Category Archives: Booklet

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 →

Amendment by the initiative of GHQ “Farmers release command” (memorandum of understanding regarding agrarian reform) issued by MacArthur also ordered submission of the establishment plan of Nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives), as the related measures of agrarian reform. One day, the answer submission deadline was imminent. A few leaders of the agricultural policy division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, such as Hiroo Wada, Agricultural Government answer specifically indicated these ideas of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This was the first draft of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry regarding Nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives) Law. Since then, planning negotiation with the Allied Forces General Headquarters (GHQ) regarding Nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives) Law was … Continue reading →

Final draft presented after piled negotiation The Ministry of Agriculture was forced to compromise on the draft of Nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives) bill (first draft of GHQ)  created by Division of Natural Resources responsible for the agricultural sector in Allied General Headquarters ( GHQ ) .　 The ministry created the fourth and fifth draft diluted the control color. In the fifth draft, the ministry finally added the provision of “abolition of nogyodantai law (agricultural organization law) stipulating the terms of nogyokai (agricultural institution), and abolition of nogyo-jikko-kumiai (farming union).” Regarding establishment of cooperatives, the ministry added the provision stipulating 10 or more of cooperatives members as minimum number of founders (in … Continue reading →

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Allied Forces General Headquarters (GHQ), and agriculture organizations began propaganda activities to spread nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives), along with the establishment of the Nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives) Law. On August 1, 1947, the press release about the law was done. Thereafter, radio, newspaper, and distribution of brochures were used at the time. Regarding propaganda activities, exceptional enthusiasm and efforts were poured. The ministry printed 5.7 million copies of the brochure “nogyokyodokumiai no iroha (ABCs of nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives)),” and distributed them to all farmers through the local offices of the prefectures. Nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives) department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ensured papers despite … Continue reading →