TABLE 70 
Status of Rationing of Sea Food in the Large Cities As of April 1944 
Tokyo . The method of distrihution is “free registration” according 
to units of neighborhood associations. Among the 48 branches, 
7 are under combined operation and the rest under a combined 
selling system. 
Osaka . Fish distribution is handled with street associations as 
units. 
Yokohama . District distribution system is applied, with combined sell¬ 
ing and combined handling. 
Kyoto . 
Kobe. 
Nagoya . 
“Free registration” system with neighborhood units is applied. 
A change from the individual operation to combined selling 
system is being considered. 
District distribution system is employed. Selling is not 
combined, but transportation fees are computed under a 
combined system. 
District distribution system is employed. Combined selling 
system and individual operation are both practiced. 
Source: I.D.C. Abstracts, April 1944. 
Note: As the above indicates several systems were in use in the large 
cities for the distribution of marine foods at this time. According to 
one source the government food control corporation (Foodstuffs Control 
Corporation) distributed through neighborhood associations while private 
control associations operated through regular wholesale and retail out¬ 
lets. In general, in the large cities the local distribution of 
rationed foods to the consumer was through neighborhood associations 
(tonari gumi). Neighborhood associations are the smallest of many 
bodies and organizations by which life in Japan is regulated. Each 
neighborhood association is composed of 10 families presided over by a 
neighborhood group head. 
Also indicated above is the fact that much of the selling and 
transportation of marine foods was done by “combined operations,“ 
presumably under close government supervision. 
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