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The Japanese Constitution:

A Documentary History of its Framing and Adoption, 1945-1947

Edited by Ray A. Moore and Donald L. Robinson

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Methodology
Electronic Methodology
Referring to these Documents
Framing a New Constitution: Japan as a Case Study
The Allied Occupation and Constitutional Reform
Chronology
Biographical Notes
Glossary
Sources
Yen-Dollar Equivalency Table

Chapter 1: Historical Documents
RM001. 17-Article Constitution
RM002. Charter Oath (1868)
RM003. Imperial Rescript for Soldiers and Sailors (1882)
RM004. Imperial Household Law (1889)
RM005. (Meiji) Constitution of the Empire of Japan (1889)
RM006. Imperial Rescript on Education (1890)
RM007. Constitution of Weimar Germany (1919)
RM008. Constitution of the United States (as amended 1933)

Chapter 2: Guidance from American and Allied Governments
RM009. Request for guidance (2/18/44) General John Hilldring to State Department
RM010. Freedom of worship? (3/15/44) Inter-divisional area committee on the Far East (IDACFE)
RM011. Three stages of postwar development (5/4/44) IDACFE
RM012. Control of government (5/9/44) IDACFE
RM013. Role of the Emperor (5/9/44) IDACFE
RM014. Abolition of militarism (5/9/44) IDACFE
RM015. Terms of surrender (11/13/44) Committee on Postwar Programs (CPP)
RM016. Civil Affairs Handbook (excerpts) (1/45) U. S. Army Civil Affairs Division
RM017. Postwar administration (1/5/45) CPP
RM018. Potsdam: American draft (7/2/45) War department
RM019. Potsdam: unconditional surrender and the Emperor (7/6/45) Assistant Secretary of State Archibald MacLeish to Secretary of State James F. Byrnes
RM020. Potsdam: the Emperor and his monarchy (7/16/45) Cordell Hull, former secretary of state, to Secretary Byrnes
RM021. Potsdam: status of the Emperor (7/18/45) Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
RM022. Potsdam: revised American draft (7/25/45) Secretary Byrnes to Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill
RM023. Potsdam: British amendments (undated: 7/45) British delegation
RM024. Potsdam Declaration (7/26/45)
RM025. Potsdam: Japan's qualified acceptance (8/10/45) Imperial government of Japan
RM026. U. S. accepts Japan's surrender (8/11/45) Secretary Byrnes
RM027. Japan surrenders (8/14/45) Emperor Hirohito: Imperial Rescript
RM028. Japan accepts Potsdam terms (8/14/45) Japanese government
RM029. MacArthur named supreme commander (8/14/45) President Harry S Truman to Japanese government
RM030. Initial post-surrender policy (SWNCC 150/4) (8/29/45) State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee (SWNCC)
RM031. Spiritual disarmament of Japan (9/1/45) Secretary Byrnes
RM032. Instrument of surrender (9/2/45) Japanese government
RM033. Potsdam Declaration not a contract (9/5/45) Acting Secretary of State Dean Acheson to President Truman
RM034. MacArthur's authority (SWNCC 181/2) (9/6/45) SWNCC to General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP)
RM035. Freedom of press and broadcasting (SCAPIN 16) (9/10/45) SCAP
RM036. Try the Emperor as a war criminal (9/18/45) Speeches in the United States Senate
RM038. On preserving the Emperor (10/2/45) General Bonner Fellers
RM039. Restrictions on liberty removed (SCAPIN 93) (10/4/45) SCAP to Japanese government
RM040. Treatment of person of the Japanese Emperor SWNCC 55/3 (Oct. 1945) SWNCC: Subcommittee of the Far East (SFE)
RM041. Five fundamental reforms (10/11/45) SCAP to Japanese government
RM042. Treatment of the Emperor (10/11/45) Assistant Secretary of War Robert Lovett to SWNCC
RM043. Political reform in Japan (discussion) (10/23/45) SWNCC:SFE
RM044. Initial post-surrender directive (JCS 1380/15) (11/3/45) JCS
RM045. Chinese query revision efforts (11/20/45) State Department memorandum
RM046. Welcome to the Far Eastern Advisory Commission (FEAC) (11/26/45) General MacArthur
RM047. Abolition of state shinto (SCAPIN 448) (12/15/45) SCAP to Japanese government
RM048. At work on constitutional reform? (12/21/45) FEAC
RM049. Moscow Agreement establishes Far Eastern Commission (FEC) and Allied Council for Japan (ACJ) (12/27/45) Foreign ministers of Allied governments
RM050. New Year greeting (12/27/45) General MacArthur to Japanese people
RM051. Purge (1/4/46) SCAP to Japanese government
RM052. Abolition of anti-democratic associations (SCAPIN 548) (1/4/46) SCAP to Japanese government
RM053. Discussion of revision efforts with FEAC (1/17/46) SCAP:Government Section (GS)
RM054. On trying the Emperor for war crimes (1/25/46) General MacArthur to General Dwight D. Eisenhower
RM055. Reform of bureaucracy (1/30/46) Milton Esman, SCAP:GS staff, to General Courtney Whitney, chief, SCAP:GS
RM056. Reform of Japanese government (SWNCC 228) (early 1/46) SWNCC

Chapter 3: Early Japanese Efforts at Constitutional Reform
RM057. MacArthur seeks "single word" from Emperor (9/12/45) William Merrill Vories (diary)
RM058. Constitution needs reform (9/18/45) Irie Toshio (Legislation Bureau chief)
RM059. Lecture at Foreign Ministry (9/28/45) Miyazawa Toshiyoshi
RM060. U. S. political adviser seeks guidance (10/4/45) George Atcheson, Jr., office of political adviser (POLAD), State Department representative in Tokyo
RM061. Konoe-MacArthur meeting (10/4/45) Kato Toshio, Central Liaison Office (CLO): memo for the record
RM062. Interim report on constitutional revision (10/5/45) Yabe Teiji
RM063. Takagi urges patience (10/10/45) POLAD memo AND Political developments in Japan (10/9/45) Takagi Yasaka to POLAD
RM064. Prompt and independent reform needed (10/9/45) Foreign Ministry
RM065. POLAD outlines needed revisions (10/9/45) Atcheson to Konoe Fumimaro
RM066. POLAD amplifies on conversation with Konoe (10/9/45) Atcheson to State Department
RM067. Proposals for constitutional reform (10/11/45) Foreign Ministry (Tatsuki Keichi)
RM068. Outline of constitutional amendments (10/11/45) Foreign Ministry
RM069. Emperor considers abdicating (10/11/45) Atcheson to State Department
RM070. Konoe to direct revision inquiry (10/12/45) Atcheson to State Department
rm071">
RM072. Memo on reform (10/22/45) Legislation Bureau
RM073. Konoe requests American assistance (10/24/45) Atcheson to SCAP
RM074. Herald Tribune blasts Konoe, SCAP (10/31/45) Secretary Byrnes to Atcheson, POLAD
RM075. MacArthur repudiates Konoe (11/3/45) Kenpo Chosokai
RM076. Creating the Cabinet committee on constitutional revision (a.k.a. the Matsumoto committee) (undated) Sato Tatsuo
RM077. Political developments; Konoe's role (11/5/45) Atcheson to President Truman
RM078. POLAD's role in constitutional revision? (11/17/45) Atcheson to Undersecretary of State Acheson
RM079. Contacts will cease (11/8/45) Atcheson to State Department
RM080. Conservatives in control (11/11/45) Atcheson to State Department
RM081. No Allies working on revision (11/12/45) Atcheson to State Department
RM082. Confer with Matsumoto Joji? "disapproved" (11/14/45) SCAP:GS
RM083. Outline of revisions (11/23/45) Sasaki Soichi to Emperor Hirohito (replaces B15)
RM084. Japanese comment on revision (11/24/45) Atcheson to State Department
RM085. Cabinet committee's ideas summarized (11/29/45) Atcheson to State Department
RM086. Progress report on Cabinet's efforts (11/29/45) Atcheson to State Department
RM087. Urges U.S. liaison with Cabinet committee (12/13/45) Atcheson to SCAP
RM088. Konoe's proposed revisions (12/45) Konoe to Emperor Hirohito
RM089. Konoe's efforts; role of Emperor (May 30, 1952) Takagi Yasaka
RM090. Konoe's revisions distributed (12/10/45) Yamagata, SCAP staff (G-2)
RM091. Treatment of the Emperor (12/18/45) SWNCC
RM092. Japanese political situation (12/21/45) Matsumoto Shigeharu to POLAD
RM093. Konoe's revisions: summary on Emperor (12/22/45) Atcheson to State Department
RM094. Proposals of Kempo Kenkyokai (12/27/45) Takano Iwasaburo and others
RM095. Communist's 7 points outline (12/30/46) Akahata
RM096. Dispelling false conceptions ("Ningen sengen") (1/1/46) Emperor Hirohito
RM097. "The Emperor's statement pleases me" (1/1/46) General MacArthur
RM098. Origins of Emperor's statement (late 1946; 1965) Harold G. Henderson; R. H. Blyth; Yamanashi Kakunoshin
RM099. Proposed Imperial rescript ("Ningen sengen") (late 1946; 1965) R. H. Blyth
RM100. Memo on the Imperial rescript of January 1946 (6/2/65) Yamanashi Kakunoshin
RM101. Cabinet draft: A (1/4/46) Cabinet Committee (Matsumoto Joji, chair)
RM102. Critique of Kempo Kenkyokai proposals (1/11/46) Milo Rowell, SCAP:GS
RM103. Liberal Party proposes revisions (1/21/46) Liberal Party Committee on Revision
RM104. Liberal Party publishes proposals (press summary) (1/22/46) Asahi shinbun
RM105. Constitution revision plan (1/22/46) Japan Federation of Bar Associations
RM106. Praise for Liberal proposals (1/23/46) Mainichi shinbun
RM107. Takano gives details of own draft (1/26/46) Jiji news service
RM108. Takano Iwasaburo's draft constitution (1/28/46) POLAD to Secretary of State
RM109. Cabinet draft: B (1/46) Matsumoto Committee
RM110. The Mainichi "scoop" (2/1/46) Mainichi shinbun
RM111. Reaction to Cabinet drafts (2/2/46) General Whitney to SCAP
RM112. Reaction to Mainichi "scoop" (press summary) (2/2/46) SCAP:Civil Information and Education Section (CIES)
RM113. Further reaction to "scoop" (press summary) (2/7/46) SCAP:CIES
RM114. "Gist" of Cabinet's revisions (2/8/46) Matsumoto Committee to SCAP
RM115. Explanation of Cabinet's revisions (2/8/46) Matsumoto Committee
RM116. Revisions published by Bar Association, Communist Party, and Takano Iwasaburo (2/9/46) Max Bishop, POLAD, to State Department
RM117. Japanese attitudes toward the Emperor (memo) (2/11/46) Robert Fearey, POLAD, to State Department
RM118. Analysis of "Gist" (2/12/46) SCAP:GS staff to General Whitney
RM119. Japanese critique of Cabinet draft (2/46) Takano Iwasaburo and others
RM120. Progessive Party proposes revisions (2/13/46) Progressive Party
RM121. Progressive proposals summarized (2/15/46) Asahi shinbun
RM122. Socialist Party proposes revisions (2/23/46) Socialist Party
RM123. Socialist proposals (press summary) (2/23 and 2/24/46) Kyodo news service
RM124. Democratic governance and the Constitution (magazine article) (2/46) Minobe Tatsukichi
RM125. Ozaki and his group offer revisions (3/6/46) Kyodo news service
RM126. Ozaki's draft outlined (3/6/46) Asahi shinbun
RM127. Ozaki disclaims authorship, urges delay (3/6/46) Jiji news service
RM128. Nosaka and Ozaki meet (3/6/46) Mainichi shinbun
RM129. Cabinet rejects Matsumoto (3/6/46) Mainichi shinbun
RM130. Non-government drafts analyzed (3/7/46) Robert Fearey, POLAD, to State Department
RM131. Matsumoto interprets amendment clause (Article LXXIII) (3/46) Kyodo news service

Chapter 4: From the American Model to the Cabinet Draft
RM132. Preliminary study (12/6/45) Milo Rowell for SCAP:GS
RM133. Occupation on the right track (1/4/46) Atcheson, POLAD, to President Truman
RM134. Communist party's statement (1/13/46) Japan Communist Party's Central Committee
RM135. Organization chart: Public Administration Branch (1/46) SCAP:GS
RM136. SCAP:GS reorganization (1/28, 2/1/46) General Whitney; Colonel Charles L. Kades
RM137. Reorganization of Public Administration Division (2/1/46) SCAP:CS
RM138. Political situation (1/31/46) Atcheson to State Department
RM139. SCAP not involved in constitutional revision (1/30/46) General MacArthur to FEAC
RM140. Authority to proceed with revision (2/1/46) Whitney to MacArthur Cf. 218
RM141. MacArthur's "musts" (2/3/46) SCAP to GS)
RM142. Kades notes on MacArthur's "musts" (no date: early 2/46?) Colonel Kades
RM143. Whitney commissions GS (2/4/46) SCAP:GS minutes
RM144. Kades amends record of Whitney's instructions (2/4/46)
RM145. Organization into drafting committees (no date) Commander Alfred R. Hussey, Jr.
RM146. First orientation meeting (2/5/46) SCAP:GS, Ruth Ellerman notes
RM147. Second orientation meeting (2/6/46) SCAP:GS, Ellerman notes
RM148. Progress report (2/6/46) Whitney to MacArthur
RM149. Emperor: discussion of draft (2/6/46) SCAP:GS, Ellerman notes
RM150. Emperor: first draft SCAP:GS
RM151. Emperor: second draft. (including ca. 2/8/46 Treaty-making power, treason, amendments and ratification) Ensign Richard A. Poole; Captain George A. Nelson, Jr.
RM152. Diet: discussion of first draft (2/7/46) SCAP:GS, Ellerman notes
RM153. Diet: first draft (ca. 2/8/46) SCAP:GS
RM154. Diet: final draft (ca. 2/9/46) SCAP:GS
RM155. Finance: discussion of draft (2/7/46) SCAP:GS, Ellerman notes
RM156. Finance: first draft (ca. 2/8/46) SCAP:GS
RM157. Finance: final draft (ca. 2/9/46) SCAP:GS
RM158. Executive: first discussion (2/7/46) SCAP:GS, Ellerman notes
RM159. Executive: first draft (ca. 2/8/46) SCAP:GS
RM160. Executive: alternate Article V of first draft (ca. 2/8/46) SCAP:GS
RM161. Executive: second discussion (2/8/46) SCAP:GS, Ellerman notes
RM162. Executive: treaty-making powers SCAP:GS
RM163. Executive: impeachment (ca. 2/6/46) SCAP:GS
RM164. Executive: second draft (ca. 2/8/46) SCAP:GS
RM165. Executive: alternate second draft (ca. 2/8/46) SCAP:GS
RM166. Executive: dissenting opinion (ca. 2/9/46) Milton J. Esman, Jacob I. Miller
RM167. Judiciary: discussion of drafts (2/7/46) SCAP:GS, Ellerman notes
RM168. Judiciary: memo on "main elements" (ca. 2/5/46) SCAP:GS
RM169. Judiciary: Draft A ("Hussey") (ca. 2/6/46) SCAP:GS
RM170. Judiciary: Draft B ("Rowell") (ca. 2/6/46) SCAP:GS
RM171. Judiciary: final draft (ca. 2/9/46) SCAP:GS
RM172. Civil rights: first discussion of draft (2/8/46) SCAP:GS, Ellerman notes
RM173. Civil Rights: first draft SCAP:GS
RM174. Civil rights: second discussion of draft (2/9/46) SCAP:GS, Ellerman notes
RM175. Civil rights: final draft (ca. 2/9/46) SCAP:GS
RM176. Local government: original committee draft (ca. 2/6/46) SCAP:GS
RM177. Local government: discussion of draft (2/11/46) SCAP:GS, Ellerman notes
RM178. Miscellaneous drafts: supreme law (ca. 2/8/46) SCAP:GS
RM179. Miscellaneous drafts: treason (ca. 2/6/46) SCAP:GS
RM180. Miscellaneous drafts: ratification (ca. 2/8/46) SCAP:GS
RM181. Preamble: Draft A (ca. 2/6/46) SCAP:GS
RM182. Preamble: Draft B (ca. 2/6/46) SCAP:GS
RM183. Preamble: Draft C (ca. 2/6/46) SCAP:GS
RM184. Renunciation of war: draft SCAP:GS
RM185. Transmittal of preliminary draft (2/10/46) SCAP:GS/General Whitney to General MacArthur
RM186. Signature sheet (2/12/46) GS staff to General Whitney
RM187. Review of amended drafts (2/12/46) Steering Committee, Ellerman notes
RM188. MacArthur removes an article (2/12/46) Whitney to MacArthur
RM189. U.S. model constitution as submitted to Japanese Cabinet (2/13/46) SCAP:GS
RM190. Explanatory notes (ca. 2/13/46) SCAP:GS
RM191. Transmittal of U. S. model to Japanese Cabinet (2/13/46) Kades, Rowell, Hussey
RM192. "Jeep way" letter (2/15/46) Shirasu Jiro
RM193. Response to "Jeep way" letter (2/16/46) General Whitney
RM194. Narahashi offers a picnic (2/16/46) Rowell (memo) to General Whitney
RM195. Cabinet's revisions explained (2/18/46) Matsumoto Joji to General Whitney
RM196. SCAP threatens to publish its model (2/18/46) General Whitney (memo for record)
RM197. Japanese Cabinet requests an extension (2/19/46) Whitney memo to SCAP
RM198. Account of Cabinet meetings (2/19 and 2/21/46) Ashida diary
RM199. Be firm (2/21/46) Whitney to MacArthur
RM200. Shidehara reports to Cabinet on meeting with MacArthur (2/21/46) Ashida diary
RM201. Matsumoto's record of meeting with Whitney (2/22/46) Matsumoto Joji
RM202. Matsumoto reports to Cabinet on meeting with Whitney (2/22/46) Ashida diary
RM203. Matsumoto Joji and Yoshida Shigeru meet with SCAP:GS (2/22/46) SCAP:GS transcript
RM204. Will Narahashi be added to Cabinet? (2/25/46) Whitney to SCAP
RM205. Narahashi picnic: "furious struggle" within the Cabinet (2/25/46) Kades, Hussey memo to Whitney
RM206. Hani Setsuko remembers seeing SCAP draft at University of Tokyo seminar (pre-3/6/46) Hani Setsuko
RM207. Revision effort stalled (3/3/46) Mainichi shinbun
RM208. First Japanese draft (3/4/46) Matsumoto Joji and Legislation Bureau
RM209. Comments on first Japanese draft (no date: early March, 1946) Andrew Grajdanzev and John Maki
RM210. Comments (handwritten) on first Japanese draft (3/5/46) Alfred Oppler
RM211. Note explaining first Japanese draft (3/2/46) Matsumoto Joji
RM212. Matsumoto's 1954 testimony about first Japanese draft (1954) Matsumoto Joji
RM213. Matsumoto on drafting the Constitution
RM214. March 4th and 5th drafting session (1950s testimony) Irie, Matsumoto, Sato
RM215. Account of marathon drafting session (3/4, 3/5/46) Sato papers
RM216. Account of Cabinet meetings (3/5, 3/6/46) Ashida diary
RM217. Emperor meets with Shidehara, Matsumoto; agrees to issue rescript (3/5/46) Kinoshita, Diary of an Imperial Aide
RM218. Account of March 5th Cabinet meeting (1950s) Matsumoto Joji
RM219. Account of March 5 Cabinet meetings (1950s, from contemporary notes) Irie Toshio
RM220. Account of March 5 Cabinet meetings (1950s, from contemporary notes) Sato Tatsuo
RM221. Interview with Kades concerning March 4-5, 1946, meeting (1973) Dale Helegers
RM222. Comment on March 4-5, 1946, meeting (1997) Beate Gordon
RM223. Adjusting March 5 draft (3/6/46) Sato Tatsuo
RM224. Why government draft took the form of a "yokoo" (outline) (1952) Irie Toshio
RM225. Second government draft (3/6/46) SCAP:GS and agents of the Japanese Cabinet
RM226. Endorsement by General MacArthur (3/6/46) SCAP
RM227. Discussion of equal protection clause (3/6/46) Sato Tatsuo
RM228. Emperor Hirohito's endorsement (3/5/46) Imperial Rescript
RM229. Prime Minister Shidehara's statement on March 6 draft (3/6/46)
RM231. Narahashi certifies drafts for Hussey (3/6/46) Narahashi Wataru
RM230. Yoshida signals acceptance (3/7/46) Yoshida to Kurusu
RM232. Imperial rescript sent to Washington (3/8/46) POLAD to State Department
RM233. Write constitution in colloquial Japanese (petition) (3/26/46) People's Language Reform Movement
RM234. Account of writing the draft in colloquial language (5/50) Irie Toshio
RM235. Initial reactions (press releases) (3/6 and 3/7/46) Japanese news services
RM236. Communist Party reacts (3/7/46) Japanese news services
RM237. Three "turning points" for Cabinet (3/7/46) Jiji press
RM238. Early reaction (press summary) (3/7/46) SCAP:CIES
RM239. Status of draft? (3/8/46) FEC: US representative
RM240. Reaction to Article 9 (3/8/46) Kyodo news service
RM241. Editorials and party reactions (press summary) (3/8/46) SCAP:CIES
RM242. Party critiques (3/8/46) Asahi shinbun
RM243. Imperial Household property (3/9/46) Asahi shinbun
RM244. Favorable reaction (press summary) (3/9/46) SCAP:CIES
RM245. U.S press reactions (press summary) (3/10 and 3/12/46) SCAP files: source not known
RM246. Policy on SCAP role (3/10/46) War Department to SCAP
RM247. Forthcoming elections, Article 9 and purge (press summary) (3/11/46) SCAP:CIES
RM248. SCAP's authority for constitutional reform (3/12/46) Charles Kades
RM249. Why SCAP expressed approval of March 6 draft (3/12/46) SCAP to War Department
RM250. Secretary of State on FEC role (3/12/46) Byrnes
RM251. Fault-finding, insinuation (press summary) (3/14/46) SCAP:CIES
RM252. Criticism in Japanese press (press summary) (3/16/46) SCAP:CIES
RM253. FEC questions timing of elections (3/22/46) General Frank McCoy (FEC) to SCAP
RM254. The urgency of electing a new Diet (3/24/46) SCAP to McCoy
RM255. Japanese request signature copies (3/22/46) Kades to Whitney
RM256. Creating Provisional Legislative Investigation Committee (PLIC) (3/26/46) GS
RM257. Directive on draft constitution: FEC reserves judgment (3/27/46) FEC, via JCS
RM258. Role of the FEC (no date: mid-3/46) State Department to General McCoy
RM259. U. S. policy on adoption (no date: late 3/46) State Department
RM260. Observations and queries on 3/6 draft (no date: 4/2/46?) Japanese negotiators
RM261. First conference on 3/6 draft (4/6/46) Central Liaison Office (CLO) Political Division
RM262. Conference on 3/6 draft (4/2/46) Kades and Hussey
RM263. Party leaders criticize March 6 draft (4/3/46) Mainichi shinbun
RM264. SCAP welcomes Allied Council to Tokyo (4/5/46) General MacArthur to ACJ
RM265. Treatment of the Emperor (SWNCC 209/1) (4/11/46) SWNCC
RM266. Memo on international issues in March 6 draft (4/5/46) Foreign Ministry
RM267. Proposed revisions to 3/6 draft (no date) authors unknown
RM268. Memo on proposals to revise 3/6 draft (4/8/46) Hussey to Whitney
RM269. Second conference on March 6 draft (4/9/46) CLO: Kato's notes
RM270. Supplementary notes on second conference (4/9/46) Foreign Ministry
RM271. More queries on March 6 draft (4/9/46) Japanese negotiators
RM272. Further observations on March 6 draft (early 4/46) Japanese negotiators
RM273. "Grave danger" of FEC disapproval (4/9/46) General McCoy to SCAP
RM274. FEC requests liaison (4/10/46) FEC resolution
RM275. The course of revision (4/13/46) SCAP to FEC
RM276. Third conference on March 6 draft (4/12/46) CLO: Kato's notes
RM277. Problems relating to foreign affairs (ca 4/15/46) Hagiwara Toru
RM278. Fourth conference on March 6 draft (4/15/46) CLO: Kato's notes
RM279. Cabinet proposes various amendments; Kades replies (3/46? 4/46?) SCAP:GS
RM280. April Draft (April 17 text)
RM281. SCAP blasts FEC; State Department outlines U.S. position (4/15/46) State Department
RM282. Analysis of MacArthur's telegram for Department of State (4/19/46) J. C. Vincent
RM283. Message to SCAP from McCoy (4/20/46) Vincent to Secretary of State
RM284. U.S. member opposes FEC intervention (5/13/46) General McCoy
RM285. FEC directive: principles for adoption of a new constitution (5/23/46) FEC, via JCS
RM286. Kades memoir (1984) Takemae Eiji
RM287. Privy Council: first meeting (4/22/46)

Chapter 5: The Debates: from Draft to Constitution
RM288. Privy Council: second meeting (4/22/46)
RM289. Colegrove's analysis of FEC (4/24/46) Professor Kenneth Colgerove
RM290. Report of 1946 election (no date, 1948) SCAP:GS
RM291. MacArthur approves election results (4/25/46) General MacArthur
RM292. Public opinion surveys (May, 1946 through January, 1947) Tatsuki Yasuo, summarizing newspaper polls
RM293. Privy Council: third meeting (5/3/46)
RM294. Draft revision criticized (3/8, 3/9, 4/4/46) Professors Asai Kiyoshi, Takano Iwasaburo, Sugimori Kojiro, Hirano Yoshitari, and Suzuki Yasuzo
RM295. Privy Council: fourth meeting (5/6/46)
RM296. Privy Council: fifth meeting (5/8/46)
RM297. Request to send SCAP representative to FEC (5/8/46)
RM298. Privy Council: sixth meeting (5/10/46)
RM299. Privy Council: seventh meeting (5/13/46)
RM300. Privy Council: eighth meeting (5/15/46)
RM301. On obtaining FEC approval (5/15/46) Howard C. Petersen, Assistant Secretary of War
RM302. SCAP challenges FEC role (5/18/46)
RM303. Warning against mob disorder (5/20/46) General MacArthur
RM304. Privy Council: ninth meeting (5/29/46)
RM305. Privy Council: tenth meeting (6/1/46)
RM306. Privy Council: eleventh meeting (6/3/46)
RM307. Privy Council, with one dissent, votes approval (6/8/46)
RM308. U.S. policy on adoption of revised constitution (6/11/46)
RM309. Soviets seek unicameral legislature (6/7/46) via FEC
RM310. British objections to provisions on finance (4/14/46) via FEC
RM311. Emperor's rescript: on submitting draft-revision to House of Representatives (6/20/46) Emperor Hirohito
RM312. Draft revision, as submitted to House of Representatives (6/20/46)
RM313. Call for "untrammelled debate" (6/21/46) General MacArthur
RM314. The contribution of women (6/21/46) General MacArthur; Kato Shizue
RM315. Comment on opening Diet debate (entry of 6/25/46) Ashida diary
RM316. On the transition to a new Constitution (6/25/46) Cyrus Peake et al.
RM317. House of Representatives: plenary (6/25/46)
RM318. Proposed resolutions for review (6/26/46) FEC
RM319. House of Representatives: plenary (6/26/46)
RM320. House of Representatives: plenary (6/27/46)
RM321. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: first meeting (6/28/46)
RM322. House of Representatives: plenary (6/28/46)
RM323. Press summary (6/29/46) SCAP:CIES
RM324. House of Representatives: plenary (6/29/46)
RM325. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: second meeting (7/1/46)
RM326. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: third meeting (7/2/46)
RM327. Directive on constitutional form (7/2/46) FEC via JCS
RM328. House of Representatives: plenary (7/2/46)
RM329. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: fourth meeting (7/3/46)
RM330. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: fifth meeting (7/4/46)
RM331. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: sixth meeting (7/5/46)
RM332. House of Representatives: plenary (7/5/46)
RM333. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision; seventh meeting (7/6/46)
RM334. House of Representatives: plenary (7/6/46)
RM335. Minpo editorial on translations issues in draft Constitution (7/7/46) Matsumoto Shigeharu
RM336. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: eighth meeting (7/8/46)
RM337. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: ninth meeting (7/9/46)
RM338. Summary of discussions in Diet (7/9/46) SCAP:GS
RM339. House of Representatives: plenary (7/9/46)
RM340. Kades meets with Irie and Sato (7/10/46) Kato: memo for the record
RM341. GHQ staff responds to FEC "basic principles" (7/10/46) Frank Hays et al.
RM342. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: tenth meeting (7/11/46)
RM343. Warning: Japanese and English versions differ (7/11/46) Peake, Bisson, Colegrove
RM344. Proposed changes in Japanese version (no date) GS staff
RM345. House of Representatives: plenary (7/11/46)
RM346. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: eleventh meeting (7/12/46)
RM347. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: twelfth meeting (7/13/46)
RM348. House of Representatives: plenary (7/13/46)
RM349. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: thirteenth meeting (7/15/46)
RM350. Kades meets with Legislation Bureau officials (7/10,15,16/46) Kato: memo for the record
RM351. Communist Party's draft revision (7/15/46) Akahata via SCAP
RM352. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: fourteenth meeting (7/16/46)
RM353. Ashida welcomes Colegrove to meeting (7/16/46) Ashida diary
RM354. Socialists break off negotiations with communists (7/16/46)
RM355. U.S. policy on authority for revision (7/16/46)
RM356. House of Representatives: plenary (7/16/46)
RM357. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: fifteenth meeting (7/17/46)
RM358. Kades discusses Diet debates with Kanamori (7/17/46) Kato: memo for the record
RM359. Suspicions about Japanese translations (7/17/46) Whitney to SCAP
RM360. House of Representatives: Committee on revision: sixteenth meeting (7/18/46)
RM361. Six principles on constitutional reform (7/18/46) Kanamori to Kades
RM362. House of Representatives: plenary (7/18/46)
RM363. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: seventeenth meeting (7/19/46)
RM364. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: eighteenth meeting (7/20/46)
RM365. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: nineteenth meeting (7/22/46)
RM366. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: twentieth meeting (7/23/46)
RM367. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: first meeting (7/23/46)
RM368. Kades and Kanamori review Diet debates (7/23/46) Kato: memo for the record
RM369. Second Kades-Kanamori meeting: another account (7/23/46) Irie Toshio
RM370. House of Representatives: plenary (7/23/46)
RM371. Proposed amendments (translation found in Williams Papers) (7/24/46) Social Democratic Party
RM372. Proposed amendments (translation found in Hussey Papers) (late July, 1947) Social Democratic Party
RM373. Provisions on Emperor "obscure" (press summary) (7/25/46)
RM374. House of Representatives: plenary (7/25/46)
RM375. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: second meeting (7/26/46)
RM376. Proposed amendments: translation a (7/26/46) Progressive Party
RM377. Proposed amendments: translation b (late July, 1946) Progressive Party
RM378. Proposed amendments (late July, 1946) Liberal Party
RM379. Proposed amendments (late July, 1946) Cooperative Democratic Party
RM380. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: third meeting (7/27/46)
RM381. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: fourth meeting (7/29/46)
RM382. Kades-Irie meeting: FEC demands (7/29/46) Kato: memo for the record
RM383. Perfection versus respect for Japanese role (7/30/46) General MacArthur to FEC
RM384. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: fifth meeting (7/30/46)
RM385. House of Representatives: plenary (7/30/46)
RM386. House of Representatives: Subcommitte on Revision: sixth meeting (7/31/46)
RM387. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: seventh meeting (8/1/46)
RM388. Negotiations over Article 98 (treaties) (8/46) Treaty Bureau
RM389. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: eighth meeting (8/2/46)
RM390. Kades, Irie and others review Subcommittee revisions (8/5/46) Fujisaki: notes
RM391. Article 30 needs amending (8/5/46) GS staff
RM392. Review of Subcommittee revisions (8/6/46) Yamada: notes
RM393. Allies' demands on Imperial properties (8/6/46) Whitney to Irie CLO Yamada: notes
RM394. Meetings on imperial property (8/46) Ashida, Shidehara, Justin Williams (Ashida Diary)
RM395. Judicial review: uncertainties (8/6/46) T.L. Blakemore (SCAP:GS)
RM396. House of Representatives: plenary (8/6/46)
RM397. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: ninth meeting (8/8/46)
RM398. On revoking the Imperial Rescript on Education (8/8/46) Blakemore
RM399. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: tenth meeting (8/10/46)
RM400. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: eleventh meeting (8/13/46)
RM401. Must cabinet members be chosen from the Diet? (8/13/46) FEC via State Department
RM402. Filipino praises MacArthur (8/14/46) Carlos P. Romulo
RM403. Amendments made to draft Constitution since 4/18/46 (8/22/46) MacArthur to Secretary of War
RM404. Third conference on subcommittee revisions (8/15/46) Yamada notes
RM405. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: twelfth meeting (8/16/46)
RM406. Diet-government conflict over accepting Article 84, on Imperial property (8/17/46) Ashida Diary
RM407. Ashida and others confront Yoshida on Article 84 (8/18/46) Ashida Diary
RM408. Imperial Household income; women in families (press summary) (8/18/46) SCAP:CIES
RM409. New SCAP demands on Articles 63 and 64 discussed (8/19/46) Ashida Diary
RM410. MacArthur summons Yoshida over "civilian" ministers provision (8/19/46) Irie Toshio
RM411. House of Representatives: Subcommittee on Revision: thirteenth meeting (8/20/46)
RM412. House of Representatives: Committee on Revision: twenty-first meeting (8/21/46)
RM413. Criticism of attempt to save Emperor's property (press summary) (8/21/46) SCAP:CIES
RM414. Passage of Draft by House subcommittee hailed (press summary) (8/22/46) SCAP:CIES
RM415. House of Representatives: plenary (8/22/46)
RM416. House of Representatives: plenary (8/23/46)
RM417. Draft revision, as approved by House of Representatives (8/24/46)
RM418. May the Diet amend the draft? (8/25/46) Alfred C. Oppler, SCAP:GS
RM419. Struggle over replacing Higai Senzo as Speaker of the House (8/25/46) Ashida Diary
RM420. House of Representatives: plenary (8/24/46)
RM421. House of Peers: plenary (8/26/46)
RM422. Peers must make no "undemocratic" changes (press summary) (8/27/46) SCAP:CIES
RM423. House of Peers: plenary (8/27/46)
RM424. House version is "final draft" (8/28/46) General Whitney to Washington
RM425. Achievements of first year (8/28/46) SCAP
RM426. House of Peers: plenary (8/28/46)
RM427. Are women prepared for emancipation? (press summary) (8/29/46) SCAP:CIES
RM428. House of Peers: plenary (8/29/46)
RM429. The "national polity" has been altered (press summary) (8/30/46) SCAP:CIES
RM430. House of Peers: plenary (8/30/46)
RM431. House of Peers: Special Committee: first meeting (8/31/46)
RM432. Imperial estates will be transfered to the State (8/31/46) Atcheson to FEC
RM433. House of Peers: Special Committee: second meeting (9/2/46)
RM434. The meaning of Japan's defeat (9/2/46) General MacArthur
RM435. House of Peers: Special Committee: third meeting (9/3/46)
RM436. House of Peers: Special Committe: fourth meeting (9/4/46)
RM437. House of Peers: Special Committee: fifth meeting (9/5/46)
RM438. British seek opportunity for formal approval (9/5/46) General Hilldring (SWNCC) to General McCoy (FEC)
RM439. House of Peers: Special Committee: sixth meeting (9/6/46)
RM440. Peers' amendments (9/6/46)
RM441. U.K. representative criticizes SCAP (9/5 AND 9/6/46) H. A. Graves, Blakeslee
RM442. U.S. position on FEC review (9/6/46) War Department to General McCoy
RM443. House of Peers: plenary (9/6/46)
RM444. House of Peers: Special Committee: seventh meeting (9/7/46)
RM445. House of Peers: Special Committee: eighth meeting (9/9/46)
RM446. House of Peers: Special Committee: ninth meeting (9/10/46)
RM447. Composition of House of Councillors (9/10/46) General Whitney
RM448. House of Peers: Special Committee: tenth meeting (9/11/46)
RM449. FEC nations indicate vote on revision (9/10, 9/11/46) George Blakeslee to General McCoy
RM450. House of Peers: Special Committee: eleventh meeting (9/12/46)
RM451. Kanamori's position on the appointment of a prime minister (9/12/46) Matsumoto Gaku
RM452. What if Diet and Cabinet disagree? (mid-September, 1946) Sato Tatsuo
RM453. U.K. approves, pending action in House of Peers (9/12/46) Sir George Sansom to Blakeslee
RM454. Copies sent to Washington (9/13/46) Whitney; Hauge
RM455. House of Peers: Special Committee: twelfth meeting (9/13/46)
RM456. House of Peers: Special Committee: thirteenth meeting (9/14/46)
RM457. House of Peers: Special Committee: fourteenth meeting (9/16/46)
RM458. House of Peers: Special Committee: fifteenth meeting (9/17/46)
RM459. British insist on Imperial divestiture (9/17/46)
RM460. POLAD responds to British concerns about Imperial property (9/19/46) George Atcheson, Jr.
RM461. House of Peers: Special Committee: sixteenth meeting (9/18/46)
RM462. House of Peers: Special Committe: seventeenth meeting (9/19/46)
RM463. Response to criticisms of the draft revision (9/19/46) General McCoy to FEC
RM464. House of Peers: Special Committee: eighteenth meeting (9/20/46)
RM465. Praise for local government reforms (9/20/46) SCAP
RM466. House of Peers: Special Committee: nineteenth meeting (9/21/46)
RM467. House of Peers: Special Committee: twentieth meeting (9/23/46)
RM468. House of Peers: Special Committee: twenty-first meeting (9/25/46)
RM469. House of Peers: Special Committee: twenty-second meeting (9/26/46)
RM470. Conference on Articles 15 and 66 (9/27/46) Fujisaki: memo
RM471. Negotiation on Articles 15 and 66 (9/24/46) Fujisaki: memo
RM472. House of Peers: Special Committee: twenty-third meeting (9/28/46)
RM473. Peers subcommittee's secret deliberations (9/28/46-10/2/46) House of Peers
RM474. Discussion of Article 9 tabled (9/30/46) State Department (Hugh Borton to John Carter Vincent)
RM475. House of Peers: Special Committee: twenty-fourth meeting (10/3/46)
RM476. House of Representatives: plenary (10/3/46)
RM477. House of Peers: plenary (10/5/46)
RM478. House of Peers: plenary (10/6/46)
RM479. Editor criticizes judicial recall provision (10/6 and 10/7/46) SCAP:CIES
RM480. House of Representatives: plenary (10/7/46)
RM481. Text, as passed by House of Peers (10/6/46) and House of Representatives (10/7/46), and promulgated by Emperor Hirohito (11/3/46)
RM482. Electing the House of Councillors (10/7/46) Frank E. Hays
RM483. Ashida favors indirect election for House of Councillors (10/7/46) Frank E. Hays
RM484. Editors call for spirit of democracy (10/8/46) SCAP:CIES
RM485. Editors assess revision (10/9/46) SCAP:CIES
RM486. Interpretation of new Constitution (10/46) Yamaura Kanoichi
RM487. Lese majesty decision commended (10/9/46) SCAP
RM488. "Bunmin," new word for "civilian" (10/10/46) Nelson Johnson, FEC director to General McCoy
RM489. Directive: ministers must be civilian (9/25, 10/10/46) FEC via State Department
RM490. British editorial lauds new Constitution (10/10/46) U. S. Embassy, London
RM491. Privy Council: twelfth meeting (10/19/46)
RM492. Privy Council: thirteenth meeting (10/21/46)
RM493. Chinese mission complains about timing of promulgation (10/25/46) Chu Shih-ming
RM494. POLAD replies to Chinese concerns (10/31/46) George Atcheson, Jr.
RM495. GHQ exercises censorship (11/1-11/3/46) Whitney; Kades
RM496. Directive: referendum may be required (10/28/46) FEC via SWNCC)
RM497. Warning against promising a referendum (11/1/46) General MacArthur to JCS
RM498. Schedule for promulgation ceremony (11/3/46)
RM499. Imperial Rescript: "I rejoice...." (11/3/46) Emperor Hirohito
RM500. Message on promulgation (no date: early 11/46) SCAP
RM501. Roundup of opinion in magazines (11/14/46) SCAP:CIES
RM502. Analysis of text (11/46) SCAP:GS
RM503. Comparison of March 6 and November 3 texts SCAP:GS
RM504. Against publicizing FEC's requirements (11/20/46) General MacArthur and FEC
RM505. Review of a new Japanese Constitution: FEC policy decision (10/17/46) FEC to MacArthur
RM506. Prime Minister seeks to retain Imperial protections (12/27/46) Yoshida to MacArthur
RM507. Prime Minister's request denied (2/25/46) MacArthur to Yoshida
RM508. FEC may require formal review and referendum (1/3/47) SCAP to Yoshida
RM509. FEC reservations "carefully noted" (1/6/47) Yoshida to SCAP
RM510. SCAP policy on Japanese review of Constitution (1/9/47) Whitney
RM511. Reception of Constitution: analysis of first Diet of new regime (mid-May, 1947) SCAP and newspapers, via FEC
RM512. Imperial House Law (1/16/47)

Chapter 6: Implementation
RM513. Imperial House Economy Law (1/16/47)
RM514. Cabinet Law (1/16/47)
RM515. Round-up of implementing legislation needed (no date: early March, 1947)
RM516. Petition Law (3/13/47)
RM517. Fundamental Law of Education (3/31/47)
RM518. Imperial House Office Law (4/18/47)
RM519. Validity of Cabinet orders (4/18/47)
RM520. Law on electoral examination of judges (11/20/47)
RM521. Law abolishing Home Ministry (12/26/47)
RM522. Rescinding the Imperial Rescript on Education (6/19/48)
RM523. Election law for the House of Councillors (8/19/48)

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