Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II

by John W. Dower

The censors translated and then marked “Suppress” the following poem scheduled for the February 1948 issue of Kaizō: Whenever the time comes, “The meal is ready, grandfather, The meal is ready, grandmother,” we say: And a stale meal is carried to grandfather and grandmother, Consisting only of “haikyu” [rations]. When anything is said against it, They’re told to keep their mouths shut and eat it. In this way, Their existence is just like that of the nation. The nation is feasting on freedom, And is feasting as though it is trying to see How long it can live no matter how it lives. That is “haikyu.” One morning, It was still too early to eat. The peaches were blooming in the garden When grandfather and grandmother went down to the garden; They were stretching their bent backs And were yawning toward Heaven.32