Press translations [Japan]. Social Series 0209, 1946-01-30.

Full Translation:

A baby, two years old, named KATSUKO, the third daughter of Mr. ITOGA, Tsurumatsu, a resident at the AZUMA Apartment-house, KITA No 1 Dori, SENDAI-Shi, fell sick and was admitted to the Imperial University Hospital in the same city. A medical examination on the 22nd proved that she was infected with small-pox. The origin of the infection is now under investigation by the Prefectural Board of Health.

Summary:

Strange to say, the Ministry of Education which was full of formality and bureaucratic egotism has for a long time been nothing but a sort of state organ hindering the elevation of culture and the arts. The road open to the new JAPAN is said to be the road of culture, and the mission of the Ministry of Education has become very important, now that it has been burdened with the administration of art and cultural after the dissolution of the Information Board; the cultural world, worried about the reconstruction, is anxious to hear from Mr. ABE, the new Minister of Education who said at his assumption of office, "I am a simple scholar. Let us listen and talk freely as between familiar friends." The following is the summary of an unreserved conversation our reporter had in an interview with him:

"At present there is a tendency to ignore arts because of the imenent food crisis. If this is right, arts would be nothing when food and clothing are in sufficient supply. Rather, in such a critical period, genuine arts, constituting the backbone of thought and emotion of social life must be fostered and the question of art and culture should be seriously studied. As regards self-restraint by theatrical companies in presenting KABUKI performances, artistic zeal or conscientiousness in preserving the really valuable arts, judged from the standard of pure artistic merit, is thought desirable. KABUKI and NO performances are arts polished up to the fullest extent, so such a positive attitude as to ask the authorities of the American Forces to protect classical arts is preferably to be expected of those concerned. Every citizen of the nation should love and preserve KABUKI and NO which are our national arts, and so refined as to be respected by world cultural circles, as something transcending, so-to-speak, our suffocating social conditions. As you know there are many difficulties to surmount in art

SOCIAL SERIES: 209 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

and cultural administration and I cannot promise to what extent my hopes may be realized, but as my ideal, I hope to protect arts and artists by establishing a national classical theatre in order to preserve and present classical performances such as KABUKI, BUNRAKU, NO etc. It is likewise my ideal to establish grand national theaters, fully harmonizing with the life and psychology of the working masses, and to operate through the Government all dramatic troupes, presentations, plays, and music, with the same object. A grand national music hall must also be established where popular music may be freely played to enable the people to listen and enjoy good music easily. Hitherto German music was mainly played, but Russian music will hereafter become well known to the Japanese. As regards architecture, one thing at least must be done at once. Japanese architectural beauty exists not in the architecture itself, but in the harmony between the architecture and surrounding nature. As this essential surrounding nature has been spoiled owing to the war, its earliest possible revival is my earnest desire, in order to restore Japanese architectural beauty.

As to the State protection of artists, I hope a pension system may be worked out. For this purpose, the Ministry of Education should become more democratic. In close co-operation with the JAPAN Artists' Association, for instance, it gives pensions for their declining years to the superior but poor artists including writers and authors and those who have rendered meritorious services to the country, on the basis of the recommendations of the Association. Art prizes are also desirable. Drama, the cinema and painting should preferably be left to the free activity of private undertakings and the Ministry of Education will help as far as possible in helping to provide materials and equipment.

The inactivity of Japanese science is not only due to lack of money, materials and scholars, but may be ascribed to the clumsy utilization of what money, material and scholars we have through biased sectionalism. First of all, therefore, joint utilization and opening to the public of university libraries and their equipment must be realized. There must also be research and statistical organizations throughout the country, to be made the basis of all scientific activities. For the progress of culture, foreign literature and historical records are most important, but due to foreign exchange difficulties they can not be obtained easily at present. So the government or some society should buy them en bloc to facilitate their utilization by the people. It will be of service, if one great translation structure be established as a joint enterprise by the government and the people, where the translation of foreign classics and their distribution to the nation may be effected on a large scale.

In conclusion, my idea of cultural administration is to accelerate freer popular activities in all directions with the government simply rendering lateral assistance to them. For example I am contemplating that the government should only undertake such great enterprises as the grand national theatre which could hardly be accomplished by private business."

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SOCIAL SERIES: 209 (Continued)

Full Translation:

The winter vacation of over two months is approaching its end under the serious food situation. Higher schools, colleges, and universities are to be opened from the beginning of February throughout the country. Before the beginning of the winter vacation, the movement for democratization, in the educational world, did not keep abreast of the times. But the students have acquired a considerable amount of political ideas during the vacation, and the purging directive of the General Headquarters has been issued. A much more rapid development of the movement is expected in the future. The respective situations in the well known universities of TOKYO are as follows:

• 1.WASEDA University. Prior to the beginning of the new term, MAKANO, Tomio, president of the institution, who had been resting quietly at home because of a disease, held a conference of various deans of the institution on 24 January, and intimated his intention of resigning formally. Consequently, the university authorities are now seeking a new president. However, there is no one suitable for the post. OYAMA, Ikuo, whose reinstatement had formerly been rumored, is in AMERICA. Besides, the method of selection by a conference of the deans might raise opposition from the students. In view of these points, there mil be many difficulties in the future for the University. NAKANO said, "Apart from the question of the General Headquarter's directive, I thought my disease would not allow me to do my duties as President. So, I made known my intention of resigning. I had been considering my retirement from the end of last year."
• 2.NIPPON University. YAMAOKA, Mannosuke, president of the institution has intimated his intention toresign. A professor's council was held on 22 January to meet the situation, and YAMAOKA was urged to continue as president. He would not agree to it. GOBUNHEI, doctor of political economy, has been elected as the new president.
• 3.KEIO University. The president of the institution, KOIZUMI, was in the hospital until the beginning of this year. He had been injured in the air-raid of May, last year. Consequently, no new move has been made at the University. On 25 January, KOIZUMI said, "I am sorry that I am unable, at present, to work for the University because of my wounds. I believe my conduct during the war was not evil. Many men resigned in view of their war responsibility as leaders during the war. However, I have ray own beliefs in those matters and upon complete recovery of health, I will exert myself as best I may for the construction of a new JAPAN."
• 4.The Peers' School. At the end of last year, a move for democratization was started by some of the modern minded professors and students. However, in view of the special character of the institution, the movement faded out before anything happened. YAMANASHI, president of the institution, said, "I retired from social activities at the time of the armament reduction (when he was a vice-Minister in the Naval Ministry). Accordingly, I will decide what I am to do in accordance with orders from the Government only. I was a naval man so I might become under the directive of the General Headquarters. However, I heard, also, that they have already come to an understanding about this."

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