20th anniversary of death of Emperor Hirohito marked

Wednesday 07th January, 02:05 PM JST

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15 Comments

maryhinge at 04:02 PM JST - 7th January

Not many postings about this I'll bet.
wanderlust at 05:45 PM JST - 7th January

I still remember the British Prince Philip's bow at his funeral - can't have moved more than a fraction of an inch - there was no love lost there. It's documented in Stephen S. Large's book - Emperor Hirohito and Shōwa Japan.
apecNetworks at 06:57 PM JST - 7th January

1989 -- That was an historical year of great significance to some - the beginning of the end of the Cold War, Emperor Hirohito passes away, the establishment of APEC.
jonnyboy at 07:10 PM JST - 7th January

a controversial figure, to say the least
bobbafett at 09:12 PM JST - 7th January

I am sure Aso went there to brown lick.
ptolemy at 12:32 AM JST - 8th January

My condolences to the survivors under the control of the IHA.
AlfGarnett at 01:25 AM JST - 8th January

wanderlust, I remember that like , when Phil the Greek didn't do the bowing thing. Well, what does anyone expect, the emperor was almost on a par with old Adolph when it comes to blame for millions of deaths innit!
gamera at 03:18 AM JST - 8th January

I miss Emperor Showa.
japantodayradio_com at 04:18 AM JST - 8th January

Back then when the Showa died the Video stores all made a fortune , The ten TV channels were all in morning for 4 days
OssanAmerica at 04:53 AM JST - 8th January

the emperor was almost on a par with old Adolph when it comes to blame >for millions of deaths innit!

Not true at all. Hitler isn't surrounded by continous debates over the extent of knowledge or power held during Imperial Japan's aggression during WWII, and certainly he wasn't "protected" by the United States from prosecution upon surrendering. Far too many differences in circumstances to make such a simple comparison.
AlfGarnett at 05:22 AM JST - 8th January

OssanAmerica: Asusual protect Japan and this time the evil e emperoro as well. Strewth, i didn't say he was on a par is said "almost" and more evidence comes out regulary that he wholheartedly supported the Imperial Army.

So, I conclude, ad His Majesty did that Hirohito was in fact a notorious war criminal. Don't forget i was around at the time na dis privvy to the real story, not how the facts have been changed over the decades and all that.
LIBERTAS at 06:55 AM JST - 8th January

Actually, I have come to respect Emperor Hirohito. He turned himself in to McArthur as being responsible for the war, cycling down to USHQ on a bicycle. His offer to atone was, thankfully, refused. He later declined to worship at Yasukuni when he found out Tojo et al had been interred there, without his OK, by the less than informed son of the then-high priest. I think he's been given a bad rap. RIP Showa-Tenno.
Tatanka at 07:38 AM JST - 8th January

I remember when he died, the media used a verb for his death "hougyo" that no one had ever heard before.
NeoJamal at 08:45 AM JST - 8th January

The timing of his death marks the zenith of Japanese economic influence. Soon after the property burst and ushered in an era of woe and despair for most. Some even headed for the gutter, and their numbers are growing.

To most foreigners "Hirohito" was synonymous with terror and vague Hitler references. But for us, his reign marked an era when Japan actually meant something. Whatever personal experiences Japanese can recall as a nation during his reign: hubris. humiliation, humility, hope. The 'Big H's' birth and reign seemed more than a coincidence to have shared all they dynamic events that transpired in Japan and its world.

Just as he was regarded widely as the prime symbol of Japan, his death also marked the end of Japan in its true form. Heisei Japan turned out now to be a trainwreck economically and its society seems to be changing ever so uniquely abhorrent IMO.
sf2k at 08:46 AM JST - 8th January

@libertas. thanks for the info.

this all re-ignites yasukuni, emperor worship and nationalism. I always wonder why japanese didn't take Hirohito's example and shun Yasukuni? Wasn't he their Emperor?

Symbolically they can just have a different memorial without yasukuni and it's wouldn't matter. It's not like people can really control spirits, even Japanese ones. It's all just symbols to the living. A split memorial between criminals and victims would make for a great emotional release and allow people to come to terms with responsibility. If Germans, South Africans, and anyone else who has done so can do it, then Japanese can too. This would heal much of the region as well and finally turn a page.

I will always remain an optimist that this can work itself out.