Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0189, 1946-01-23.

Summary:

Mr. MAKINO, Shinnosuke, teacher of ethics in the Fourth High School, who was a student of the First High School under Mir. ABE, Yoshinari, the new Minister of Education in the reconstructed SHIDEH[illegible]RA Cabinet made the following statement about the personality of the new Education Minister and gave his expectations on the future career of Mr. ABE, of the : Minister's life:

"The professor hails from MATSUYAMA-Shi, and he is 64 years old. Being a student of the First High School, I attended his classes. Of course I admired his lectures, but I was more strongly influenced by his modest, upright and noble personality.

"The Professor is also[illegible]graduate of the First High School. When he was a student there, the Principal was the late Dr. NITOBE. Ha was much influenced by the character of Dr. NITOBE, and the Professor became a man with a remarkable liberal and cosmopolitan mind. It was well known by these who wore concerned that the Professor insisted on the freedom and self-government of school by strongly opposing any militaristic attitude even during the war. In 1941 he was appointed principal of the First High School, succeeding Mr. HASHIDA, who was appointed education minister in the KONOYE Cabinet. Mr. ABE was then a Professor of the KEIJO Imperial University. He was appointed Principal of the First High School because of the confidence of the School had in him. This single fact shows hew marvelous his personality is. I think it was perhaps his struggle for lifting after graduating from the University which formed his character. The majority of his works such as his famous translation of OIKEN's "Great Thinkers' View of Life" and a number of literary works and critical essays were written far the purpose of getting a livelihood.

It is an interesting fact that he graduated from the First High School in four years. It indicates that he was not a genius as a student. When he was a teacher in the 1st High School, his hair was always close-cropped, and he hardly cared about his appearance. His reputation among the students was marvelous because he always had friendly relations with them. With his character, I am sure he can get along smoothly with the SHIDEHARA Cabinet.

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SOCIAL SERIES: 189 (Continued)

Summary:

Following up the rehabilitation plan of the commercial center in the SHINJUKU area, which was started yesterday, the reconstruction plans for the burned commercial centers at AZABU JUBAN and IRIARI at OMORI are also under way, based on an autonomous plan drafted by local commercial people.

The deadlock in the rehabilitation work is the problem of land lease. The plan drafted by the KITA Neighborhood Group Association of TSUNOHAZO 1-chome, SHINJUKU, which adopted a method of placing the lease of land under the central of this Rehabilitation Cooperation Association rather than making the individual allotments of leased land after redistributing stores, is worthy of note as a method which enables the reorganization of former commercial areas into pleasant, flourishing canters.

AZABU JUBAN and other commercial centers are planning to strengthen the united front of those engaged in commerce, formerly oppressed by the influence of department stores. With this in mind in what way should the new centers be reconstructed? In this connection, Mr. ISHIKAWA, Eiye, chief of the City planning Section of the Metropolis states his opinion as fellows:

"In our plan the disposition of stores is such that: (1) the market quarter will be located within 500 meters of the residential quarter; (2) the middle-sized stores within 1 kilometer distance; (3) a large commercial center with amusement and refreshment places such as movie theaters and restaurants established within 2 kilometers distance. The whole center of these will be located in the GIZA district the market quarter will be designed as a popular and pleasant place after the pattern of the so-called "stolen goods market" in MANCHURIA, but in a more purified sense; or the "flea market" in PARIS, where one can buy almost anything, go to music halls, or eat SHITOKO.

"The middle-sized store quarter is a place where citizens can buy every daily necessity, including food, without having to use any transportation. In the large commercial centers it will be necessary to have a row of movie theaters as well as a row of restaurants and cafes.

SHINJUKU. GOTANDA and IKEBUKURO will become the center of this line. In this case movie theaters must be built in one place side by side. Furthermore, tea roe ns and SHIRURO shops must be located in front of the movie theaters. Such a disposition would have more attracting power than if they wore located separately. The most important thing in building up a new and flourishing center is to concentrate movie theaters, cafes, and other refreshment rooms in one place.

As for the style of these commercial centers, it is recommended that the unified construction be adopted. It is inevitable that the form of "voluntary chains" in the UNITED STATES will be adopted for this purpose. For the type of building for the unified: construction, I recommend the arcade style. It is desirable that people be able to go cut without fearing the weather. The second floor of the tea rooms should have a balcony if possible, where customers can look over the street below while they are drinking tea. The tea room operators should make their tea rooms in such places as "Sha-Kuwan" in CHINA or "street-cafes" in FRANCE where people can hold business talks make political agreements, or wait for their sweethearts.

Summary:

During the war control over music and musicians reached a rather rediculous extant, but in this connection musicians, too, aught to feel responsible for blindly obeying these restrictions. After the war the restrictions were removed and musical circles seem now to have regained their activities. Many performances have been given, and the audiences have crowded the halls.

Several musical organizations were formed, including the JAPAN Music and Culture Association, which was a controlling organ during the war (now dissolved), and the JAPAN Music Union which was to be organized with MOROI, Saburo as a leader, backed by the Information Bureau. Due to abolition of this bureau, the JAPAN Music Union was also abandoned. Besides these Unions, the TOKYO-To Music Association (TOKYO TO ONCAKUDAN) which includes a philharmonic orchestra and a brass band, was organized, as well as the Musical Training Association, headed by OBITA, Kokichi. A musical association is being planned by young musicians, including SHIMIZU Shu.

But it mast be realized that the apparent boom in musical circles will not last long, for the public crowds the performances only because of the lack of pleasures during the war and in an attempt to take refuge from the world's realities.

The musicians, too, have no definite purpose, giving only ordinary performances, The audiences have become more descriminating in attending performances, while formerly they attended all performances. This tendency shows not only the critical attitude of the public but also the publics uneasiness.

The musicians must not neglect the fact that the public has lost the habit of singing a habit which they did not discontinue even during the war. This fact may be regarded as showing that music gives pleasure only to a limited part of the public. All provincial cities, with the exception of a few, lack musical organizations due to burned out theaters and lack of transportation facilities.

The true reconstruction of the music in our country will not be completed unless all public uneasiness is wiped out as a result of the settlement of our grave political and economic problems.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

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