Such stupid war propaganda. It's been 77 years since the end of WWII, and lots of secrets have been declassified. People still do not read them.... Amazing.
Don't spread LIES! The wars in 1931 and 1937 in Manchuria and China were actually caused by repeated atrocities by Chinese. They killed Japanese civilians as well as military personnel many many times, following the order from the Comintern. Seeing Japanese men, women, elders, and even small children brutally slaughtered by Chinese, our rage exploded and our Military decided to take action to save and defend our civilians. Incidentally, the baby of 18:28 has already been known to have been brought by camera crew (Americans in my memory) for the photographing.
In addition, "the Nanjing Massacre" is your fantasy. In order to spread bad images of Japan and later justify your atrocities in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and many other Japanese cities and on the Pacific islands, Americans have made efforts to create fabricated films like this, funded by Chinese.
Emperor Hirohito was the third embodiment of Imperial Japan (1868-1945), which meant that everything Japan was, and did, was either a direct, or indirect reflection of the Emperor; that was the nature of the State in Imperial Japan!
I taught English and lived in Japan from December 1965 to September 1967. Many of the students were my age. Their excitement to create a new, better Japan was always at the core of our many conversations. I left Japan on the verge of their great economic breakout that was just beginning as I left for the USA. Today I am nearly 80 years old. I look at how many of my favorite haunts have been transformed into something very new. I am happy to see that the Japan that was imagined by my students has been accomplished many times over. The very good news for me today is this modern nation hasn't abandoned many of its great cultural conditions, but joined the west in many of theirs the decades I have been gone.
What a momentous experience you must have had. I also taught English in Japan, from 2005-2008. I taught in an Eikaiwa in the suburbs of Tokyo, both children's classes and adult classes. I'll never forget one particular class I taught on Saturday mornings. It was simply called "Discussion Class," a class for high level speakers. It was the only class I didn't prepare a strict lesson plan for - I simply came to each class with a topic or a news article that the class read, and the students then talked and discussed for an hour. The class was made up of Salarymen in their 50's and 60's. All high up in their companies. One man was the president of his company, and he was the oldest man. Needless to say, he was the Alpha. He was confident and calm, intelligent and discerning, eloquent and outspoken. He usually had the final say on controversial subjects. It was interesting to watch the balance of power among these men, insisting their opinions in English, a kind of neutral turf because it's not the Japanese language, and yet maintain 先輩後輩 rules amongst themselves. And here I was, this kid in his early to mid 20's acting as English coach and referee of the discussions. And they were interested in me and my perspectives on topics and issues - the young foreigner. They all came to practice English but they all came curious to know more about me. Although I was the "teacher" of the class and obviously the English expert, I felt very much their student in every other regard. We had a wonderful dynamic. Imagine if one of your students you taught in the 60's was also one of my students in the 2000's. A farfetched notion, I'm sure. What a story you have! The mid 1960's...the height of the Economic Miracle! From what you say, it sounds like you've been back recently. Had you not been back for decades in between? I ended up meeting my wife in Japan and we live in the US and spend our summer holidays in Japan in July-August which we are able do since we're teachers. Although I'm so fortunate to spend time there every year, part of me wanted to stay there forever. Japan is a truly wonderful place.
@@Dr.Dumpnpump just because the economy of Japan no longer has the crazy growth of the 1960s, and 1970s, it absolutely does not mean that it "is stale"! As for the demographics/population of Japan, yes, Japan is experiencing a population decline (largely, due to Japan's unwillingness to welcome immigrants), but that (Japan's population decline) is under control; there is No "threat of population collapse"!
"I come to you General MacArthur to offer myself as the one to bear sole responsibility. I wish that the punishment would fall on me. Not all..... Japan." - Emperor Hirohito to MacArthur 1945 "This has nothing to do with punishments. I need your help. Let's see what we can do to get Japan back on its feet." - MacArthur to Emperor Hirohito 1945 This was insanely powerful because the MacArthur knew the cruel punishment of the Treaty of Versailles is what led to World War 2 and he wanted to prevent the Japanese from becoming so resentful that another war would've broken out.
That, and not allowing the possibility that Japan could be groomed by the Soviet Union and China. Many forget, that part of the reason why it was of the utmost importance that Imperial Japan surrender to the USA ASAP, was because of the USSR's impending invasion of Japanese territory in 1945. For Japan to be partially occupied by the USSR post war, would've been disastrous, not only for the Japanese people but for the USA and its allies. Half of Japan would've gone the way of the Eastern bloc, to suffer 40 years at least of darkness and deprivation as many Eastern European states did post war.
@@cameronhesketh6814but new commies in THE USA now who have never experienced true communism would argue that japan should've chosen the soviets because it was utopia than bad capitalism, imagine telling me that, a person that was born and spent my first 11 years under the iron curtain that it was better than the harsh US freedom
@@bassheadchilled1344 Yes, just look at all those famous West European communist party leaders, faithful to Stalin for so long, yet they never were able to turn their own countries into Marxist-Leninist havens, they must have lived in hell for years, enjoying the freedoms of the West but openly pushing to adopt a Stalinist state. Yeah right!
@@bassheadchilled1344 The communist experiment was an undeniable failure, however there is an argument to be made that none were truly communist in the Marxist sense. I do not believe that true communism is achievable given human nature, and so even though communist philosophy is the superior one, it is not in practise. Having said that, American capitalism is failing. The US is now internally collapsing and what was once a land of opportunity has now turned into the land of extreme wealth disparity, to the point where it is staring to look not all that different from the aristocratic Europe of the 17and 18th centuries. Capitalism is failing the majority which defeats the entire point of a democracy. And so it is inevitable that people are turning to alternatives. Now in a world that has only produced largely two forms of people-led governance, what people are turning to is the only other alternative. What we desperately need right now it seems is an entirely new era of political philosophy rooted in human rights and the benefit of the common man, a mid-way if you will, but the status-quo is too strong for such a thing to come about and cause a rebalancing of power and wealth in society peacefully. This is the tragedy of the human nature despite lessons from all of human history.
Emperor Hirohito had supreme command over the army, navy, and government, and was able to exercise it. However, when Hirohito reprimanded a member of the Diet who appealed for expansion during the Manchurian Incident, the member later committed suicide because he was ashamed of not following Hirohito's wishes. There is a document that Hirohito was extremely afraid of intervening in politics and the military because of this incident.
@@farmers740 Yeah. It is kinda funny. Xi Jinping, Mao Tse-tung, Chiang Kai-shek, Yuan Shikai, Zhang Zuolin, etc, etc, etc. All of them tried to be quasi-emperors. Yuan Shikai even proclaimed himself emperor of the Empire of China
Allowing Hirohito to stay on the throne did a lot to mollify the Japanese. It was a practical decision at a time when people were very tired of war. I can understand it completely.
@@guysmalley Aside from the hardline right wing war crime denying bastards. Like Shinzo Abe. Who was fortunately taken care of recently and can no longer spread his imperialist poison.
@Tony Leamon I disagree on both counts. 1. The results of leaving Hirohito alive have been extremely beneficial to Japan and I seriously doubt killing him would have resulted in something other than more needless deaths. 2. Hitler planned the war and dragged his country into it. Hirohito was not the mastermind behind World War II. He deserves some blame for not trying to stop it but as Emperor he was largely expected to follow the wishes of his government.
Although he bears some responsibilities I understand why the U.S did not put him on trial. However there was a distinct lack of trials for others that I do not. Yes I am looking at you Shiro Ishii.
The US basically decided to let a lot of these war criminals off the hook if japan agreed to join them in the fight against communism. Not sure why the US couldn’t do something like what they did in Germany - the war criminals did face justice there and they still ended up becoming a US Ally (well, west Germany at least).
There's a difference between the idea of the Emperor (raised to almost divine status) and the actual office of a constitutional monarch, similar to that which existed in the UK at the time of George V. Despite the folklore and affected deference, the reality was that Hirohito was obliged to act upon the advice of specific officials, over whom he'd little actual power to appoint or dismiss. Although Japan's military founded themselves on loyalty to the emperor (or, more correctly, to their notion of what an emperor should be), to the Emperor as he actually was they were grossly disloyal and the more sophisticated among them were very well aware of that distinction. There was consequently a very real danger of mutiny, even if Hirohito had summoned up the moral strength to try forcing his views on any particular issue.
It wasn't really that hard to dispel the conjecture that Hirohito was a mere puppet by the way he exercised his imperial power to dismiss the all powerful Tojo from all positions in his government in July 1944. Hirohito could have sued for peace at that stage but the Allies demanded his removal at the time and so the war carried on for another year. Hirohito had actively participated in all the major decisions in his miltary government and he carefully cultivated his power base in the military by granting members of his imperial family real military commands. That was how he could dismiss Tojo. After the war, there were organised attempts by General MacArthur's administration to protect Hirohito from criminal prosecution in exchange for Hirohito's cooperation to control the post war Japanese population. And so it was convenient to build on this idea that Hirohito was a puppet and powerless to prevent his own military from waging war to expand his empire in his name.
@@tvgerbil1984 That's like saying George VI dismissed Chamberlain after the Allied setbacks in Norway. Tojo was brought down by factional rivals, not directly by the Emperor. He'd made many enemies and the fall of Saipan and disasters on the Assam-Burma front gave them the excuse to get rid of him. In any case, Japanese tradition was that premiers accept responsibility for major defeats. He was replaced by Koiso and Yonai, who had always held moderate views and opposed the axis 'Pact'. This gave encouragement to those who were hoping that Japan could find some way of talking peace to the Allies. Hirohito was a constitutional monarch: that doesn't mean he was powerless or without influence, but the choice is not one between puppet and dictator. Although the supreme command of the army was nominally his, its actions were in practice largely controlled by the Ministry of War and the General Staff Office, leaving aside those times (which were frequent) that juniors chose to go their own way. Yes: SCAP gave immunity to the Imperial family, but the corollary of that is not that they were necessarily guilty of war crimes. The closest member of the Imperial family (by marriage) to serve in the Army was Prince Asaka, but he was a career soldier not the Emperor’s stooge. He was certainly implicated in the 1937 'Rape of Nanking', but this was probably yet another case of 'Gekokujo' by one of his colonels. In any event, he was (together with the Commander-in Chief Central China and two divisional commanders) 'recalled to Japan' (a peculiar phrase implying opprobrium), relieved of his command and not given another one. That's not to say he wasn't active in other areas (which may've been Imperial influence, who knows) and was (interestingly enough) associated with the enemies of Tojo: so yes: there may've been indirect Imperial influence in that area. Japanese politics in the ‘Dark Valley’ period were complex and it’s a mistake to over-simplify that period of their history: watch out for confirmation bias.
@@ayaankhan-eh1xy-g3e Not really, both officially and unofficially. In the 1930s and 40s the Japanese could still vote their candidates. And in proof of that, if you see the list of the Japanese Prime ministers of that time period, most of them do not finish their full 4 years of reign, some only endured months. This is because the military were conducting assassinations against Prime ministers that were against their militarist ideals. If Hirohito had absolute power over the government, there should be no need to held elections, or making the military kill someone unofficially when he could just do it by his own order. Unofficially, he didn't have too much power, since he was a puppet at a young age while being highly inexperienced compared to his grand father in an age of strife and the military having so much economic influence over the country.
@@emilioperez6888 there's also the fact that the Emperor was a deity and 'daily politics' was seen as below a divinity. It's a very foggy period of Japanese history, but I believe the Emperor was mostly a puppet, as it has been since the Kenmu Restoration. It's an institution that whomever happen to be the most significant political power uses to obtain legitimacy, they're basically “birds in a gilded cage”.
Hello! Thank you for the great video 😄 I'm Japanese, but there don't seem to be many Japanese people in the comment section of this video, so I'll comment. First of all, the content of this video is mostly correct. Hirohito was an ordinary man, neither an evil slaughterer nor a saint like Jesus Christ. Regarding his responsibility for the war, some foolish nationalist Japanese deny his responsibility for the war, but considering historical facts, this is impossible. However, I think it is clear from his words and actions that he was also a person who thought it would be better to avoid war if possible. I feel that the most accurate description of him is ``a timid man who always maintained his sanity at a time when many Japanese people were crazy.''
37:10 "And yet, there is considerable evidence to suggest that the Japanese government was considering surrender, had the U. S. Government simply waited longer." The truth is that the radicle Army gereral staff never had any intention of surrendering, as evidenced by the coup attempt, and were prepared to sacrifice everyone down to the last civilian to continue fighting. The more moderate Naval leaders understood surrender was inevitable, but it took two atomic bombs to move Hirohito, who was on the fence. The only alternative to dropping the atomic bombs was invasion, and that was unthinkable.
In April 1945, the Emperor nominated Kantaro Suzuki as Prime Minister with a clear intention to end the war. In other words, it was the conservatives centered on the emperor who were working toward the end of the war.
Before the Cabinet of Kantaro Suzuki, Japan had sought talks for the end of the war to the United States. But, they were ignored. So, under the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Treaty, Japan requested the Soviet Union to arbitrate with the Allies. Stalin went to the Yalta Conference in Feburary with this request pending and promised Britain and the United States to invade Japan in exchange for the expansion of the Soviet territory. The above request for arbitration to the Soviet Union was the last hope of the Japanese government. But the Soviet invasion shattered this hope. So, Japan accepted Potsdam declaration.
In the first place, Japan has hindered the expansion of the Soviet communist world since the days of Lenin. So Lenin made a long-term plan to break out the US-Japan war and started working. His purpose of this plan is to: ❶ promote the expansion of the communist sphere by exhausting two democracies at the same time ❷ transform Japan into a communist nation through the defeat revolution. Or take away at least part of Japan's land According to Venona documents, there were 300 Soviet spies within the Roosevelt administration. Similarly, it is said that there were about 50,000 Communists in Japan at that time. Japan was cracking down on Communists as thought criminals. Behind the fact that the army disregarded the intentions of the Emperor of Peace and proceeded to the US-Japan war was also due to the infiltration of these communists into the Japanese army and government. They promoted defeat from the inside by instigating Japan and making arbitrary mistakes. These have been analyzed by modern historians. The end-of-war coup is also analyzed as the behavior of communist groups attempting a defeat revolution.
However it was not the atomic bombing of the cities that made Japan surrender, it was the Russians. japan wanted nothing to do with the occupation of their country by the Russians. This seems to always get left out.
This just goes to show how amazing the Japanese people are. Quickest modernization of any country and the quickest societal and economic transformation to a country. It is truly amazing the culture they have.
Hirohito almost never spoke during Imperial conferences. I never found out whether this was out of acquiescence or sheer inability to utter a word while looking at the stupidity of his ministers.
Hirohito did sign off on many war crimes including chemical bombing of civilians. You COULD say that Hirohito wasn't a personal sadist as there is no evidence that he participated in torture personally (a far cry from the likes of Idi Amin, Ivan the Terrible or Caligula) but at best he was fine with his military conquering Asia in his name.
This is the problem of the Empire. The country really needed exactly such a leader then. Maybe not a sadist (though a few personally cut heads would will be appropriate - maybe Nagumo), but someone ruthless and strong-willed. And who they had - the elderly Emo kid. Even Roosevelt have bigger balls than the Emperor.
I think hirohito should have been charged with war crimes. He allowed the atrocities to continue when he knew how his army acted first in china then elsewhere in the pacific. 🇵🇭
@Kabuki Kitsune According to Japanese historian Takahisa Furukawa, "Tojo is a bureaucrat who was incapable of making own decisions, so he turned to the emperor as his supervisor. That's why he had to report everything for the emperor to decide. If the emperor didn't say no, then he would proceed." Likewise, according to British historian Sir Max Hastings, "Tojo, a supposed dictator, possessed far less authority in militarist Japan than did Winston Churchill in democratic Britain". And, on Hirohito's role, he states that "For several decades after World War II, a legend was sedulously promoted, chiefly by the Japanese, of Hirohito's long-standing pacifism. This view is now discredited. The emperor shared many of the army's ambitions for his country" So no, Tojo didn't held "all the real power over the military." He had an important role, but not an all-embracing power, and the role of the emperor was no less important.
My grandfather Isaac Hakuole Harbottle and his brother James Hakuole were sent to Japan by King Kalakaua [my greatgrandfather] to be educated at the Royal school of Nippon. Their classmate was the crown prince Taisho who was Hirohito's father. On December 7th 1941, I remember my grandfather carrying me on his shoulders to the beach [where the Hawaiian Village hotel is today] and proclaiming that the Imperial Army of Japan would never invade Hawaii. Twenty years later, however, they did indeed "invade' Hawaii by buying up valuable real estate!!
Whatever Hirohito's fault may be ,the fact is his greatest contribution is the surrender of Japan as many Japanese wanted to carry on even after the horrific and inhumane bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as it would have meant the virtual annihilation of Japan and destruction of Japanese race . Even at the great cost of humiliation he agreed for surrender of Japan .That was his greatness!
Hirohito did have much to answer for and probably was a war criminal. However, America's pragmatic approach to post WW2 Japan proved the wise approach as was the America's handling of the other axis powers. Their humiliation after their defeat would have proven counterpriductive. The Marshall Plan was a humane stroke of genius. As a non-American I greatly admire their clemency. Not many other great powers in history have acted this wisely and with such restraint. Contrast America's benevolence with the atrocities committed by Stalin's USSR.
I have been to Japan too many times in fact first time was 1951 lived at Tokyo then I went to Seoul and then to Pusan , much later after retiring we went to Japan a few times then to China all over from Shanghai to the Hainan Islands then to Hawaii all four Islands we did like to travel a lot including cruises to every country.
This channel is awesome. Whether is doubt the hirohito commitd crimes against pacific nations. But he was one of the longest reign monarchs of asia. Hirohito was the only person who not lose his power after ww 2. Brillant doc. We alwys appreciate all your hard work and dedication. Love from Sri Lanka. ❤️🇱🇰
At 28:45 the attack on Pearl Harbor is called a victory from a strategic perspective. Japan sunk ZERO (0) aircraft carriers and missed the oil storage depots. That can be a tactical victory but not a strategic one..
@michael boultinghouse do you think he has a choice? he is not a superhero. how a nerfed god can deny a "all people's decision", from the military. hitler has a choice. and japanese millitary war crime was not his choice. how you could say "USA would not have entered WW2"? if thats true, i can say a lot of "Japan would not have entered WW2 if - "
@michael boultinghouse also he refused to surrender after the first bomb was dropped as he feared being hanged as a war criminal - he forced his people to keep fighting t o protect his own worthless hide - he alone was responsible for Hiroshima - nasty egotistical creep
@michael boultinghouse Calling other people "idiot" while having a picture of the mass murderer Anders Breivik as your icon is probably not a good idea - just saying...
There is, actually, some evidence to suggest that Emperor Hirohito was personally inclined to curb Army excesses, and not alone among Japan's intellectual and political elite in wishing to do so. For example, an Imperial message in 1931 to premier Tsuyoshi Inukai (who agreed with his Sovereign and was assassinated in 1932 because he was inclined to solve problems over the 'Manchuria incident' by holding talks with the Kuomintang), contained the following sentence: "The Army's interference in domestic and foreign politics, and it's wilfulness, is a state of affairs which, for the good of the Nation, we must view with apprehension".
@Kabuki Kitsune when your family has made a fortune on the backs of others using war and intimidation over many centuries you have time, money, and expert help engaging in the sciences or whatever you wish.
Hirohito was a war criminal by omission. The atrocities committed by Japanese troops before and during WWII (e.g. the Rape of Nanking) occurred during his reign. Ira Lee Ph.D.
So, wheres the court to judge the allies? All Americans was a war criminal by omission if your opinion is right.The atrocities committed by Allies troops before and during WWII (e.g. Air raids on Japan, Nuke, and many) occurred during American citizens are sovereign. also not about US, China/Russia did many war crimes, terrible than Rape of Nanking.
All you dipshits in comments should consider reading books instead of burning. Dropping fire bombs and using atomic weapons against civilians is a war crime. Americans didn't hang because they won. That's it, good night. Its easier to mute you oxygen thieves than it is to educate you.
"Ira Lee Ph.D" congrats. that's the most pretentious thing i've ever seen posted in the yt comments section. is it supposed to add some sort of legitimacy to your stated opinion? maybe try signing your posts with "imo" instead of "phd"
The video was published on October 16th, 2021? The Emperor Akihito's reign ended on April 30th, 2019. Someone should edit 11:56. Otherwise great content!
The horrors of the Nanjing Masscare still heavily influenced my Grandfather's trauma throughout his entire life. It's the one chapter of his life he refused to fully reminisce and only told tidbits of the horrors he experienced and witnessed.
The USA actually DID know about Pearl Harbour in advance and to their credit lined up their planes to respond and as an afterthought, moved their Aircraft Carriers out of site. But they underestimated the Japanese capability and lining up their planes actually made it easier for Japan to crush them as many didn't take off in time.
Don’t forget the Americans took out a Japanese submarine hours earlier before they attacked Pearl Harbor. The US had decided the Japanese coded language like 9 days I think before Dec 7th. They left the older carriers in Hawaii and the newer better ones they had leave that morning before sunrise. The powers that be in Washington left our soldiers out there knowing what was going to happen. In my opinion they are traders and should have been strapped to the Big Boy when it was dropped. You know our government knew about the Lusitania ship too right? The ship that was carrying ammunition and people that was set through German waters and slowed down so Germany could easily sink it to bring the US into that war? Every war the US has taken place in since the day white man stepped off the boat here has been based on a lie except the independence war and civil war. Tho with those 2 it was on the soil here and can be summed up as egotistical pricks with too much self importance and attitude that was the issue with those.
Not everything is a conspiracy. The USS Enterprise was literally scheduled to be at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th but was delayed due to bad weather so unless the US government could control the weather this seems unlikely.
@@scottishscott3504 No not everything but every single war the US entered in was built on a lie. There are no need for conspiracy theories when interests converge.
I don't believe we will ever know how much and to what extent Hirotito was involved in the atrocities committed by the Japanese military, and those at the top of the military chain, notability ToJo. What is important is Douglas MacArthur decision to use Hirotito to rebuild Japan and bring it out of the Shinto period, ultimately making Japan a democracy country and an outstanding example of an economic upturn post WW2. The world was completely worn out from such a long period of war, all the death & destruction. MacArthur was well aware that the communists would be very interested in Japan. Keeping Hirotito in place with the USA backing Japan stabilized Japan as a democratic sovereign state.
The buck stops with the leader. He knew enough at the very least was keenly aware that what he was having the military do was wholesale wars of aggression against sovereign nations in the area
As an admirer of Japanese culture I can see as well disastrous consequences of Japanese nationalism of early 19th. We can admire their traditions and culture but should never forget what they have done to the world. Their cruelty exceeded even of those in SS and gestapo. The emperor and generally the nation never apologised to the world and to the people they tortured and killed.
What can be said, but overall the emperor was likely not told the whole story about the actions of his soldiers. It didn't help that his father developed mental illness and thus could not truly guide him and the fact was mostly taught by others that had their own beliefs on what was best for Japan.
"With great rewards come great responsibility." He was responsible, but I understand the immense grace he was given to perform acts of righteousness on behalf of his people after such unrighteousness. The country of Japan owes a debt to the general. They could have been treated like the other Axis powers. Thank you for your teaching, I appreciate it.
it was perhaps politically beneficial to exclude him from facing charges of a war criminal during the Tokyo trials but some lessened degree of punishment was possibly warranted
37:10 - This theory has shown to be completely false . The only Japanese diplomat with official sanction , was Sato who was sent to Moscow to see if the Soviets would be willing to negotiate terms . However , all proposals put forward by Sato were rejected by foreign secretary Togo of the " Big Six ." Truman and his advisors knew this because they were intercepting Japan's radio communications - these are now declassified and are known as the magic transcripts are on the US National Archive Site . There is no record of the " Big Six " offering any terms to end the Asian Pacific War - none . The US put terms forward in the July 26th , 1945 Potsdam Declaration - which was rejected by the Big Six . The Big Six wanted to make it so costly in US lives , that Truman would seek and armistice and negotiate terms . The very first time the " Big Six " attempted to negotiate any surrender terms was on August 10th 1945 - when they agreed to the Potsdam Declaration provided it did not compromise the authority of his Majesty. .
I really suggest all of you to research the Japanese political climate during Emperor Taisho and Hirohito. The shift from actual government to military government is so sad. Also the inner rivalary between the army and Navy are very important to understand with it. Hirohito had power yes however Tōjō arguably speaking had more power due to the army's control over the nation. Tho He may play a more active role, killing him would literally almost kill the Japanese race. Remember they saw him as their living God so now imagine the very people you were told to fight to the death with just killed your God Emperor. You'll rather die that surrender especially with the Bushido code being taught to them since the Meiji Restoration. So there's alot of complex events and factors that led to the ending of WW2 in the Pacific. Should Hirohito been killed? No. We did the right thing leaving him alive and gaining an ally in the far east
@@coxmosia1 ehh maybe but it's best to research the Imperial Japanese government structure and such. It's very difficult to understand who controls what in Japan especially coming out of the Taisho era
If this but not that then maybe something else. Excellent documentary that made a concrete argument for maybe this, maybe that, and anything goes. Decisive.
why america and other nations didnt judge them self? their citizen should die bc they have Sovereignty and nuked and killed with a illegal way. the war criminal is just a bully of winner. we never had a chance to panish war crime with true way. u missed the point of war.
@@imfromearth4222 Atomic weapon was used because the casualty expectation from invading was expected to be one million. As terrible as atomic weapon was, it was no worse than extensive bombing as already practiced. Japan had long opportunity to surrender, but the emperor even advised suicide as an alternative. Japan’s behavior in WW II was the worst of all combatants. The Japanese preferred death to surrender so they received the atom bomb. No one judges Japan to have had any benign influence whatsoever during WW II.
I am thankful for your excellent presentation of the details and facts as historical documents. Hirohito was handled appropriately regardless of his implications. Such are the need of statecrafts and General MacArthur was a brilliant man with heroic judgment. USA has done a great job of not only forgiving Germany Japan but also to help them get rehabilitated in to major international economic powers and successful countries. If for all the war crimes everyone was ever punished correctly we would never stop! The wars and atrocities were too many. But overall I give credit to the USA leadership for maturity and forebeafance and judiciousness ! Regards.
Basically after the war all these great nations received reparations (JAPAN GERMANY ETC...) no wonder they got back on their feet can't say the same for enslaved and colonized nations
That’s not how Japan’s government worked (at that time). Advisors, historically, have always had a significant amount of influence to the Emperor’s decisions. If anything he was a figurehead who had the final say.
Japan under MacGather and Hirohito rebuilt a none western country into the 2nd largest economy in the world. China also performed well and has become the 2nd or 3rd largest economy.
Emperor Hirohito was responsible, but the U.S preferred to save him and did that, I think, to stabilize and manage the radicalized Japanese at that time.
While the surrender spawned a coup attempt, which failed, it largely failed because the Emperor didn't agree with it, that and how hastily it was attempted. The Emperor Hirohito however was a man that could have chastised his government and ordered the humane treatment of prisoners or the Chinese and never did. I cannot believe he knew nothing about how prisoners were treated or how the Chinese were subject to cruelties. Emperor Hirohito, despite having the final word in state matters and being the moral compass of his nation, did nothing. By inaction when he held power he is at the very least indirectly guilty of the war crimes of Japan and more likely bears some guilt in regards to Japan's dishonorable and cruel conduct towards civilians and prisoners of war alike.
I would like to correct a couple of important points of your narrative. 1) Japan was kicked-out of the League of Nations. Japan withdrew from the League in 1933 after the League's condemnation of Japanese actions in the Mukden Incident and subsequent invasion of Manchuria in 1931. Japan's withdrawal from the League shocked the world and illustrated the ineffectual nature of League of Nations. 2) The Japanese actions in Manchuria are widely understood to have been carried out by the Japanese Kwantung Army Command, without the approval of the Tokyo government. In fact, when the military aggression of the Kwantung Army was known in Tokyo, the cabinet ordered the Kwantung Army to cease its operations. However, the Kwantung Army Command, ignored the order and with the secretive backing of key military ministers in the cabinet continued its operations. It was at, or near, this time that the many anti-militarist ministers in the cabinet and the Tokyo government as a whole were assassinated. Leading the period known as Government by Assassination. 3) The United States policy of aid to Britain was not called "Land Lease"; but, was called "Lend-Lease". There are some other points that I would call into question; but, I think the three listed above are the most glaring. On another note, the video is well-done and I very much enjoyed it. I look forward to viewing your many other videos.
War criminal and mass murderer; he may have been convenient to keep alive but should have been put on trial in the cause of justice. Too many of these murderers; Francisco Franco, Augusto Pinochet, Joseph Stalin and Hirohito lived to a ripe old age without taking responsibility for their actions.
Hirohito War Criminal 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 For example , during World War II the executions of prisoners of war in Japan were carried out in the name of Hirohito. 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀
WHAT IF: Franklin knew about the Japanese surprise attack. He knew there was no better way to create millions of soldiers and pilots and sailors and intelligentsia. I would not want that job. Jeez. "Well, Winston, how's your 'millions will die if I don't let thousands go to their death' day going?" - "oh, Frankie, no work talk, you know the rules...I'm going for a pint, will you have one?". Tommy Dorsey's Marie Marie softly in the background.
The Empire of Japan involvement in world war two . Should have never taken place . That war was a result of the Emperor , Hirohito being used as a puppet by his generals . A true an wise leader would have and should have knows that such a war was not winnable. He only cared about one thing and that was his status as Emperor. Thousands of people on both sides died because of one man Selfishness . And in spite of that he did not face any war crimes at the end of the war . And my question is why ? Do you really think that if The Russians had taken Hitler alive that he would have not been executed ?
In my opinion Hirohito is still a controversial character in Japanese history; with some saying he’s the best emperor in recent years who helped shape a modern Japan 🇯🇵, and others putting him along side other Axis leaders like Hitler, Mussolini, and Hideki Tojo. Ether way Japan still got off easy (aside from Hiroshima) compared to Germany 🇩🇪 and Italy 🇮🇹.
@@ganon1733 They didn't compensate enough. Tell that to the Koreans, Chinese, Filipinos and everyone else they steamrolled, raped, murdered, bombed and put into death marches. Japan has yet to admit to their war crimes, and even in their own education, minimize or even remove their involvement in such horrific affairs in other nations. Germany, as a whole, was forever changed post-Hitler with every 'show' of nationalism shot down in order to prevent another regime from popping up. Japan still pretends it hasn't had blood on its hands, and has only recently ADMITTED to their cruel, organized rape of 'comfort women', much less the other terrible things Hirohito and his courtiers were responsible for. Sincerely, a Filipino whose great-grandfather was forced to watch his own mother being raped and murdered by Imperial Japanese soldiers during their occupation here.
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but the commentator said four US submarines were sunk at Pearl Harbor December 7th. There were four submarines there they were not sunk though.
HIM the Showa Emperor has always been a figure I have respected. While I may not be in total agreement, I think the video makes a good attempt to balance the complicated views many have towards him and events in his reign.
Wasn’t/isn’t the last absolute monarch the past couple kings of Swaziland? Swaziland gained independence from Britain in the late 1960s, and has been an absolute monarchy since. Also in the running are Saudi Arabia, Brunei, and possibly Oman as Sultan Qaboos led that country for decades until his death recently.
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Such stupid war propaganda. It's been 77 years since the end of WWII, and lots of secrets have been declassified.
People still do not read them.... Amazing.
Don't spread LIES!
The wars in 1931 and 1937 in Manchuria and China were actually caused by repeated atrocities by Chinese. They killed Japanese civilians as well as military personnel many many times, following the order from the Comintern.
Seeing Japanese men, women, elders, and even small children brutally slaughtered by Chinese, our rage exploded and our Military decided to take action to save and defend our civilians.
Incidentally, the baby of 18:28 has already been known to have been brought by camera crew (Americans in my memory) for the photographing.
In addition, "the Nanjing Massacre" is your fantasy.
In order to spread bad images of Japan and later justify your atrocities in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and many other Japanese cities and on the Pacific islands, Americans have made efforts to create fabricated films like this, funded by Chinese.
Emperor Hirohito was the third embodiment of Imperial Japan (1868-1945), which meant that everything Japan was, and did, was either a direct, or indirect reflection of the Emperor; that was the nature of the State in Imperial Japan!
I taught English and lived in Japan from December 1965 to September 1967. Many of the students were my age. Their excitement to create a new, better Japan was always at the core of our many conversations. I left Japan on the verge of their great economic breakout that was just beginning as I left for the USA. Today I am nearly 80 years old. I look at how many of my favorite haunts have been transformed into something very new. I am happy to see that the Japan that was imagined by my students has been accomplished many times over. The very good news for me today is this modern nation hasn't abandoned many of its great cultural conditions, but joined the west in many of theirs the decades I have been gone.
Wonderful. You should be proud.
What a momentous experience you must have had. I also taught English in Japan, from 2005-2008. I taught in an Eikaiwa in the suburbs of Tokyo, both children's classes and adult classes. I'll never forget one particular class I taught on Saturday mornings. It was simply called "Discussion Class," a class for high level speakers. It was the only class I didn't prepare a strict lesson plan for - I simply came to each class with a topic or a news article that the class read, and the students then talked and discussed for an hour. The class was made up of Salarymen in their 50's and 60's. All high up in their companies. One man was the president of his company, and he was the oldest man. Needless to say, he was the Alpha. He was confident and calm, intelligent and discerning, eloquent and outspoken. He usually had the final say on controversial subjects. It was interesting to watch the balance of power among these men, insisting their opinions in English, a kind of neutral turf because it's not the Japanese language, and yet maintain 先輩後輩 rules amongst themselves. And here I was, this kid in his early to mid 20's acting as English coach and referee of the discussions. And they were interested in me and my perspectives on topics and issues - the young foreigner. They all came to practice English but they all came curious to know more about me. Although I was the "teacher" of the class and obviously the English expert, I felt very much their student in every other regard. We had a wonderful dynamic.
Imagine if one of your students you taught in the 60's was also one of my students in the 2000's. A farfetched notion, I'm sure. What a story you have! The mid 1960's...the height of the Economic Miracle! From what you say, it sounds like you've been back recently. Had you not been back for decades in between? I ended up meeting my wife in Japan and we live in the US and spend our summer holidays in Japan in July-August which we are able do since we're teachers. Although I'm so fortunate to spend time there every year, part of me wanted to stay there forever. Japan is a truly wonderful place.
No offence but I’m not so sure a multiple decade stale economy combined with the threat of population collapse is an ideal outcome.
@@Dr.Dumpnpump just because the economy of Japan no longer has the crazy growth of the 1960s, and 1970s, it absolutely does not mean that it "is stale"! As for the demographics/population of Japan, yes, Japan is experiencing a population decline (largely, due to Japan's unwillingness to welcome immigrants), but that (Japan's population decline) is under control; there is No "threat of population collapse"!
Thats really amazing! I'm sure some of your students when on to make Japan into what it is today.
"I come to you General MacArthur to offer myself as the one to bear sole responsibility. I wish that the punishment would fall on me. Not all..... Japan."
- Emperor Hirohito to MacArthur 1945
"This has nothing to do with punishments. I need your help. Let's see what we can do to get Japan back on its feet."
- MacArthur to Emperor Hirohito 1945
This was insanely powerful because the MacArthur knew the cruel punishment of the Treaty of Versailles is what led to World War 2 and he wanted to prevent the Japanese from becoming so resentful that another war would've broken out.
That, and not allowing the possibility that Japan could be groomed by the Soviet Union and China. Many forget, that part of the reason why it was of the utmost importance that Imperial Japan surrender to the USA ASAP, was because of the USSR's impending invasion of Japanese territory in 1945. For Japan to be partially occupied by the USSR post war, would've been disastrous, not only for the Japanese people but for the USA and its allies. Half of Japan would've gone the way of the Eastern bloc, to suffer 40 years at least of darkness and deprivation as many Eastern European states did post war.
@@cameronhesketh6814but new commies in THE USA now who have never experienced true communism would argue that japan should've chosen the soviets because it was utopia than bad capitalism, imagine telling me that, a person that was born and spent my first 11 years under the iron curtain that it was better than the harsh US freedom
@@bassheadchilled1344 Yes, just look at all those famous West European communist party leaders, faithful to Stalin for so long, yet they never were able to turn their own countries into Marxist-Leninist havens, they must have lived in hell for years, enjoying the freedoms of the West but openly pushing to adopt a Stalinist state.
Yeah right!
Great
@@bassheadchilled1344 The communist experiment was an undeniable failure, however there is an argument to be made that none were truly communist in the Marxist sense. I do not believe that true communism is achievable given human nature, and so even though communist philosophy is the superior one, it is not in practise. Having said that, American capitalism is failing. The US is now internally collapsing and what was once a land of opportunity has now turned into the land of extreme wealth disparity, to the point where it is staring to look not all that different from the aristocratic Europe of the 17and 18th centuries. Capitalism is failing the majority which defeats the entire point of a democracy. And so it is inevitable that people are turning to alternatives. Now in a world that has only produced largely two forms of people-led governance, what people are turning to is the only other alternative. What we desperately need right now it seems is an entirely new era of political philosophy rooted in human rights and the benefit of the common man, a mid-way if you will, but the status-quo is too strong for such a thing to come about and cause a rebalancing of power and wealth in society peacefully. This is the tragedy of the human nature despite lessons from all of human history.
Emperor Hirohito had supreme command over the army, navy, and government, and was able to exercise it. However, when Hirohito reprimanded a member of the Diet who appealed for expansion during the Manchurian Incident, the member later committed suicide because he was ashamed of not following Hirohito's wishes. There is a document that Hirohito was extremely afraid of intervening in politics and the military because of this incident.
A god like person, whose orders could lead to the death of someone is dangerous. It is worse when they really think that you're a god
@@elfachito8674Unlike the Chinese, everyone in China wants to be the emperor😅
@@farmers740 Yeah. It is kinda funny. Xi Jinping, Mao Tse-tung, Chiang Kai-shek, Yuan Shikai, Zhang Zuolin, etc, etc, etc. All of them tried to be quasi-emperors. Yuan Shikai even proclaimed himself emperor of the Empire of China
He is responsible for many deaths in Asia. He would get away and will face punishment in hell.
@@Jwalker0075who are you to pass judgement on another.
Allowing Hirohito to stay on the throne did a lot to mollify the Japanese. It was a practical decision at a time when people were very tired of war. I can understand it completely.
And seeing Japan in modern times it worked
@@guysmalley Aside from the hardline right wing war crime denying bastards. Like Shinzo Abe.
Who was fortunately taken care of recently and can no longer spread his imperialist poison.
I can understand it as well. And all in all, it appears to have worked well.
Or go foward and burn the bridges behind.
@Tony Leamon I disagree on both counts.
1. The results of leaving Hirohito alive have been extremely beneficial to Japan and I seriously doubt killing him would have resulted in something other than more needless deaths.
2. Hitler planned the war and dragged his country into it. Hirohito was not the mastermind behind World War II. He deserves some blame for not trying to stop it but as Emperor he was largely expected to follow the wishes of his government.
I have enjoyed the hell out of these videos.
😂
14:35 Japan was not expelled from the League of Nations. They withdrew from it themselves after getting condemned by the League, and walked out.
That's right
"I wasn't fired from my job. My boss and all my peers just told me that I was a terrible worker and that I would be better off quitting. So I quit."
I've always wanted to know more about hirohito other than he was the head emperor of Japan during WW2.
“I made efforts to swallow tears and to protect the species of the Japanese nation.”
Hirohito
But I did my dam best to destroy the species of other nations - Hirohito
@@TRHARTAmericanArtist he didn't say that.
@@itsblitz4437 - no, he did it though.
@@TRHARTAmericanArtist More like the US.
@@baibac6065
The US has never participated in attempted genocide. Everything else, sure, but not that.
Japan as a whole has a fascinating history! It’s one of my favorite subjects to study.
@@西村力-j2q I’m not THAT good yet, lol
That includes the worst things they did to us filipinos
please include unit 731 and nanking massacre ,and the practice of cannibalism by the kempetai back in world war 2
Although he bears some responsibilities I understand why the U.S did not put him on trial.
However there was a distinct lack of trials for others that I do not.
Yes I am looking at you Shiro Ishii.
My thoughts exactly!
A lot of them should have been shot esp for what they did in China.
Blame MacArthur and the US Government for giving immunity to Unit 731 for data so the USA could create their own bioweapons to fight the Soviets.
The US basically decided to let a lot of these war criminals off the hook if japan agreed to join them in the fight against communism. Not sure why the US couldn’t do something like what they did in Germany - the war criminals did face justice there and they still ended up becoming a US Ally (well, west Germany at least).
There's a difference between the idea of the Emperor (raised to almost divine status) and the actual office of a constitutional monarch, similar to that which existed in the UK at the time of George V. Despite the folklore and affected deference, the reality was that Hirohito was obliged to act upon the advice of specific officials, over whom he'd little actual power to appoint or dismiss. Although Japan's military founded themselves on loyalty to the emperor (or, more correctly, to their notion of what an emperor should be), to the Emperor as he actually was they were grossly disloyal and the more sophisticated among them were very well aware of that distinction. There was consequently a very real danger of mutiny, even if Hirohito had summoned up the moral strength to try forcing his views on any particular issue.
It wasn't really that hard to dispel the conjecture that Hirohito was a mere puppet by the way he exercised his imperial power to dismiss the all powerful Tojo from all positions in his government in July 1944. Hirohito could have sued for peace at that stage but the Allies demanded his removal at the time and so the war carried on for another year. Hirohito had actively participated in all the major decisions in his miltary government and he carefully cultivated his power base in the military by granting members of his imperial family real military commands. That was how he could dismiss Tojo. After the war, there were organised attempts by General MacArthur's administration to protect Hirohito from criminal prosecution in exchange for Hirohito's cooperation to control the post war Japanese population. And so it was convenient to build on this idea that Hirohito was a puppet and powerless to prevent his own military from waging war to expand his empire in his name.
@@tvgerbil1984 That's like saying George VI dismissed Chamberlain after the Allied setbacks in Norway. Tojo was brought down by factional rivals, not directly by the Emperor. He'd made many enemies and the fall of Saipan and disasters on the Assam-Burma front gave them the excuse to get rid of him. In any case, Japanese tradition was that premiers accept responsibility for major defeats. He was replaced by Koiso and Yonai, who had always held moderate views and opposed the axis 'Pact'. This gave encouragement to those who were hoping that Japan could find some way of talking peace to the Allies. Hirohito was a constitutional monarch: that doesn't mean he was powerless or without influence, but the choice is not one between puppet and dictator. Although the supreme command of the army was nominally his, its actions were in practice largely controlled by the Ministry of War and the General Staff Office, leaving aside those times (which were frequent) that juniors chose to go their own way. Yes: SCAP gave immunity to the Imperial family, but the corollary of that is not that they were necessarily guilty of war crimes. The closest member of the Imperial family (by marriage) to serve in the Army was Prince Asaka, but he was a career soldier not the Emperor’s stooge. He was certainly implicated in the 1937 'Rape of Nanking', but this was probably yet another case of 'Gekokujo' by one of his colonels. In any event, he was (together with the Commander-in Chief Central China and two divisional commanders) 'recalled to Japan' (a peculiar phrase implying opprobrium), relieved of his command and not given another one. That's not to say he wasn't active in other areas (which may've been Imperial influence, who knows) and was (interestingly enough) associated with the enemies of Tojo: so yes: there may've been indirect Imperial influence in that area. Japanese politics in the ‘Dark Valley’ period were complex and it’s a mistake to over-simplify that period of their history: watch out for confirmation bias.
@@elrjames7799 but unlike king george vi hirohito had absolute power
@@ayaankhan-eh1xy-g3e Not really, both officially and unofficially.
In the 1930s and 40s the Japanese could still vote their candidates. And in proof of that, if you see the list of the Japanese Prime ministers of that time period, most of them do not finish their full 4 years of reign, some only endured months. This is because the military were conducting assassinations against Prime ministers that were against their militarist ideals. If Hirohito had absolute power over the government, there should be no need to held elections, or making the military kill someone unofficially when he could just do it by his own order.
Unofficially, he didn't have too much power, since he was a puppet at a young age while being highly inexperienced compared to his grand father in an age of strife and the military having so much economic influence over the country.
@@emilioperez6888 there's also the fact that the Emperor was a deity and 'daily politics' was seen as below a divinity. It's a very foggy period of Japanese history, but I believe the Emperor was mostly a puppet, as it has been since the Kenmu Restoration. It's an institution that whomever happen to be the most significant political power uses to obtain legitimacy, they're basically “birds in a gilded cage”.
Hello! Thank you for the great video 😄
I'm Japanese, but there don't seem to be many Japanese people in the comment section of this video, so I'll comment.
First of all, the content of this video is mostly correct.
Hirohito was an ordinary man, neither an evil slaughterer nor a saint like Jesus Christ.
Regarding his responsibility for the war, some foolish nationalist Japanese deny his responsibility for the war, but considering historical facts, this is impossible.
However, I think it is clear from his words and actions that he was also a person who thought it would be better to avoid war if possible.
I feel that the most accurate description of him is ``a timid man who always maintained his sanity at a time when many Japanese people were crazy.''
Hello from Ukraine. I would be interested to hear Hirohito's story from his countryman. If it is not difficult for you, describe it.
I second @Bachenyi 's comment. Especially with a view to Hirohito's reaction after he toured the firebombed Tokyo.
I think he lived with regret for the rest of his life. For that I am mollified.
Many, many thanks for upload. I WAS actually waiting for this piece (Hirohito). Greets from Slovenia/Central EU
37:10 "And yet, there is considerable evidence to suggest that the Japanese government was considering surrender, had the U. S. Government simply waited longer." The truth is that the radicle Army gereral staff never had any intention of surrendering, as evidenced by the coup attempt, and were prepared to sacrifice everyone down to the last civilian to continue fighting. The more moderate Naval leaders understood surrender was inevitable, but it took two atomic bombs to move Hirohito, who was on the fence. The only alternative to dropping the atomic bombs was invasion, and that was unthinkable.
In April 1945, the Emperor nominated Kantaro Suzuki as Prime Minister with a clear intention to end the war. In other words, it was the conservatives centered on the emperor who were working toward the end of the war.
Before the Cabinet of Kantaro Suzuki, Japan had sought talks for the end of the war to the United States.
But, they were ignored.
So, under the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Treaty, Japan requested the Soviet Union to arbitrate with the Allies.
Stalin went to the Yalta Conference in Feburary with this request pending and promised Britain and the United States to invade Japan in exchange for the expansion of the Soviet territory.
The above request for arbitration to the Soviet Union was the last hope of the Japanese government. But the Soviet invasion shattered this hope. So, Japan accepted Potsdam declaration.
There was a coup attempt but it failed so thats a mute point.
In the first place, Japan has hindered the expansion of the Soviet communist world since the days of Lenin. So Lenin made a long-term plan to break out the US-Japan war and started working.
His purpose of this plan is to:
❶ promote the expansion of the communist sphere by exhausting two democracies at the same time
❷ transform Japan into a communist nation through the defeat revolution. Or take away at least part of Japan's land
According to Venona documents, there were 300 Soviet spies within the Roosevelt administration.
Similarly, it is said that there were about 50,000 Communists in Japan at that time. Japan was cracking down on Communists as thought criminals.
Behind the fact that the army disregarded the intentions of the Emperor of Peace and proceeded to the US-Japan war was also due to the infiltration of these communists into the Japanese army and government. They promoted defeat from the inside by instigating Japan and making arbitrary mistakes. These have been analyzed by modern historians.
The end-of-war coup is also analyzed as the behavior of communist groups attempting a defeat revolution.
However it was not the atomic bombing of the cities that made Japan surrender, it was the Russians. japan wanted nothing to do with the occupation of their country by the Russians. This seems to always get left out.
This just goes to show how amazing the Japanese people are. Quickest modernization of any country and the quickest societal and economic transformation to a country. It is truly amazing the culture they have.
But they all kill themselves
Japan is one country I will like to visit 🙄
@@asdawasdaJapan has been around 5000 years
Very interesting and informative .
Good stuff
Hirohito almost never spoke during Imperial conferences. I never found out whether this was out of acquiescence or sheer inability to utter a word while looking at the stupidity of his ministers.
Hirohito did sign off on many war crimes including chemical bombing of civilians. You COULD say that Hirohito wasn't a personal sadist as there is no evidence that he participated in torture personally (a far cry from the likes of Idi Amin, Ivan the Terrible or Caligula) but at best he was fine with his military conquering Asia in his name.
Hitler never participated in torturing people either.
@@jackrobinson8328 He used to rape his niece and would watch the piano wire executions on tape, but you make a good point :)
This is the problem of the Empire. The country really needed exactly such a leader then. Maybe not a sadist (though a few personally cut heads would will be appropriate - maybe Nagumo), but someone ruthless and strong-willed. And who they had - the elderly Emo kid. Even Roosevelt have bigger balls than the Emperor.
I think hirohito should have been charged with war crimes. He allowed the atrocities to continue when he knew how his army acted first in china then elsewhere in the pacific. 🇵🇭
Good point, but I wonder how much say he really had. Wasnt Tojo the real power?
@Kabuki Kitsune OMG I didn't know about that
@Kabuki Kitsune He could of tried. Just staying silent about these atrocities speaks of who he really is.
RRQ lemon
@Kabuki Kitsune According to Japanese historian Takahisa Furukawa, "Tojo is a bureaucrat who was incapable of making own decisions, so he turned to the emperor as his supervisor. That's why he had to report everything for the emperor to decide. If the emperor didn't say no, then he would proceed."
Likewise, according to British historian Sir Max Hastings, "Tojo, a supposed dictator, possessed far less authority in militarist Japan than did Winston Churchill in democratic Britain". And, on Hirohito's role, he states that "For several decades after World War II, a legend was sedulously promoted, chiefly by the Japanese, of Hirohito's long-standing pacifism. This view is now discredited. The emperor shared many of the army's ambitions for his country"
So no, Tojo didn't held "all the real power over the military." He had an important role, but not an all-embracing power, and the role of the emperor was no less important.
Why does Hirohito looks like he never smiles or he emotionless
His teeth hurt.🤕
He was the Emperor of Japan. In photos (Especially back then) he must maintain an air of formally. It is all about ceremony.
@@josephramirez2408 Besides, his jaw might break! 😁
See him riding that horse? He looks like a frigg'in QUEER!
@@christopherdibble5872 lmaoo what
My grandfather Isaac Hakuole Harbottle and his brother James Hakuole were sent to Japan by King Kalakaua [my greatgrandfather] to be educated at the Royal school of Nippon. Their classmate was the crown prince Taisho who was Hirohito's father. On December 7th 1941, I remember my grandfather carrying me on his shoulders to the beach [where the Hawaiian Village hotel is today] and proclaiming that the Imperial Army of Japan would never invade Hawaii. Twenty years later, however, they did indeed "invade' Hawaii by buying up valuable real estate!!
Whatever Hirohito's fault may be ,the fact is his greatest contribution is the surrender of Japan as many Japanese wanted to carry on even after the horrific and inhumane bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as it would have meant the virtual annihilation of Japan and destruction of Japanese race . Even at the great cost of humiliation he agreed for surrender of Japan .That was his greatness!
greatness?
Tokyo was next on the list. Edo would have gone up in smoke!
It's like praising a serial killer for stopping.
Hirohito did have much to answer for and probably was a war criminal.
However, America's pragmatic approach to post WW2 Japan proved the wise approach as was the America's handling of the other axis powers.
Their humiliation after their defeat would have proven counterpriductive.
The Marshall Plan was a humane stroke of genius.
As a non-American I greatly admire their clemency. Not many other great powers in history have acted this wisely and with such restraint.
Contrast America's benevolence with the atrocities committed by Stalin's USSR.
I have been to Japan too many times in fact first time was 1951 lived at Tokyo then I went to Seoul and then to Pusan , much later after retiring we went to Japan a few times then to China all over from Shanghai to the Hainan Islands then to Hawaii all four Islands we did like to travel a lot including cruises to every country.
Literally no one cares. Why type this out? Do you not have any friends?
What rubbish, jap rubbish
A gteat review of history, well done
Excellent documentary, many thanks!
This channel is awesome. Whether is doubt the hirohito commitd crimes against pacific nations. But he was one of the longest reign monarchs of asia. Hirohito was the only person who not lose his power after ww 2. Brillant doc. We alwys appreciate all your hard work and dedication. Love from Sri Lanka. ❤️🇱🇰
At 28:45 the attack on Pearl Harbor is called a victory from a strategic perspective. Japan sunk ZERO (0) aircraft carriers and missed the oil storage depots. That can be a tactical victory but not a strategic one..
Most importantly they left the dry docks intact. Where damaged ships were repaired.
All I see is a war criminal. But then again all people are complexed and it's important to see their side even if we don't agree with it.
@michael boultinghouse do you think he has a choice? he is not a superhero. how a nerfed god can deny a "all people's decision", from the military. hitler has a choice. and japanese millitary war crime was not his choice. how you could say "USA would not have entered WW2"? if thats true, i can say a lot of "Japan would not have entered WW2 if - "
@michael boultinghouse also he refused to surrender after the first bomb was dropped as he feared being hanged as a war criminal - he forced his people to keep fighting t o protect his own worthless hide - he alone was responsible for Hiroshima - nasty egotistical creep
@michael boultinghouse Calling other people "idiot" while having a picture of the mass murderer Anders Breivik as your icon is probably not a good idea - just saying...
There is, actually, some evidence to suggest that Emperor Hirohito was personally inclined to curb Army excesses, and not alone among Japan's intellectual and political elite in wishing to do so. For example, an Imperial message in 1931 to premier Tsuyoshi Inukai (who agreed with his Sovereign and was assassinated in 1932 because he was inclined to solve problems over the 'Manchuria incident' by holding talks with the Kuomintang), contained the following sentence: "The Army's interference in domestic and foreign politics, and it's wilfulness, is a state of affairs which, for the good of the Nation, we must view with apprehension".
@@katarn999 good eye! Never would have noticed that.
Another great biography! Still rooting for that Borgias series 😉
Only 2 American Ship Sank in Pearl Harbor, the other ships damage were repaired ang ready to go again after 3 months lol
Great history lesson!
Thanks!
Love From Orlando
I love listening to your videos on my travels. Be great to watch a video on Machivelli, or even J Edgar Hoover 😊
I expected something on Relation between Azad Hind of Netaji and Hirohitos Japan,conquest of Burma inter alia. Excellent vedeo,narrtion and analysis.
Very informative, exhaustive and depicts inspiring role of both Hirohito and the USA. Thank you.
Great video!
"His interest in science, notibly marine biology" Is that a JOJO reference? Love your videos, objective and informative. Cheers
@Kabuki Kitsune when your family has made a fortune on the backs of others using war and intimidation over many centuries you have time, money, and expert help engaging in the sciences or whatever you wish.
Hirohito was a war criminal by omission. The atrocities committed by Japanese troops before and during WWII (e.g. the Rape of Nanking) occurred during his reign. Ira Lee Ph.D.
Hahaha when talking about Japan war crimes don't forget to mention America split an atom over of Japan twice. Definitely a war crime.
@@perniciouspete4986 how you know thats not a war crime? again making a new crime "war crime that cause war crime(but not a war crime)"
So, wheres the court to judge the allies? All Americans was a war criminal by omission if your opinion is right.The atrocities committed by Allies troops before and during WWII (e.g. Air raids on Japan, Nuke, and many) occurred during American citizens are sovereign. also not about US, China/Russia did many war crimes, terrible than Rape of Nanking.
All you dipshits in comments should consider reading books instead of burning. Dropping fire bombs and using atomic weapons against civilians is a war crime. Americans didn't hang because they won. That's it, good night. Its easier to mute you oxygen thieves than it is to educate you.
"Ira Lee Ph.D"
congrats. that's the most pretentious thing i've ever seen posted in the yt comments section. is it supposed to add some sort of legitimacy to your stated opinion? maybe try signing your posts with "imo" instead of "phd"
Amazing vidoe as always 👌
For most part, Emperor Hirohito, as I view it, was a pawn.
The video was published on October 16th, 2021? The Emperor Akihito's reign ended on April 30th, 2019. Someone should edit 11:56. Otherwise great content!
The dates look correct.
The horrors of the Nanjing Masscare still heavily influenced my Grandfather's trauma throughout his entire life. It's the one chapter of his life he refused to fully reminisce and only told tidbits of the horrors he experienced and witnessed.
Agree with you, your mind are so clear
The USA actually DID know about Pearl Harbour in advance and to their credit lined up their planes to respond and as an afterthought, moved their Aircraft Carriers out of site. But they underestimated the Japanese capability and lining up their planes actually made it easier for Japan to crush them as many didn't take off in time.
Don’t forget the Americans took out a Japanese submarine hours earlier before they attacked Pearl Harbor. The US had decided the Japanese coded language like 9 days I think before Dec 7th. They left the older carriers in Hawaii and the newer better ones they had leave that morning before sunrise. The powers that be in Washington left our soldiers out there knowing what was going to happen. In my opinion they are traders and should have been strapped to the Big Boy when it was dropped. You know our government knew about the Lusitania ship too right? The ship that was carrying ammunition and people that was set through German waters and slowed down so Germany could easily sink it to bring the US into that war? Every war the US has taken place in since the day white man stepped off the boat here has been based on a lie except the independence war and civil war. Tho with those 2 it was on the soil here and can be summed up as egotistical pricks with too much self importance and attitude that was the issue with those.
@@natelincoln no they hadn't decrypted the japanese coding language at that time. That was in 1942 i believe or something like that.
Not everything is a conspiracy. The USS Enterprise was literally scheduled to be at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th but was delayed due to bad weather so unless the US government could control the weather this seems unlikely.
@@scottishscott3504 No not everything but every single war the US entered in was built on a lie. There are no need for conspiracy theories when interests converge.
You gotta do John Basilone next!
i hate how now youtubers put the ads into their videos and then right after that in-video ad another ad plays ...annoying af
Could you also make a video about Emperor Meiji?
We will yes.
Well done👍
I don't believe we will ever know how much and to what extent Hirotito was involved in the atrocities committed by the Japanese military, and those at the top of the military chain, notability ToJo. What is important is Douglas MacArthur decision to use Hirotito to rebuild Japan and bring it out of the Shinto period, ultimately making Japan a democracy country and an outstanding example of an economic upturn post WW2. The world was completely worn out from such a long period of war, all the death & destruction. MacArthur was well aware that the communists would be very interested in Japan. Keeping Hirotito in place with the USA backing Japan stabilized Japan as a democratic sovereign state.
The buck stops with the leader. He knew enough at the very least was keenly aware that what he was having the military do was wholesale wars of aggression against sovereign nations in the area
As an admirer of Japanese culture I can see as well disastrous consequences of Japanese nationalism of early 19th.
We can admire their traditions and culture but should never forget what they have done to the world.
Their cruelty exceeded even of those in SS and gestapo.
The emperor and generally the nation never apologised to the world and to the people they tortured and killed.
I appreciate the mention of the oil embargo, so many neglect to mention it.
What can be said, but overall the emperor was likely not told the whole story about the actions of his soldiers.
It didn't help that his father developed mental illness and thus could not truly guide him and the fact was mostly taught by others that had their own beliefs on what was best for Japan.
"With great rewards come great responsibility." He was responsible, but I understand the immense grace he was given to perform acts of righteousness on behalf of his people after such unrighteousness. The country of Japan owes a debt to the general. They could have been treated like the other Axis powers. Thank you for your teaching, I appreciate it.
it was perhaps politically beneficial to exclude him from facing charges of a war criminal during the Tokyo trials but some lessened degree of punishment was possibly warranted
Watch the movie "Emperor", with Tommy Lee Jones. It adresses this very issue. Well done movie. It's on RUclips, for free.
@@coxmosia1 I'll definitely do a watch about that thanks for telling me getting into Japanese history in the post war period currently ahaha
A war criminal who had managed to escape justice.
Allies justice?
@@imfromearth4222 Dura lex, sed lex (and still lighter than the Japanese)
He wasn't really "in the loop" during the War until the very end when he was a great help to MacArthur........
Wait until you find out what his uncle got away with
very educational video.
37:10 - This theory has shown to be completely false . The only Japanese diplomat with official sanction , was Sato who was sent to Moscow to see if the Soviets would be willing to negotiate terms . However , all proposals put forward by Sato were rejected by foreign secretary Togo of the " Big Six ." Truman and his advisors knew this because they were intercepting Japan's radio communications - these are now declassified and are known as the magic transcripts are on the US National Archive Site .
There is no record of the " Big Six " offering any terms to end the Asian Pacific War - none .
The US put terms forward in the July 26th , 1945 Potsdam Declaration - which was rejected by the Big Six .
The Big Six wanted to make it so costly in US lives , that Truman would seek and armistice and negotiate terms .
The very first time the " Big Six " attempted to negotiate any surrender terms was on August 10th 1945 - when they agreed to the Potsdam Declaration provided it did not compromise the authority of his Majesty.
.
Hmmm.... what happened to Emperor Taisho sounds super familiar here in america at the moment....
I really suggest all of you to research the Japanese political climate during Emperor Taisho and Hirohito. The shift from actual government to military government is so sad. Also the inner rivalary between the army and Navy are very important to understand with it. Hirohito had power yes however Tōjō arguably speaking had more power due to the army's control over the nation. Tho He may play a more active role, killing him would literally almost kill the Japanese race. Remember they saw him as their living God so now imagine the very people you were told to fight to the death with just killed your God Emperor. You'll rather die that surrender especially with the Bushido code being taught to them since the Meiji Restoration. So there's alot of complex events and factors that led to the ending of WW2 in the Pacific. Should Hirohito been killed? No. We did the right thing leaving him alive and gaining an ally in the far east
Yeah correct ...
but they should have done them with another atom bomb just to level things up .
Watch the movie "Emperor", with Tommy Lee Jones as MacArthur. Addresses this very issue.
@@coxmosia1 ehh maybe but it's best to research the Imperial Japanese government structure and such. It's very difficult to understand who controls what in Japan especially coming out of the Taisho era
@@LeePenn2492 another war crime?
@@vetabeta9890 Aren't you posh!
He was as quilty as hell. America's decision not to prosecute was another example of self interest against justice.
If this but not that then maybe something else. Excellent documentary that made a concrete argument for maybe this, maybe that, and anything goes. Decisive.
Hiroshito should of faced a Nuremberg type trial.
And a french ''shaving machine''
Whats a figurehead gonna be charged with in the first place?
As figure head no matter how much power he had he should’ve been held accountable and replaced by a heir. Man was a indirect and direct war criminal
why america and other nations didnt judge them self? their citizen should die bc they have Sovereignty and nuked and killed with a illegal way. the war criminal is just a bully of winner. we never had a chance to panish war crime with true way. u missed the point of war.
A nuanced look with perfect hindsight tells us that the US made the correct decision to keep Emperor Hirohito in power.
@@imfromearth4222
Atomic weapon was used because the casualty expectation from invading was expected to be one million. As terrible as atomic weapon was, it was no worse than extensive bombing as already practiced. Japan had long opportunity to surrender, but the emperor even advised suicide as an alternative.
Japan’s behavior in WW II was the worst of all combatants. The Japanese preferred death to surrender so they received the atom bomb. No one judges Japan to have had any benign influence whatsoever during WW II.
@@imfromearth4222 ah yes let’s allow the Japanese to risk their ENTIRE male population and 1,000,000 American casualties just to stop 60,000
@@carlabroderick5508 so, japanese can drop nuke to save their citizen and stop the war, before doing their war crime?
I am thankful for your excellent presentation of the details and facts as historical documents.
Hirohito was handled appropriately regardless of his implications.
Such are the need of statecrafts and General MacArthur was a brilliant man with heroic judgment.
USA has done a great job of not only forgiving Germany Japan but also to help them get rehabilitated in to major international economic powers and successful countries.
If for all the war crimes everyone was ever punished correctly we would never stop!
The wars and atrocities were too many.
But overall I give credit to the USA leadership for maturity and forebeafance and judiciousness ! Regards.
Yes was very much responsible for the atrocities of Japan in WW II
He must take a full responsibility for what had done in WWII. He was the top man accountable for all actions of war crimes.
He had no say in the army he was a puppet leader
No it was Hideki Tojo. The emperor is just a figurehead. So he's useless
Basically after the war all these great nations received reparations (JAPAN GERMANY ETC...) no wonder they got back on their feet can't say the same for enslaved and colonized nations
Was the Emperor a pawn?
No he was not a pawn.
He was the King,
and the King gives orders to his warriors.
He was passive, and intimidated by the military
That’s not how Japan’s government worked (at that time). Advisors, historically, have always had a significant amount of influence to the Emperor’s decisions. If anything he was a figurehead who had the final say.
@@guysmalley No just he was week.
@@guysmalleyHe easily could have ended the war crimes but instead allowed his troops to commit atrocities
Not in Asia tho. A King is merely a puppet
You should do Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands next
Boring woman
@@siegridthomas9674 how much do you know about her
''Help us Karel''
Leaving a quisling like hirohito in power was practical but not moral.
You are a fabulous presenter. Thank you so much for the lack of an overwhelming soundtrack.
Japan under MacGather and Hirohito rebuilt a none western country into the 2nd largest economy in the world. China also performed well and has become the 2nd or 3rd largest economy.
Thank you for the Documentation.great for learning.
Más que un video sobre Hirohito, este video es sobre la historia militar de Japón en la primera mitad del siglo XX
Emperor Hirohito was responsible, but the U.S preferred to save him and did that, I think, to stabilize and manage the radicalized Japanese at that time.
I love this and your channel! #TagSays
While the surrender spawned a coup attempt, which failed, it largely failed because the Emperor didn't agree with it, that and how hastily it was attempted. The Emperor Hirohito however was a man that could have chastised his government and ordered the humane treatment of prisoners or the Chinese and never did. I cannot believe he knew nothing about how prisoners were treated or how the Chinese were subject to cruelties. Emperor Hirohito, despite having the final word in state matters and being the moral compass of his nation, did nothing. By inaction when he held power he is at the very least indirectly guilty of the war crimes of Japan and more likely bears some guilt in regards to Japan's dishonorable and cruel conduct towards civilians and prisoners of war alike.
Very well done.
I would like to correct a couple of important points of your narrative.
1) Japan was kicked-out of the League of Nations. Japan withdrew from the League in 1933 after the League's condemnation of Japanese actions in the Mukden Incident and subsequent invasion of Manchuria in 1931. Japan's withdrawal from the League shocked the world and illustrated the ineffectual nature of League of Nations.
2) The Japanese actions in Manchuria are widely understood to have been carried out by the Japanese Kwantung Army Command, without the approval of the Tokyo government. In fact, when the military aggression of the Kwantung Army was known in Tokyo, the cabinet ordered the Kwantung Army to cease its operations. However, the Kwantung Army Command, ignored the order and with the secretive backing of key military ministers in the cabinet continued its operations. It was at, or near, this time that the many anti-militarist ministers in the cabinet and the Tokyo government as a whole were assassinated. Leading the period known as Government by Assassination.
3) The United States policy of aid to Britain was not called "Land Lease"; but, was called "Lend-Lease".
There are some other points that I would call into question; but, I think the three listed above are the most glaring.
On another note, the video is well-done and I very much enjoyed it. I look forward to viewing your many other videos.
Thank you!
It would've been cool if they'd put the Battle of Midway section half-way into the video.
Thanks to Gen MacArthur he didn't remove his emperor title. He was considered by the Japanese as deity.
Just like in Egypt or Rome. It didn't end well there.
@@mariuszmiroslaw2290worked pretty well for them for an extremely long time.
This is a great story and very nonFictional. But the first response from japan prior to fat boy was we will fight to the last woman and child.
Thats what the bastards deserved.
Eu queria saber quem foi editor desse documentário
War criminal and mass murderer; he may have been convenient to keep alive but should have been put on trial in the cause of justice. Too many of these murderers; Francisco Franco, Augusto Pinochet, Joseph Stalin and Hirohito lived to a ripe old age without taking responsibility for their actions.
add Roosevelt and Churchill
Indeed,where is Churchill and FDR
@@jayzandstra1830 What do you mean where? Where should they be? I'd say they're in your sentence but you don't have proper punctuation!
Churchill was also a rotten war criminal.
Hirohito War Criminal 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 For example , during World War II the executions of prisoners of war in Japan were carried out in the name of Hirohito. 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀
Make one about ho chi minh
The number one war criminal without trial in japan，MacArthur's little poppy
WHAT IF: Franklin knew about the Japanese surprise attack. He knew there was no better way to create millions of soldiers and pilots and sailors and intelligentsia. I would not want that job. Jeez. "Well, Winston, how's your 'millions will die if I don't let thousands go to their death' day going?" - "oh, Frankie, no work talk, you know the rules...I'm going for a pint, will you have one?". Tommy Dorsey's Marie Marie softly in the background.
Is this Emperor the one the Movie The Last Emperor is based on?
No that was Puyi, the Last Emperor of China which is mentioned at about 14:14 in the documentary.
The Empire of Japan involvement in world war two . Should have never taken place . That war was a result of the Emperor , Hirohito being used as a puppet by his generals . A true an wise leader would have and should have knows that such a war was not winnable. He only cared about one thing and that was his status as Emperor. Thousands of people on both sides died because of one man Selfishness . And in spite of that he did not face any war crimes at the end of the war . And my question is why ? Do you really think that if The Russians had taken Hitler alive that he would have not been executed ?
In my opinion Hirohito is still a controversial character in Japanese history; with some saying he’s the best emperor in recent years who helped shape a modern Japan 🇯🇵, and others putting him along side other Axis leaders like Hitler, Mussolini, and Hideki Tojo. Ether way Japan still got off easy (aside from Hiroshima) compared to Germany 🇩🇪 and Italy 🇮🇹.
@@bman3794This is true
@@bman3794 Japan compensated.
Please investigate carefully before speaking.
@@ganon1733 They didn't compensate enough. Tell that to the Koreans, Chinese, Filipinos and everyone else they steamrolled, raped, murdered, bombed and put into death marches. Japan has yet to admit to their war crimes, and even in their own education, minimize or even remove their involvement in such horrific affairs in other nations. Germany, as a whole, was forever changed post-Hitler with every 'show' of nationalism shot down in order to prevent another regime from popping up. Japan still pretends it hasn't had blood on its hands, and has only recently ADMITTED to their cruel, organized rape of 'comfort women', much less the other terrible things Hirohito and his courtiers were responsible for.
Sincerely, a Filipino whose great-grandfather was forced to watch his own mother being raped and murdered by Imperial Japanese soldiers during their occupation here.
@@bman3794 Britain and France didn’t compensated for their colonial atrocities either.
Thanks. 裕仁は自ら出向いて、GHQ最高司令官のマッカーサーに面談を申し込み、何を話したのですか？
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but the commentator said four US submarines were sunk at Pearl Harbor December 7th. There were four submarines there they were not sunk though.
That is my favorite story on youtube
Exellent video!! Unfortunately, They failed to reflect on themselves.
Bricked up listening to this. Oh yeah
Do one about DR Eric Williams from Trinidad and Tobago
HIM the Showa Emperor has always been a figure I have respected. While I may not be in total agreement, I think the video makes a good attempt to balance the complicated views many have towards him and events in his reign.
Hirohito - Emperor gone to hell......
Wasn’t/isn’t the last absolute monarch the past couple kings of Swaziland? Swaziland gained independence from Britain in the late 1960s, and has been an absolute monarchy since. Also in the running are Saudi Arabia, Brunei, and possibly Oman as Sultan Qaboos led that country for decades until his death recently.