The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-04-11
By K. YAMAGATA. (shanghail

The number of strikes in Japan
during 1928 showed a decrease of
abouV40 per cent from the previous
year. Statistics compiled by the
Ministry of Home Affairs show
that during the first eleven months
of the year there were $50 strikes
involving 74,545 workers. This is
a decrease of 263 strikes and 1000
in the number of strikers. The pre-
liminary investigation for December
does not alter appreciably the totals
for the entire year.
Number of Strikes.
Classifying the strikes during the
past year the Ministry found that
178 were due to demands for in
creased wa gss, ia were concerned
with the bonus question and rs arose
out of attempts of the employers to
cut wages. The Noda strike, which
lasted over four months and finally
ended in failure due to the tire ach-
erous deeds of Matsuoka, Bunji
Suzuki and company, was forced to
a settlement early in the year. Since
that time there was hardly dispute
in which it could be said that the
workers got the best of it. An ex-
ception was the strike of the Sea-
men against the unsubsidized steam
ship companies. This ended in June
when the strikers were granted the
most important of their demands.
The chief reasons for the de-
crease in strikes during last year in
Japan are as follows: 1.-The gen.
eral industrial depression; 2-the
systematic suppression of strikes
by armed forces; 3-ruthless perse-
cution of the militant trade unions.
For instance the dissolution of the
Hyogikai LEFT Wing Trade Union
Federation ETC.; systematic mass
arrests of revolutionary trade union
lists and their Imprisonment for long
terms. 1t is also noteworthy that
though the number of strikes de-
creased, the strikes were fought
with greater determination and en-
durance than ever before, undoubt-
edly indicating sharpening of the
class struggle.
Revolutionary Tendencies Manifested
The growing unrest in Japan was
very sharply demonstrated during
t he Mikado's enforcement last
November, when, though all precau-
tions had been taken by the police
and over ten thousand militants
rounded up and thrown into jails,
mass demonstrations, nevertheless,
took place.
There were such revolutionary out
breaks in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and
other places on November eleventh
and twelfth eliminating in open
street battles with the police and
soldiers that resulted in tens of
casualties on both sides. Of course,
this was all hushed up by the strict
censorship, being reported only by
the Chinese press and several of
the English language papers in
Shanghai.
There is other proof of this tend
ency for example, though all the
suspected Communists are being
kept in Jail with the newly-enacted
Death Penalty Law for Communists
hanging over their heads, Commun-
list influence in Japan is spreading
rapidly. This was clearly expressed
in the recent Reorganization Con-
ference of the Ronoto (Workers and
Peasants Party and the mass pro-
test demonstration and armed clash
between the police and the members
Of the Ronoto in Tokyo.
Not less important were the
clashes between the police and the
members of the Ronoto over the dis
solution Of local membership
meeting of the Ronoto in Tokyo the
previous week. Of like significance