The Untouchable Human: Hirohito

Emperor Hirohito and General MacArthur meeting for the first time, 1945. Many Japanese were extremely offended by this picture because of how casual MacArthur is looking and standing while next to the Emperor, who was supposed to be a god.
US Commander of the Allied Forces Armies of the Pacific Front
General Douglas MacArthur
and the Emperor of Empire of Japan Hirohito

    Hirohito was the 124th emperor of Japan. He was perhaps the last emperor when he was called the "Japanese God." This man, who was accepted as the Japanese God, could not be spoken, touched, looked into his eyes. The Japanese, who lost World War II, lost millions of them, did not surrender even if the Americans were gigantic forces at the doorstep of the war. Because he had only one condition: "You cannot touch or judge the Imperial family before killing us all!"

     Hirohito was a man without much information. He was the first to travel outside Europe in Japan, traveling within the Japanese princes. He was well trained. During his empire, Japan had become a great power, a giant empire in Asia. Their authority was unlimited. Every word was accepted as the word of God. The inadequacy of energy resources and the violent rise of militarism and vanity pushed Japan into a war in the early 40s. That war would be very heavy for both Japan and the world. First of all, the Empire occupied the Korean Peninsula in 1910. Manchuria was occupied by Japan in 1936. A part of China was occupied between 1937 and 1945. After that, All Southern Asia was occupied until 1943. Later, Japanese imperial army attacked the American naval base suddenly in Pearl Harbor and entered the war very quickly. Just like the Nazis, their progress in the first years was very fast. Victory news came from the Japanese army, and the American and British forces were constantly retreating in Asia against the children of the Sun Empire. Its borders were from Bering Strait to Australia and India. However, over time, Japanese progress has stopped for technical reasons. Americans' superior manufacturing capacities, unlimited raw materials, and human resources have become unable to resist. American factories have been producing airplanes, tanks, and heavy weapons on a continuous basis and sent to the front at great speed, especially, after the end of the war in Europe. Kamikaze suicide pilots move in the last two years of the war could not be saved Japan. Conversely, very precious and can not be put back into their hands, consumed trained pilots. Allied armies Japan's stubborn resistance despite the superhuman and the Japanese islands were captured one by one based on the Japanese mainland. According to the American calculations, the occupation of the Japanese mainland would have cost the allies the loss of 1 to 1.5 million troops. Because the Japanese never surrender, counting it a great dishonor, fighting until death. It was an unacceptable number for the United States to afford the loss of more than 1.5 million US soldiers. Americans took one of the cruelest decisions in the history of wars; Within three days, two atomic bombs were fired in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were destroyed without women. They thought that this terrible persecution would bring Japan to its knees and force it to surrender. Allies wanted an unconditional surrender deal from Japan. But Japan did not surrender. They began preparations for the day when all the people would die to defend the mainland. Japanese mainland had turned into a terrible death trap, the allies were confused and desperate. The Japanese empire's army had only one condition: "No one can touch, judge the Emperor!" Japan's only condition of surrender was a great loss of prestige for the Allies who wanted to try and hang the emperor as a war criminal, just like the examples in Europe (Nuremberg Courts). In addition, Hirohito's comrades are dead in a bloody manner; Hitler committed suicide in the shelter and Mussolini was lynched by his people. But they understood that they would never break the terrible resistance of Japan. They accepted the condition. The Americans, who invaded Japan with their feelings of revenge, hung many Japanese officers, including Prime Minister Tojo, hastily and with court and decisions. But the imperial palace did not surrender and stood in the protection of the emperor's guards. August 9th, 1945, Tokyo was bombarded. The High Council was assembled. Three ministers who were in the Council did not accept to surrender and other three ministers accepted to surrender. The council was locked. Emperor Hirohito made a lot of concessions in order to heal the wounds of his people and reduce the foreign pressures. Also, Emperor recorded a speech for suppressing fanatics who were in the army. Japanese people were hearing their emperor's voice the first time. Even foreign envoys agreed to talk and to come to the eye! For instance, Commander of the occupation of Japan General Douglas MacArthur wanted to meet with Emperor Hirohito who was God King. Although his assistances were against, he politely accepted his wish. Before this meeting, Emperor's assistances reported that MacArthur should not shake Hirohito's hands and he should not disrespectfully behave, according to them.They met in an American headquarters. When Hirohito entered the room, MacArthur wanted to shake his hands. After a small hesitation, Hirohito also shook his hands. Later, MacArthur wanted to take a photo together. Emperor's assistances suddenly opposed that. But Emperor shut up them and they took a photo which is famous.  Some commenders of the United States wanted executing of Hirohito but America could never afford to take this initiative. Because they knew that one finger movement of the God-King of Japan could mobilize almost 150 million Japanese people at the expense of his life. Hirohito remained Emperor until 1989 for 63 years. He never lost the respect, love, and support of the Japanese people in spite of the giant losses and all that happened. Wherever he visited, hundreds of thousands of people would gather to see him. God lived and died as the will of the King Japanese nation would not surrender.

     To give a small example to understand the dimensions of the Japanese Resistance; In order to capture a small island called Iwo Jima, the Americans gave seven thousand dead 21,000 injured. The loss of Japan is very interesting: 20,000 dead and only 8 prisoners. The Americans later attempted to raise this number to 200 monks for consideration, but the facts were explained later and the fear of occupation of the US mainland increased. The question of what happens on the Japanese mainland in a small island is still in mind.

A movie proposal: ''Emperor(2012)''

IMAGES:

hirohito ile ilgili görsel sonucu

Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) on his horse Shirayuki (Japan 1941)

Hirohito (1901 - 1989) Known also as the "Showa Emperor," Hirohito was the 124th emperor of Japan. He ruled for over 62 years, making him the longest reigning emperor in Japan's history.

Emperor Hirohito as he leaves the Japanse Diet after making a speech to the open session, Tokyo, Japan, June 20, 1946.

August 14, 1945 Japan Surrenders to the Allies.

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