Word: emperor
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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Japan's imitative ability last week turned to politics. Emperor Hirohito and his Shidehara Cabinet, with General MacArthur's enthusiastic endorsement, offered the Japanese 16 closely typed pages of a new Constitution which forswears armies and war, guarantees civil rights, deprives the peerage of its privileges, promises the people an end of police tyranny. Now, with complete responsibility placed squarely on the Cabinet, and the Cabinet made fully answerable to the Diet, Japan would have a form of government more sensitive to democratic pressures...
Something Borrowed. Emperor Meiji's 1889 Constitution had proclaimed that "We [the Emperor] have inherited from Our Ancestors the rights of sovereignty . . . and We shall bequeath them to Our descendants." MacArthurian rhetoric, linking the phrases of Jefferson, Lincoln, and F.D.R., gave Japan a new ruler. "We, the Japanese people . . . do proclaim the sovereignty of the people's will." The Emperor was reduced to a "symbol of the state and of the unity of the people's will." Young Prince Akihito may still inherit a throne, but not a seat of power...
...matters specifically reserved for Big Four decision under the Moscow agreement of last December. Although Russia gave no sign what sort of constitution she did want, the Japanese Communists, alone among the political parties, attacked the new document, charging that it was designed to keep the Emperor on the throne...
...Treat the Press. On the roof of a Yokohama office building, the Emperor blinked out over the devastated city, peered at the harbor through binoculars. American photographers surrounded him. As he prepared to leave, I started for the staircase. Somehow the Emperor, got there at the same moment. I backed off. Hirohito backed off. I said "Dozo" ("Please"). After a second we both started again and then checked. A worried aide bowed and extended a gloved hand toward the stairs. "No, I cannot go in front of the Emperor," I said. Hirohito deadpanned...
Seven hours after he had crossed the moat, Hirohito returned to the palace. He had seen more people and more people had seen him that day than ever before. A few would think he had lost face, but most were pleased with the Emperor's new tactics. Hirohito knew what he was doing...