Great Construction

Another Way of Looking at the Birth Control Issue

     One urgent problem that has become a subject for deliberation in Japan nowadays is controlling the birth rate. As a result of defeat in the war and loss of territory, Japan lacks twenty to thirty percent of the foodstuffs necessary to support a population of eighty million persons. At present it is impossible to enlarge Japanese territory to compensate for this shortage, so it is evident that the negative policy of reducing the population is unavoidable. In response, there are quite a few who oppose this policy on religious or humanitarian grounds, but from the scientific common sense standpoint, birth control is realistic and it is only natural that the government would inevitably adopt the policy.
     We would like to propose another, positive method that does not rely on birth control. Some people may be aware that before the war the idea was promoted among intellectuals in Germany and Italy, as well as in certain groups in Japan, but we would like to modify this proposal into a more consistent yet peaceful policy to which we call for the attention of the authorities.
     When we look out upon this wide planet earth, we cannot but admit the fact that the world’s population is not distributed equally. Whether in Africa, the Americas, or Asia, there are areas with hundreds and hundreds of miles of wide open spaces, and then there are places such as Japan where a population of eighty million persons is densely crowded into an area the size of a fingertip which does lead to consideration of how unfair it is to have the tragic circumstances that give rise to the inhuman measure limiting the number of births. In this sense, we inevitably think it would not be improper to demand implementation of a policy where the population of Japan could be suitably distributed in order to correct this unfairness.
     From a rational point of view, what I have said above is not illogical, but there are issues. That is, the misfortunes caused in the past by Japan’s wars of aggression even now do not allow the nations of the world to relax their guard, so it is not unreasonable that my proposal cannot be easily accepted even though well known is Japan’s struggle with the population problem. When we consider the ways this hurdle can be overcome, it is unquestionable that nothing will suffice short of assuring to the bottom of their hearts the people of the world that the Japanese are truly a people who love peace. This policy must be implemented, and I will now write about how implementation may be accomplished.
     At the present, nothing but religion can powerfully demonstrate that Japan has thoroughly eliminated the aggressive spirit and that the Japanese are a nation that loves peace. Religion is a concept common throughout the world so there should be not be anyone anywhere who could object. That being said, “religion” cannot be merely a formal, fake faith, one of policies merely of the surface, a kind of fraud that can appear at any time, so it is quite necessary that arises a great religious movement with fundamental principles. Sectarian divisions naturally must be transcended. If the religious movement were limited only to one sect, it would be difficult to assemble many members in a short period of time. The following could be proposed, however. That is, to divide the world into sections with Christians in areas of Caucasians, Buddhists in Asian areas, and Shintoists in other areas.
     As I have argued above, individuals of religion should have no conception of conflict or policy of aggression, and all races and peoples should be able to secure harmony and peace. In such conditions, the Japanese should be able to earn the trust of the people of the world. When the policy become possible to implement on a practical basis, each religious entity can conduct a vigorous selection process to choose the appropriate number of persons for immigration for which a final decision can be made with the harmonious cooperation of the Allied Powers.
     I propose this policy and submit it to General Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Japan for approval. It should be understood it is an unquestionable fact that even among intellectuals in the United States and Europe are those who are highly concerned about the huge increase in the Japanese population, so I do believe that if a proposal concerning population policy were to be submitted, it would be readily accepted without suspicion. Of course, it is a major issue, so results will not be seen quickly, but if substantial operations were to be continuously repeated, favorable results can be expected.
     Therefore, I venture to urge both politicians and intellectuals to deliberate this proposal as a possible national policy.

Hikari, Issue 12, June 11, 1949
    translated by cynndd