Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0184, 1945-12-31.
Date31 December, 1945
translation numbereditorial-0576
call numberDS801 .S82
Persistent Identifier
EDITORIAL SERIES: 184
ITEM 1 What is the Government Thinking of the Revision of the Constitution? Asahi Shimbun - 29 Dec 45. Translator: I. Kuniko.
Full Translation:
With the agreement that the acceptance of the Potsudam Declaration will not change
JAPAN's national existence, JAPAN has taken
a step forward in her new birth. However, her progress so far seems to have been lost
in a maze. How the first chapter of the
constitution was to be revised by Prince KONOYE is a closed book to the Nation, but
we can recognize, through intimatior or
Mr. MATSUMOTO, Minister without Portfolio, that the Government committee will, in
the main, leave the general principles of
the present constitution alone. Some ministers seem to think that the Emperor and
the people should rule the country with
equal qualifications. However, judging from slow progress on constitutional revision
the Government appears unwilling to
consider the present condition of our country. A civilian committee on the constitution
has offered the Government a draft
which claims that the right of ruling the country should be taken ever by the people.
Such being the case, no one can tell
what will become of the revision of the constitution. Supreme Headquarters has pointed
out that when the Japanese discuss
JAPAN's democracy it is not proper for them to adhere to restrictive ideas or formal
thoughts.
What part will the Emperor system play in the democratization of JAPAN? will it be
possible for the system to play as great a
part in the future as it did at the end of the war?
Formerly, when Japanese capitalism was hotly discussed, it used to be argued whether
the Imperial House would stand for
autocracy or liberalism. We think that history is now repeating itself.
ITEM 2 This Local Governors' Conference was Politically Inactive. - Asahi Shimbun - 29 Dec 45. Translator: K. Hirata.
Full translation:
At a time when the situation everywhere is so stringent and critical, the Government,
expressly called together the local
governors to talk over the important issues regarding the forthcoming general election,
the allotted delivery of rice and the
increase of coal supplies. As is often the case, the premier and other ministers made
a poor display of instructions and
preaching. The general election, delivery of rice and the increase of coal supplies
— each of these is no doubt, an urgently
important matter of which every local governor must be well aware. This question rests
on the concrete solution of
EDITORIAL SERIES: 184 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
those problems. However, the central authorities revealed on this occasion their
lack of policy in this respect. At the same
time, local governors also impressed us as though they were relaxing administrative
efforts. The only concrete items brought
forth by the central authorities were the prevention of absenteeism in voting in the
next election and the necessity of
increasing the number of polling places. However, they failed to clarify any measures
regarding the allotted delivery of rice
and the increase of coal supplies. The local governors also failed to make any concrete
remarks regarding their own difficult
administrative efforts. From this, we can only say that the Government and local officials
are sabotaging the Nation insofar
as the solution of urgent problems is concerned.
The present Government will be obliged to resign en bloc after the next election.
On the other hand, a public election of
local governors, by popular will, will materialize in the near future. Yet there is
no reason for justifying their lack of
diligence on that account. Despite Allied control over this country as the result
of defeat, we still retain administrative
power. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Government to enrich the life of the people.
The Government should be responsible
not only to the Allies, but also to our people.
It is reported that the Government is contemplating a radical reform of the administrative
machinery. No doubt, the reform of
machinery and the curtailment of personnel are necessary. However, more fundamentally
necessary is the reform of the existing
way of disposing of official affairs. At present, it is still full of red tape and
greatly impedes efficiency. This country is
now undergoing a democratic revolution. The status which bureaucrats will continue
to occupy in the future political democracy
requires serious re-examination.
Also, during the conference, the local governors did not fail to express their views,
always serving their respective local
interests. Herein lies the necessity for reorganizing the existing division of administrative
districts. Once the system of
electing local governors by popular will becomes effective the tendency of self-interest
is sure to be more marked. To check
this evil, the existing division of administrative districts must be seriously re-examined.
At any rate, this local governors'
conference was politically a failure from the standpoint of the current critical situation.
ITEM 3 Admission Tax and Its Abolition - Tokyo Shimbun - 29 Dec 45. Translator: Y. Ebiike.
Summary:
In reply to this column on 24 December demanding the abolition of the admission tax,
authorities in the Finance Ministry
explain that it does not check the development of national culture, but controls surplus
purchasing power. Again we see by
this reply how ignorant the bureaucrats are of actual circumstances. There are very
few spectators when plays which are
considered to be elevating Japanese dramatic culture, are put on the stage. We, the
earnest spectators, not to speak of the
authorities, have fears for the future development of Japanese drama. I think it is
most natural that actors should make
efforts to abolish the admission tax. I propose hereby to do so for the benefit of
the revival of Japanese drama. (TAKAHASHI,
Sadao, CHUO University Drama Study Association)
(The Answer from the finance Ministry): The admission tax was raised during the war
in AMERICA too. Because of the low
entrance fee the total
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 184 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
price is not too high for the people, even if there is a 100% tax. However, we are
studying possibilities to decrease it in
order to encourage the development of culture, though we cannot do so at present without
the approval of the Diet.
ITEM 4 The Present Society - Yomiuri Hochi - 29 Doc 45. Translator: B. Ishibashi.
Full translation:
Present-day society is attaching more importance to eating than to politics. This
is, of course, unfortunate for the
establishment of a democratic administration. Our Nation is not laying too firm a
basis for democracy. To attest to this fact
there are some tendencies which go back to the feudalistic ages in design and manner.
During the war, both men and women dressed as lightly as possible in conformity to
the demand of the times. Some improvements
were made in women's dress. Such improvements are desirable and should be encouraged.
There is, for example, the style of
hair-dressing, which is more practicable. Also, more sensible dressing of the lower
half of the body has the result of
revolting against the feudalistic elements in our country. For all that, in recent
days, there are too many women who are
walking outdoors dressed in flimsy kimonos, to a greater extent even than during the
war. I think these women are mistaking
indolence for peace. They sell their favors with servility and act frivolously out
of curiosity towards foreigners. There are
even those who, with Japanese coiffure, try to ride in full cars. I can only find
them lacking in common sense.
Kimonos are in great demand at present because of their pleasing appearance and also
because their economic value has
increased. They have become one of the most important items in the stores of our cities.
Even farmers often demand them as
collateral for foodstuff.
If the Geisha system were revived, the value of kimonos would soar higher and higher.
However, I should like to wipe out the
national disgrace of such an institution. In the meantime, a new movement is expected
to rise and sweep away the taste for
kimonos, which is nothing more than the symbol of the subservient position of women
to men in our country. The taste in
kimonos should be left merely as a classic work of art.
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