After the defeat, food shortage attacked people After the Second World War, General Headquarters (GHQ) of Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, which occupied Japan, on December 9, 1945 (Showa 20), in order to wipe out the rural feudalism, issued “farmers release command (memorandum of agrarian reform)”. It abolished nogyokai (agricultural institution) turned into national policy institutions, and ordered the establishment of “nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives)” for farmers by farmers of the farmers to the Japanese government. We follow the decisive actions of agrarian reform and founded process of nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives) while watching the process of negotiation between Government of Japan and GHQ. On August 20, 1945, 5 days later … Continue reading →

Matsumura, Minister of Agriculture, expressed determination Ministerial personnel by Prime Minister Kijūrō Shidehara ( 1872 ～ 1951 ) was focused on personnel selection of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry. Kenzo Matsumura ( 1883 ～ 1971 ), Minister of Health and Welfare of Higashikuni Cabinet, was appointed the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. Matsumura was known as most familiar with agricultural policy in the political world. Matsumura was called to the cabinet formation headquarter at Prime Minister’s Office. Matsumura was told his Post and answered, “Current food problem is difficult. I would like to consult some person.” He went out about an hour. The person was Tadaharu Machida ( 1863 ～ 1946 … Continue reading →

Lone struggle of Matsumura, Agriculture Minister In October 1945, 4 days later after appointment of Kenzo Matsumura, Agriculture Minister, the draft of the agrarian reform (draft of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) had been completed. Shiro Tohata( 1907 ～ 1980 ), Agricultural policy manager, mainly created it. The draft consists of three main points as follows; 1) to establish owner farmers, 2) to change tenant payment in kind into cash payment, while maintaining of controling tenant farmlands and own farmlands, 3) democratic reorganization of municipal agricultural land committee (Committee members consist of each 10 people of landowners, owner farmers, and the local tenant farmers, elected by sectors. Chairman elected committee … Continue reading →

GHQ refused proposal of the government Getting tired of waiting delayed movement of the Japanese side, on December 9, 1945, General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Allied Forces suddenly issued “Memorandum of Understanding on agricultural agrarian reform.” It is called the MacArthur’s “farmers release command”. Next day, in the room of the Committee of Agriculture and Forestry,  at the request of Ginichi Kodaira ( 1884 ～ 1976 ), former bureaucrat and former vice president of Chuonogyokai (Central agricultural institution), Hiroo Wada, director of agricultural policy, read the translation of the “Command”. The memorandum pointed out the current situation of tenant farmers, such as “extreme micro management,” “adverse tenancy conditions,” and with … Continue reading →

Victorious countries presenting the draft Agrarian reform in Japan became an international problem. It went up on the agenda in the Allied Council for Japan which was consist of 4 victorious country and was set to discuss how to proceed with the occupation policy. From April to June of 1946, the council was held in this theme 4 times. On May 29, representative of the Soviet Union suddenly issued a “Soviet proposal” on the agrarian reform of Japan. “Limit of holding farmland by Resident landlord should be less than 3 ha in general area, and 10 ha only in Hokkaido area. Part exceeding the possession limit should be purchased by … Continue reading →