Word: hirohito
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...week at the press conference Matsushita president Akio Tanii conducted by satellite video hookup after the deal was announced. In answer to an American reporter's hypothetical question about what Tanii would do if Universal wanted to make a Japan-bashing film or one that criticized the late Emperor Hirohito, Tanii responded ambiguously, "Something like that shouldn't emerge. Filmmakers must create films that are inspirational, that will be enjoyable for everybody." Many interpreted his answer as a chilling assertion that future Universal film projects must meet home-office approval. Said a startled George Kirgo, president of the Writers Guild...
Akihito's accession had been meant to herald a new era in which the imperial office would be free of the controversy that surrounded his father, Emperor Hirohito, for his role in World War II. But it coincided with the publication in the magazine Bungei Shunju of some recently discovered notes on conversations between Hirohito and aides in 1946, in which he discussed his role prior to Pearl Harbor. "It was unavoidable for me as a constitutional monarch," he said, "to do anything but give approval to the Tojo Cabinet on the decision to start the war." Had he opposed...
Coin fanciers responded excitedly in 1986 when Japan began issuing its first gold coins since World War II. Minted by the Bank of Japan to commemorate the | 60th year of Emperor Hirohito's reign, the 24-karat pieces were coveted by collectors even though the Ministry of Finance set the price of the 20-gram coins at 100,000 yen (now $690) -- more than twice the value of their weight in gold. To meet heavy demand, Japan minted 11 million coins...
Collectors were dumb struck last week, after Japanese officials disclosed that the country had been flooded with at least 103,000 bogus Hirohito coins, worth an estimated $71 million. The fakes were also made of pure gold and were so well crafted that many of them had even been accepted by the Bank of Japan. Because the raw material of the coins costs less than half their face value, the potential for an easy 100% markup had apparently inspired a well-fixed free-lance minter...
...late 1988, as Emperor Hirohito lay dying, Nagasaki Mayor Hitoshi Motoshima broke a widely observed taboo by criticizing the once deified leader. "I experienced military life," said Motoshima in response to a question in the city assembly, "and I believe the Emperor had responsibility for the war." Last week the 67-year-old mayor paid for that statement, very nearly with his life. As Motoshima stepped out of city hall, a gunman shot him in the lung from behind. At week's end the mayor was in stable condition...