HITOSHI MOTOSHIMA

Although Emperor Hirohito had the status of a God, and his Prime Minister and Chief of the Military testified that they had never disobeyed the Emperor {587278}, there was a thorough attempt to whitewash the Emperor’s role—{587279}. Few Japanese, even years later would suggest that Hirohito might bear some personal responsibility. The Mayor was one of the few who made the statement of the obvious. He received 181 death threats and he was shot shortly thereafter by a right wing supporter of the Emperor’s.

to make that kind of moral assessment. Others attribute the refusal of Japan to, as Germany had done, come to grips with the worst of their World War II atrocities to the power of a strong nationalist minority of the LDC party who have been able to block all attempts at apology since 1945. See Hosei Narota {41051} for the nationalist contrary view.

Although Emperor Hirohito had the status of a God, and his Prime Minister and Chief of the Military testified that they had never disobeyed the Emperor {587278}, there was a thorough attempt to whitewash the Emperor’s role—{587279}. Few Japanese, even years later would suggest that Hirohito might bear some personal responsibility. The Mayor was one of the few who made the statement of the obvious. He received 181 death threats and he was shot shortly thereafter by a right wing supporter of the Emperor’s.

to make that kind of moral assessment. Others attribute the refusal of Japan to, as Germany had done, come to grips with the worst of their World War II atrocities to the power of a strong nationalist minority of the LDC party who have been able to block all attempts at apology since 1945. See Hosei Narota {41051} for the nationalist contrary view.