ITEM 1 Popularization of the Japanese Language - Asahi Shimbun - 25 Jan 46. Translator: T. Ogawa.

Summary:

Under the firm belief that it is absolutely essential that one can freely talk and write what one thinks for the democratization of JAPAN, Mr. YAMAMOTO, Yuzo, a well-known writer, established recently the MITAKA Institute of Japanese Language (NITAKA KOKUGO KENKYUSHO), at his own residence at SHIMO-RENJAKU, MITAKA-Cho, with Professor ANDO, Shoji, the former President of the TAIHOKU Imperial University as its president.

In this connection, a conference of philologists and various organizations was held yesterday at 1000, at the office of the Institute at MISAKI-Cho, KANDA-Ku, under the joint auspices of the above-mentioned Institute and the Philological Culture Institute (GENGO BUNKA KENKYOSHO sponsored by Mrs. NAGANUMA, Naoye, and NISHIO, Minoru. The conference was attended by Professor FUJIMURA, Tsukuru, Professor KANEDAICHI, Kyosuke, and representatives of 33 organizations such as the JAPANESE Language Society (KOKUGO GAKKAI), the Philological Society (GENGO GAKKAI) the Publishers' Association (SHUPPAN KYOKAI), the Free Speech Society (JIYU KONWA KAI), the Folk-lore Society (MINKAN DENSHO NO KAI), the Democratic Scientists' Association (MINSHUSHUGI KAGAKUSHA KYOKAI), and others.

The conference reached an agreement to form a united front of various bodies in order to popularize the Japanese language. As a result, the Federation for the Democratization of the Japanese Language (KOKUGO MINSHUKA REMMEI) was inaugurated.

ITEM 2 Crime - Asahi Shimbun - 25 Jan 46. Translator: H. Nishihara.

Full Translation:

In the dimness, just after sundown, on 22 January, a hundred-yen bank note was handed to an orange dealer at an open stall in front of UENO Station. The orange dealer easily detected that the note was forged. The forgerer, arrester on the spot, was ICHII, Tadao, aged 21, of 84, 2-chome, KITAZAWA-Cho, SETAGAYA-Ku. He finished the preparatory course of the Military Academy (YOKA SHIKAN GAKKO) in 1944. Another forged one-hundred-yen note was found in his room. The note was written with a pen.

A gang, which sole, whisky containing methyl alcohol, was arrested by Military Police with the co-operation of the TOKYO Police Office, according to a UNITED STATES Military Police Headquarters release. The gang had labeled the bottles as a noted whisky. The bottles contained wood alcohol. A search uncovered two drum cans, each containing 55 galons of alcohol, 25 cans, each containing five gallons of alcohol, and 550 bottles of so-called whisky. In all about 700,000 yens worth were

SOCIAL SERIES: 201 (Continued) ITEM 2 (Continued) found.

On 24 January, four burglars broke into the house of TSUTSUI, Yuki, of 2210, 2-Chome, SANNO, OMORI-Ku, and robbed the family of 500 yen, and suits and shoes.

ITEM 3 Crime - Mainichi Shimbun - 25 Jan 46. Translator: S. Inoue.

Summary:

On 21 January a gang of two robbers tried to break into the home of the ex-mayor of OSAKA, Mr. SAKAMA, Muneji, at no 70 NISHI-NICHIO-ME, KITAHATA, ABENO-Ku, OSAKA. The culprits were found hiding in the dark of the garden when Minoru, the ex-mayor's oldest son, assisted by his two other brothers, attacked them, inflicting a heavy wound upon one of them with a Japanese sword.

This wounded robber was found writhing in pain on a read near the mayor's home. He died soon afterward, and was identified as TOKOKO, Mitsuo, age 21. An attempted robbery was thus thwarted, but now there arises the question of whether or not the robber was killed in self-defense.

Assistant prosecutor ICHI[illegible]ARU, taking charge of the case, says that this is the first of its kind, and as it is expected that similar cases may frequently occur in the future, he must be very careful as to how to apply the law. However, judging from the present developments, it is believed the case will be dropped.

Lieutenant Colonel KARIOTTC, legal adviser to the 1st Corps, UNITED STATES Army, explained the American legal interpretation of the case as follows:

In AMERICA, a personal dwelling is a fortress for its owner. Therefore no one is free to come into another man's house without the owner's permission. We are legally justified in shooting him to death when we find him breaking into our house with permission, if he had any illegal intentions, even though he has no weapon. Accordingly, the present case should not be prosecuted.

ITEM 4 Fifth Middle School Forms Consumers Union - Asahi Shimbun - 21 Jan 46. Translator: H. Nishihara.

Summary:

Teachers, students, and fathers and brothers of the students have co-operated in forming a consumers' union. The Metropolitan Fifth Middle School management has agreed to the proposals by fathers and brothers of the students, and the "Metropolitan Fifth Middle School Purchasing Union," which was organized last year, launched its activity on 15 January, when the winter vacation ended. It is expected that it will succeed in purchasing one thousand Kan of sardines in CHIBA and in distributing them at 6.50 yen for ten, much cheaper that their cost of ten yen for eight on the open market. In the future, the Union will distribute charcoal, slippers, soap, and shoes, which are much in demand by the people. The organization of the Union consists of School Master SAWANOBORI, Setsuichi, chief director; 12 fathers and brothers and seven teachers appointed as directors; funds contributed by volunteers, with one share worth 50 yen. Every one is allowed to have as many share as he wishes, but shareholders are not given preference in distribution of goods; 70,000 yen is shared by the teachers; 700 students are shareholders.

The Union is now busily engaged in making a list of students and teacher

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SOCIAL SERIES: 201 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

to enable it to find suitable places to buy commodities. The teachers voice their hopes for the future:

"If the food problem is settled, we hope that the Union will help poor students and give them scholarships. The Union must have a clerk in full service lest the teachers and students neglect school training because of the Unions business. At any rate, the co-operation of the fathers and brothers is an important factor."

ITEM 5 Concealed Food - Asahi Shimbun - 25 Jan 46. Translator: H. Nishihara

Summary:

The discovery of concealed food at the military arsenal has aroused public attention. This problem was discussed at the vice-ministers' conference on 24 January, concerning the disposal of the discovered food. HARA, the vice-minister of the First Demobilization Bureau, and NISHIMURA, chief of the Public Peace Section of the TOKYO Police Office, demanded reports on the matter at the conference. It was agreed by the vice-ministers that the Ministries of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture and Forestry will take charge of the proper distribution of the newly found food, as well as the execution of the revised Food Control regulations, which will be promulgated seen in order to enlarge the power of officials in controlling food.

These regulations will include a provision which will enable officials to practice control over such concealed foods which ere eventually discovered. The revised regulations will allow the officials to buy rice from farmers even if they refuse to sell, but at the same time also will allow the officials to exercise control over dishonest consumers, such as companies, factories, restaurants, middlemen, and rich men who conceal large amounts of food. On searching the ware- house of such individuals or concerns, should large amounts of food be discovered, the officials will distribute the food through regular channels.

To complete the search, the present number of 10,000 food investigators will be increased to 30,000 for the whole country, and they will be given police power and will co-operate with the police. If such concealed stores of food formerly belonged to the Army, they will be confiscated. If the food is in illegal trade channels, it will be confiscated, and the merchants concerned will be sentenced to maximum imprisonment of ten years or be fined a maximum of 50,000 yen. Though the food is not illegally traded, if the amount is large, the Government will buy it at the ordinary Government prices. How much will be regarded as a "large amount"? It is a difficult question to answer, but the public will not concern itself with such problems. The officials desire information from the public concerning the location of warehouses in which food is concealed.

DISTRIBUTION: "X"

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