Distancing from Politics

Resisting argument on his responsibility in decision about opening and closing the World War II, it described Showa Emperor, Hirohito, as a proponent of peace. Imperial Household Agency released the annals of Hirohito, who reigned over turbulent Showa era. The document with twelve thousand pages mostly introduced Hirohito as a moderate man, alienating him from politics. Although there is no new finding on important decision related to the war, the document has proven a first-class material for discovering history in fatal moments for Japan.

There are three points historians focused on, decision of opening war and closing war and Hirohito’s idea on his status for post-war era. Mainichi Shimbun highlighted the fact that the annals recognized a memorandum of Tomohiko Tomita, Grand Steward of IHA between 1978 and 1988. According to the memo, Hirohito rejected his visit to Yasukuni Shrine because of enshrinement of A-class war criminals.

The annals realize that Hirohito talked about the issue with Tomita on April 28^th, 1988. “He mentioned enshrinement of so-called A-class war criminals and visiting there,” say the annals without any substance. In addition, the document acknowledges breaking report of Nikkei in 2006, which revealed Hirohito’s reluctance of visiting Yasukuni. Mainichi took the description as endorsement of Tomita Memo.

Decisions on war have nothing new. Although Hirohito slightly resisted opening war against United States and United Kingdom with chanting a verse of Meiji Emperor, Mutsuhito, in Imperial Conference in September 1941, he did not say anything about final decision on December 1^st, seven days before Pearl Harbor attack. It is interpreted as his recognition of constitutional monarchy. On the other hand, decision of ending war is described as under Hirohito’s leadership, as historians had already found.

The annals revealed new details on possible abdication. Hirohito asked one of his aides, right after the declaration of unconditional surrender, whether Japan could avoid handing war criminals over the United Nations, if he would abdicate. An expert supposed the record on abdication as an evidence of Hirohito’s recognition on his own responsibility.

Because the annals were edited on the basis of complete disclosure, there is a possibility that some details have not been opened to the public. To study how the Emperor involved in the devastative war, it is necessary for the government to reveal more documents that contributed to the edition of the annals. As Hirohito was on imperial monarchy, his son, Akihito, is upholding post-war democracy. Concerning people’s sovereignty in current constitution, it is necessary for the government to return people’s assets.