Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0100, 1945-12-17.
Date17 December, 1945
translation numbereditorial-0349
call numberDS801 .S82
Persistent Identifier
EDITORIAL SERIES: 100
ITEM 1 "The part of the Youth in Renovation of the Diet" [illegible]Provincial Newspaper (SHIROSHIMA) CHOGOKU SHIMBUN 4 Dec 45 Translator: Furukawa H.
Full Translation:
The problems discussed in the Diet on war responsibility of Diet members were destined
for oblivim. The resolution adoped on
the basis of the Progressives proposed was such that "those who flattered the military,
the bureaucrats the financial shall
show penitence for their war responsibility.” Such an evasive on war responsibility
is no more than a mockery to the
people.
The nation became aware that the attitude of the Diet toward war criminals is indeed
very mild when the Election law reform
bill, which is most worthy of attention in this session, was introduced. This bill
has a direct bearing on the interests of
the Diet members and so there is no doubt that the members will give it careful consideration.
The aim of this reform bill is
to bring into the Diet a .fresh and vital atmosphere One of the three main points
of reform of the extension franchise to both
sex is over twenty years of age, was decided on the supposition that one intellactual
ability and sense of responsibility of
youth has much advanced in our present day. We have great expectative for the youthful
enthusiasm which will clean the Diet in
this period of transition.
The Diet. which is now in a state of staguation, can be rejuvenated only by the full
youth at the forthcoming general
election. Because much must be expected from the bright future of Japanese youth,
the fate of revived nation will certainly be
affected by their charateristic emotions, passions, and spirit. We must realize the
fact that youth has usually led the
revolutions in our history. For example, think of the brilliant civilization in the
SUIKU Area which was mainly founded by
Imperial Prince SHOTOKU, only twenty-four years old. Similarly, the TAIKA Reformation
was executed by the efforts of Prince
NAKA-NO-ONE who was also 24 years of age. Later, the greater part of the work of the
MEIJI restoration was planned and
achieved by young men of about thirty.
Considering these historical facts, we must conclude that youth is closely related
to the reformation of the State. Why so? I
think the reason is that adults are retrospective, while youth is hopeful. In this
case there is a clean difference between
those who live in the past and there who live for the future, In other words, the
critical spirit of youth cannot easily he
satisfied with the existing order. It is always carried away with the impulse to realize
higher ideals and to create and form
something new.
Mr. NISHIO a Social Democrat, in his opinion opposing the general resign, nation
of the present members of the Diet, said that
"A Diet, which is organized by new men exclusively, will be a sincere bat inexperienced
one" Certainly as he said, youth is
inexperienced.
EDITORIAL SERIES: 100 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
Full Translation:
However, what is expericence, aquired on the basis of undersirable and old customs,
worth? Can we regard such experience as a
unique, and moral asset? It is characteristic of the historical reformation that the
existing: party men gradually, lose their
voice in politics in a sudden change of the mind of the time [illegible]the mind of JAPAN. Consequently,
When the reformation of the State and society is eventually required, promising youths
appear in great numbers in response to
the demands of the time.
Our first aim is to renew political feeling and form new political organizations
which can be a propelling power in the
construction of the new JAPAN, In other words, we aim to establish a democratic country.
To attain this purpose, however, a
plan is required which is fresh and active which will sweep away adherence to the
past. This ideal of the new State is so
revolutionary that the existing political parties can never attain it. Therefore,
we expect much activity, from oar youth.
However, to conceive this ideal and realize it is, of course, not easy. The times
now require the vigor of youth to conquer
many difficulties which occur often the termination of a war. As a matter of coarse,
passion it self cannot last too long.
Passion must be led by reason in the right direction. It is necessary to face and
study scientifically historical facts, for
only by such scientific knowledge can affection for the fatherland be held, because
love in the tree sense of the word is
based on correct knowledge.
On the contrary, passion without knowledge drives youth to a radicalism which is
merely destructive. Such radicalism is often
no more than self - satisfaction in the destruction of the existing order, without
the creation of something positive. The
result is a deplorible waste of life and energy. At the same time, it must be also
noticed that there is a danger of lapsing
into a rihilistic[illegible]mental condition, a result of confusion in the mind of youth which is facing
radical changes. When this danger is ignored youth will inevitably fall into a certain
condition of rihilism, despising
matters of state as trifles.
If such an indifferent attitude towards State affairs prevails among youth, the State
will have gloomy prospects for its
future. We hope earnestly that youth will rise out of its present rihilistic torpor
as soon as possible and engage in
reconstruction, Giving full vent to its ability to participate in State affairs, with
the same active power and spirit as
show, at the front and in the factories during the war. Youth's efforts in these matters
is the key to the rejuvenation of the
Diet.
ITEM 2 The Election Law Reform to be Accompanied by the Reform of the peer's House Provincial Newspaper KAHOKU SHIMPO 11 Dec 45 Translator: NAGATANI K.
Summary:
The gist of the Election Law Reform Bi11 now before the Diet is included in the following
four points: (l) reduction of the
voting age; (2) franchise for women; (3) restricted plural ballot system; (4) removal
of all restra[illegible]ning legislation concerning election campaigns.
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 100 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
Summary:
Except for possible amendments to the latter two points the former two are expected
to pass the Diet in the form originally
drafted by the cabinet. In the event that the reduction of the voting age and women's
suffrage are realized, the number of
voters will become three times as large as in the preceding general election. This
is surely the first great step of oar
nation towards democracy, but at the same time it must be remembered that this is
the very first step, and tha’s all.
There is a prevailing pessimism as to how many of the newly enfranchised voters will
be sufficiently interested in politic's
to exercise their voting rights. Especially in the case of women voters, it is generally
predicted that only 50 per cent at
best will participate in the coming general election. Of course, there are many causes
for the lamentable indifference of
women to politics; for example, there are the unspeakable difficulties in our daily
life today, including poor knowledge of
politics an the part of most Japanese women, but the fundamental cause lies in to
fast that a single vote is too insignificant
to directly influence the real lives of each voter. In other words the split existing
between public life and exercising the
vote accounts fundamentally for their indifference to the general election. Accordingly,
the best way to prevent them from
abstaining is to strengthen the power of the vote so as to affect directly the life
of each voter.
Until the present there have been the so-called "four big drawbacks", hampering the
realization of democracy as formally
balloted by the MEIJI Restoration of 1868. There are, the military groey, the Privy Council, the big policy
makers,
including the "elder statesmen", and the House of Peers: This is why the House of
Representatives has been unable to take the
leadership in politics in JAPAN. That is to say, in JAPAN politics has not reflected
public opinion, and under these
circumstances it is only natural that the general public should lose their interest
in politics. In order to make the public
concerned with politics, the House of Representatives must he the center of politics
and to effect this, the above mentioned
"four big drawbacks" should be abolished or thoroughly reformed. Now that the military
group and high policy makers have
ceased to exist, two face "two big drawbacks", the privy council and the House of
Peers. It a reported that the Government
intends to keep the Privy Cornell with some reform, and seems to have no intention
of reforming the House of pears. We cannot
welcome such a pasive attitude by the Government concerning these reforms. It is a
great mistake for the Government to think
that their problems are not connected with the Election Law. We hope the Government
arrives at the solution to these problems
as soon as possible.
As for the Privy Council, We insist on its abolition. A cabinet alone is sufficient
for advising the Throne. We insist that
the House of Peers should, be reformed so as to represent those classes not sufficiently
represented in the lower House, thus
executing its supplementary function for the Jouse of Representatives.
ITEM 3 Coal Shortage and the Board of Coal TUKID SHIMBUN 12 Dec 45. Translator: KAWANABE M.
Full Translation:
In order to overcome the coal shortage, it was decided to set up the Board of Coal.
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 100 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
Full Translation:
We all know coal in one of the most essential materials, next to food, and its shortage
entails a. stoppage of its function as
a necessity to production. It is presently an urgent necessity to increase the production
of coal.
In this respect, it is a good idea to set up the Board of Coal to enforce a unified
and powerful coal administration. We must
net forget that the aim of this does nttdie in the establishment of the Board itself,
but in the greater production of coal.
In fact, however, while the authorities concerned are wasting much time in procedure
and the like necessary to set up the
Board, the situation has become so serious that the amount of coal distributed for
railroads in January is cut in half. We
already know that labor and materials are forming botllenecks to coal reduction.
Accordingly, counter-measures should have already been taken by the Government, and
the counter-measures should not
necessarily have been merely the establishment of such a Board. Though we do not oppose
the establishment of the board of
Coal, we admonish the Government for its tendency to lay stress on the means rather
than the and. Don't put the cart before
the horse!
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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