from the watchmen in the tower.

The fire is located, the fire brigade station reports. The directives are off at once. By accurate decision and judgment, the proper fire control measures are relayed to 43 fire stations.

The station where the fire was first announced and those stations near at the fire prepare their equipment. The time allowed for preparation prior to departue is ten seconds, but poor communication facilities, the loss of many engines in the air-raids, and the firemen's weakness due to malnutrition tend to slow things down.

The TOHYO Metropolitan Office revealed on 22 December the names of 128 children who lost their parents or guardians in air raids. The children are accommodated at the War-suffering Childrens' Dormitory. They will be taken care of by the Education Bureau of the TOKYO office until they become mature.

Chief of the Education, TATEIAYASHI, said "The families and relatives of the children are asked to report to the School Boy's Welfare Section of the Education Bureau, in the CEIZAKURA National School at HIGASHIMATSUSHITA Cho, KANDAK"

Summary:

In view of the complaints raised by citizens 1ately against the short weight of rationed rice and wheat, the Metropolitan Police office, with the cooperation the Metropolitan Office, has been making suprise investigations at the distribution stations throughout its jurisdictional area several days. Up to 22 December, it was found that cut of 1,175 families under investigation, 425 (about 30 per cent) received short weight in their food, the shortage aggregating 87,241 kilogram Almost ail distribution stations, excepting those in SHINAGAWA-Ku were formed incorrect in their weighing. In some cases, a greater distributed than the fixed weight was made. The cases are attributed chiefly to inaccurate scales and injustices, conscious or unconscious, on the part of the clerks in charge.

Police authorities were very lenient this time. They repremanded the distributers and [illegible]dered them to makeup the shortages at once. In the future, similar surprise investigations will be conducted by the police,

- 2 -

SOCIAL SERIES 119 (Continued)

ITEM 5 (Continued)

who made the following statement in this connection: "This time lenient measures were taken as a warning to distributors, but, in the future, at least fortnightly investigations will he made to eradicate the injustice, so the citizens' cooperation is earnestly desired."

The City Provision Distribution Association is quoted as saying: "The Association has hitherto been holding inspections on an average of nee a week, and there were two extraordinary inspections by the headquarters special inspectors during the year. The causes of weight shortage are chiefly attributed to the poor scales and decrease in weight during transportation from distribution stations to neighborhood associations. Scales have occasionally been examined to avoid trouble with regard to the decrease of weight during transportation, there were many such instances found at neighborhood associations and at homes. At the time of delivery at distribution stations the weight had been correct. The damage to bags and other receptacles is responsible for that. We firmly believe there aren't any dishonest employees who practice black market transactions with the rationed foodstuffs because dishonest employees were dismissed after the war. Consumers are requested to report any cases of short weighing at once. Belated reports are apt to make our investigations impossible as delicate circumstances are likely to arise within two or three days, causing difficulties in supplementary distribution."

Full Translation:

The Formosan line, which had been closed after the end of the war, was re-opened recently for the purpose of repatriating Formosans. Demobilized servicemen, civilians in Army or Navy services, recruted workers, evacuees, from overseas and ordinary residents in JAPAN will be sent to FORMOSA in that order.

The recruted workers, if combined into one group, will be given the starting date and harbors through their loaders. But the other Formosans desiring to return to [illegible]MOSA must apply respectively to the government offices nearest their lining places. The ports of embarkation are URAGA, KURA, and KAGOSHIMA. Repatriation of all Formosans is scheduled to end by the end of next January.

Summary:

The 24th American Army Division in SHIKOKU, according to reports of Second Lieutenants MILLER, POCPOKODA and [illegible]ENNETT discovered hidden arms and wodden guns for military drill of students in primary schools in the vicinity of MATSUYAMA. At the HOKUYO school, the children were actually at military drill under the supervision of teachers in uniform. The 24th Division is determined to investigate such irregularities and put a stop to them.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

- 3 -