Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0129, 1945-12-27.

Summary:

The American national character was already apparent at the time of the Revolutionary War when the Americans defeated the British. The American at that time beat the British Navy which was supposed to be the greater in the world and killed twice as many British as they lost themselves. The American national characteristics are intelligence, swiftness and sympathey. The Americans love progress above all else. They combine a strong sense of rationalism with a certain individualism and public spirit. There may be some who will question the American capability for sympathy, but, this is a result of the deep religiousness of the American people. The American forefathers, who were Puritans, believed in a God of Punishment, but, they have come to believe more and more in a God of Love. The Americans have a deep trust in their future. The Japanese people who are now tasting defeat have a lot to learn from the Americans about reconstructing JAPAN.

Summary:

The DAIICHI Marriage Consulting; Room at HICASHI-Machi KURUMA MICH, NAGOGY-Shi, received inquiries from many husbands and wives about birth control. A wife of a company employee, aged 35 said, "We have three children, and my husband earns 250 yen a month, but we need 500 yen a month since we are forced to buy potatoes and vegetables at black market prices. We could net live if we had more children."

A teacher's wife aged 27 said, "I always feel very tired, due to the lack of food, and though I would really love to have a baby, I'm afraid the child might be deformed. So I want to practice birth control."

A merchant's wife, aged 22, said, "We are newlyweds but I am always worried about food. If we had a baby, I wouldn't know how to obtain enough food. I do not wish to have a baby, though I really love child

Chief of the consulting room IKEDA, Koto said, "The Welfare Minister stated that birth control can not be recognized, but I believe that it is inevitable. Most babies are ten per cent underweight of late. I want to protect mothers' health by permitting birth control."

Proffessor SAKAHO of NAGOYA universitys Gynecology Section, said, "Bir control is necessary, not only from a social point of view, but from a

SOCIAL SERIES: 129 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

medical view point. Every family gives food to mothers first of all, but, neverthlese, many mothers are in poor health. If inflation takes its course birth control will be necessary. The effects will be worse when it is prohibuted. It is necessary to recognize this and educate the people about birth control. Delicate precautionary measures should be taken so that birth control will not result in promiscuity,"

Full Translation:

The Korean League in Japan (ZAINICHI CHOSENJIN PEMMET) will hold a mass meeting at 1000 on 27 December at HIBIYA Public Hall in order to demand an increased food ration for persons of Allied countries dwelling in Japan and to hasten their repatriation. The resolution will be submitted to the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry the Welfare Ministry, and General MacARTHUR'S Headquarters.

Full Translation:

As MANA[illegible]E, Toshiyuki, president of the OSAKA Imperial University, expressed his intention of resignation, the University authorities recommended Dr. YAGI, Shuji, former head of the Technical Institute (GIJUTSUIN) as its new president on 24 December.

Full Translation:

More than 700 ex-workers of the First Military Arsenal (RIKUG-UN DAIICHI ZOHEISHO) formed a union for the prompt payment of the retirement allowance, etc, and held a mass meeting on 24 December at the former Military Arsenal. They then, visited add petitioned the Finance Ministry and requested the immediate delivery of war savings bonds.

In reply the Finance Minister said, "we are negotiating with General Headquarters about the revision of the directive regarding these matters. A solution is expected to be reached by 26 December. If not the Finance Minister will again ask General Headquarters for such measures."

Summary:

The Society for New Japanese Literature (SHINNIHONBUNGAKUKAI) will be formed for the purpose of promoting democratic literature of high standard. To win support and co-operation of reknown authors who have already published such literature in the past, SHIGA, Naoya, UENO,

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SOCIAL SERIES: 129 (Continued)

ITEM 6 (Continued)

Yacko, and HIROTSU, Kazuo, were elected as honorary members and collaborators Further negotiations are in progress with MASAMUNE, NAGAI, UNO, TANISAKI, MUROSE, TOYOSHIMA, and others. The author of this article already has written about this society in the "MINPO" [illegible]9 December.

Any pupil of Karl MARX knows that perfect democracy is only possible in a communistic society. There are of course, two phases of democracy, bourgeois and communist democracy. Bourgeois democracy, as it resents itself today in Japan as the successor to Japanese Imperislism, does not show the characteristics of communist democracy as was the case in some European states during the last 50 years. There is, therfore, the possibility that Japan fuse these two phases at once.

The Japanese writers have all the reason in the world to express joy over the recent development from a capitalistic society toward a communistic society upon comparing conditions since the MEIJI Restoration, when often it was hardly possible to evaluate literature. The present war has been a war between fascism and democracy. One aspect of the war has been a transition toward the destruction of the capitalistic order. The special characteristic of the war was, however, the combination of America and the other democracies with Soviet democracy to destroy the fascism of Japan, Germany and Italy.

Summary:

By the ordered separation of Shintoism from the Government, the management of the MEIJI Shrine is transferred from the Government to civilians. Being freed from Government control and over-emphasized dignity, the newly organized Shrine is expected to popularize the relation between the people and the Emperor MEIJI as a tutelary diet. The Shrines annual outlay of some 350,000 yen has been mostly covered by the contribution of the people, except Governmental support to the extent, of 40,000 yen. The reconstruction of the main Shrine and Shrine office the management of the outer garden, including stadiums and monumental halls, and the repair of the park equipment will be extremely difficult.

TANAKA, Kiyoshi, the chief ritualist of the shrine, said, "The MEIJI Shrine will be managed as a shrine regulated under the new system, but no change in its festivals and worship will be made. Its management is expected to be sustained by the free contribution of the worshipers. Its festivals are to be made more popular by accompanying them with a display of fireworks, carrying a miniature shrine, and making an amusement area for various shows and vendors outside of the compounds.

Full Translation:

The wave of domocratization is hitting religious circles, also. OTANI,

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SOCIAL SERIES: 129 (Continued)

ITEM 8 (Continued)

Kocho, Chief Abbot of the NISHI HONGANJI Temple, expressed his intention to seperate the position of administrative head from that of religious head. On the other hand, the SHINGONSHU held an extraordinary meeting between 22 and 24 December at KYOU GOKOKU Temple of KUJYO OMIYA at KYOTO to study the problems concerning the democratization of religion. At that meeting they decided to take the initiative in the religions world, by seperating their parties which had been forced to unite in March 1941 by government order. The SHINGONSHU had been a collection of ten sects including KOGISHINGON TAKANOHA, TOJI-HA, SEIKO-HA, SANKAI-HA, SENYO-HA, ZENTSUJI-HA, DAIKAKUJI-HA, MIMURO-HA, SHINGI SHINGON CHIZAN-HA, and HOZAN-HA. From now on these sects are to be separated and the chief abbot of each sect will be selected by each. Thus, those sects will be able to make their respective activities nigorous and to start the construction of new JAFAN. However, they agreed to operate many educational enterprises unitedly as before.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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SOCIAL SERIES: 129 (Continued)

ERRATA:

No. 491, SOCIAL SERIES: 118, dated 24 Dec 45, ITEM 1, "Monthly Withdrawals of Postal Savings 10,000,000 Yen" should read "Monthly Withdrawals of Postal Saving 100,000,000 Yen."

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