The Wave

Under orders from SCAP to balance its budget, the Japanese government had decided to raise taxes, end subsidies to manufacturers and fire 270,000 government employees. To Sadanori Shimoyama, president of the Japanese National Railways Corp., fell the job of starting off the mass dismissals. Shimoyama joked with friends: "With these kubikiri [dismissals --literally, "neck cuttings"], I may get it in the neck myself."

The Communist-led railway union said that it would fight the firings "to the end." Angry workmen loosened switches, cut wires and attempted train derailments. One rain-soaked night last week, Shimoyama's body, with one arm and both legs cut off, was found lying across the tracks in Tokyo's Adachi ward.

Horrified Japanese blamed Red agitation for inspiring the murder. Communist leaders backtracked, delayed strike and slowdown plans on all fronts. Sharp public indignation and the threat of a showdown with either SCAP or the government did not fit into the plans of dapper, greying Communist Strategist Sanzo Nozaka.

Democratic Discontent. Last week, in a remarkably frank interview, Nozaka revealed these plans to TIME Correspondent Sam Welles. Said the Communist leader: "We now oppose violent revolution. We can do much with very democratic and peaceful methods . . . We can use the people's discontent."

Nozaka's small, sleepy eyes twinkled. "Where workers are to be discharged, we oppose it and they back our struggle whatever their politics. There will be spontaneous wildcat strikes all over Japan all summer--locally led, of course. Workers will slow down. They will come late and go early. They will demand the exact letter of the law of the safety regulations. All these tactics can be very effective. We don't need big strikes or demonstrations if we have enough small ones."

"Farmers," he added, "are running into debt because of low government prices for their forced food deliveries; they like our support of higher prices. Many merchants and businessmen are going bankrupt because of high taxes, so they join our mass demonstrations for low taxes . . . Present conditions have caused a clear left tendency."

Economic Line. Nozaka might have mentioned another factor: shrewd, persistent plugging of the line that the U.S. and ECA countries will have an early economic collapse has impressed many non-Communist Japanese.

Throwing around the name of Nozaka's good friend Mao Tse-tung has been even more effective. With Japan's recovery vitally dependent on China trade, certain businessmen have seen fit to invite Red leaders to Tokyo's swank Industry Club. Osaka manufacturers have formed a Marxist study group and are contributing to party coffers. Out in public, Communist orators shout that China shows Asia's "wave of the future." Party organ Akahata, riding the wave, claims that China trade would gain Japan commercial independence (from the U.S.) and would help overthrow the Yoshida government.

Communist Nozaka, riding out the storm raised by Shimoyama's murder, was happy last week with the quiet intensity of a zealot who feels his vision taking form. Said he: "This summer will see the first wave of the crisis in Japan."

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