Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0184, 1946-01-21.
Date21 January, 1946
translation numbersocial-0860
call numberDS801 .S84
Persistent Identifier
SOCIAL SERIES: 184
ITME 1 Social Uneasiness prevents the Advanced Learning of Students-Provincial Newspaper Hokkoku Mainichi (KANAZAWA) - 12 January 1946. Translator: KINCSHITA. J
Summary:
The recent social uneasiness caused by the high cost of living and the critical food
situation extends oven to students by
impeding their education. Certain parents in the HOKURIKU area expressed their difficulties
and bewilderment about this
situation.
Their eldest son is a student of the GIFU Agricultural College. Their monthly allowance
to him was previously a hundred yen,
but since November of last year his expenses rose with a leap, necessitating now 320
yen per month. The budget includes board
expense, 55 yen; room rent, 10 yen; books, magazines, and newspapers, 100 yen; bathing
and cigarettes, 40 yen; sundries, 70
yen; charcoal and dishes of fish, 50 yen. In addition to those expenses, the purchase
of clothing is quite a large item.
Their second son is a middle school student in KANAZAWA-Shi. He managed to get along
on about 100 yen monthly, but the parents
must send him foodstuffs constantly. The supply of food to school children is a heavy
burden even to farmers.
A certain farmer was recently forced to remove his son from a middle school because
he could not send him five sho of rice
monthly.
The check of advanced learning of youngsters, it is stressed, is a grave problem
for future culture. The Government, schools,
and the general public have not yet seriously concerned themselves with the problem
but it demands an immediate solution.
ITEM 2 Measures for Preventing Skin diseases and lice-Provincial Newpaper Hokkoku Mainichi (KANAZAWA) 12 January 1946. Translator; KINOSHITA J.
Full Translation:
Protective measures in bath houses, against the present epidemic of skin diseases,
have been taken by the Prefecutral Health
Board in ISHIKAWA-Ken To cure and prevent the spread of itch, sulphurated baths have
been ordered in every bathhouse in the
three cities of KANAZAWA, NANAO, and KOMTSU-Shi. for 200 days.
Measures against vermin are designed to let every bather pack his clothes in a FUROSHIKI
and hang it on a peg in the dressing
room.
SOCIAL SERIES: 184 (Continued)
ITEM 3 Theft of Rice-Asahi Shimbun-19 January 1946. Translator: OGAWA. Tenoye.
Summary:
Yesterday, at 0100 hours, a burglar broke into the night duty room of a citizens'
huffet, in the premises of the USHIGOME
Primary School, at USHIG0M5-HARAMACHI, 2-Chome, USHIGOME-Ku.
Mr. SUGIURA, Yasuji, who was on duty at the tire, was hit on the head with a piece
of fiewood and tied up with some rope. Then
the burglar threatened his victim with a kitchen knife, but after hearing that he
had no money on hand, the burglar sat down
composedly to a hearty meal.
After having eaten, the burglar ran away with two "to" of rice wrapped in a big FUROSHIKI,
one "sho" of rice in a towel, and
three "sho" of rice in a white canvas bag.
The burglar, however, was arrested around 0430 at the IIDABASHI Station by policement
from the KAGURAZAKA Police. They were
able to waylay the culprit because of timely instructions from the WASEDA POLICE.
ITEM 4 Reduction in the number of Natiopal School-Yomiuri Hochi-19 January 1946. Translator: NISHIHARA H.
Summary:
The Education Bur au of the TOKYO Office has decided to discharge about 1,300 teachers
from the National Schools to make room
for new and younger teachers, thereby introducing fresh blood into the teaching world.
About 200 teachers, aged 50 or more, will be discharged, as well as some 400 women
pensioners, aged 40 or pore, about 200
inefficient teachers, and 500 assistant women teachers, who are of marriageable ages,
The TOKYO Office will demand their
voluntary resignations through their schoolmasters.
Simultaneous to their discharge, many schoolmasters will be dismissed when the burned
national schools are liquidated. These
measures will be realized at the beginning of the new school term.
In addition, a measure will be carried out to appoint for every school a special
teacher of science, a teacher who will take
charge of the business of the school, and n teacher who will take the place of absent
teachers.
Of 355 national schools in TOKYO which were burned during the war, 141 will be liquidated
at the beginning of the new school
term in April. Before that time the Bureau will publish its decision concerning the
schools which will accommodate the
children from the liquidated schools.
At first the Bureau planned to liquidate 163 schools, but, in conformity with public
opinion, it consulted with ward chiefs
and members of the municipal assembly. As a result, the above decision was reached.
Thus, the present number of 675 national schools in 35 words in TOKYO will be decreased
to 534.
In connection with the liquidation of burned middle schools, the Bureau is planning
to be away with about 30 schools. It will
be done after discussing the matter first with ever group in order to determine public
opinion. Before long a decision will be
reached in accordance with public opinion. - 2 -
SOCIAL SERIES: 184 (Continued)
ITEM 5 Round Table Discussion of Culture-Meinichi Shimbun-19 January 1946. Translator: OHNO, Masashi.
Summary:
On Scientific Education
MAINICHI: What is your opinion on promoting the scientific educational standard of
the average Japanese?
YAGI: Japanese, in general, have been religious and literary people, but have lacked
reasoning power. Japanese must obtain,
hereafter, reasoning power to think over things, rationally. I think that a method
for educating people to consider everything
calmly and rationally should be adopted in the future.
TAWAAKA: But, such rationalism, as was once the fashion in the nationalistic age
on the western countries, should be avoided.
I think the rational thoughts should be based on the true mission of human beings,
or the real meaning of human life.
TATSUNO: The Government did not spend much money for the purpose of educating people.
If the Government had used money
corresponding to only one-tenth: of the total of military expenses during the period
since the Sino-Japanese war or the
Russo-Japanese war, up to the present day, educational activities would be improved
to a higher degree.
KATAYAMA: I agree with you on that point.
TANAKA: It is desirable that the Government decide accurately the budget for this
people's education.
On Reading and Amusement
KATAYAMA: The majority of Japanese women do not like to read. Women never read newspapers
in street cars, but, occasionally,
some women read women's magazines. They are too busy with household affairs to read
aren't they?
TATSUNO: Well, that is true. They have no time for themselves. They are all busy
in the home, day and night. Friends or near
relatives come to their homes frequently. In fact, they are so pressed with those
miscellaneous personal affairs that they
cannot read.
TANAKA: It is not only the case among women, but also among Government officials.
I once met a certain interpreter who,
guiding some army men, had come from PARAGUAY. During that time, he met many high
ranking officials in JAPAN, and was
astonished to find them doing little or no reading. I am also a Government official.
Considering my own experiences for two
months, I know that I had no time for any reading.
TATSUNO: After having heard the broadcasts of Ministers or Governors, we felt that
those men had been reading no new books or
even any popular books. There is something appealing in a speech made by one who has
been reading books eagerly. I have not
met any such very learned Minister.
TANAKA: Ministers in foreign Countries have written their own books. By the way,
there are many low-grade magazines for women
in JAPAN. Those magazines must be abolished.
KATAYAMA: They would naturally be weeded out.
MAINICHI: In the SCVIET, it is said 45,000,000 copies of a book written by GORKI
had been bought by the people.
- 3 -
SOCIAL SERIES: 184 (Continued)
ITEM 5 (Continued)
KATAYAMA: movies in JAPAN must be of such deep thought as the works of GORKI. The
future movie in JAPAN must be one in which
the audience is forced to think about life. In view of the educational standpoint,
the showing of low-grade movies must be
prohibited.
TANAKA: I think it is necessary to ele[illegible]nte the cultural standard of the general public. For that
purpose, high grade music will play an important role. I am intending to make an utmost
effort hereafter to popularize music
among the general public.
TATSUNO: In that case, guidance in listening to music effectively will be necessary.
NINOBE: In JAPAN, there are few high-class amusement facilities.
TANAKA: I want the people to recognize music, literature, and pictures as mental
food, not as mere entertainment.
KATAYAMA: Music, literature, and pictures are not the object of entertainment for
laborers. The entertainment for laborers is
sake and women; because they have no high living standard.
MAINICHI: Amusement facilities are very inadequate in JAPAN.
KATAYAMA: I insisted formerly that a movie should be a Government enterprise in order
to produce good ones cheaply, and once,
I had planned to establish a general public theatre in cooperation with NAKAMURA,
Kishigo, of WASEDA, in order to serve the
Nation's social education. If the money were given to us by the Government, my plan
could be realized.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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