Word: kantaro
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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Japan's aged (77) Premier Kantaro Suzuki shuffled through a round of desperate political activity. One day he sat through a five-hour emergency session of his Cabinet. The same day he talked long and earnestly with flinty General Jiro Minami, boss of the ultra-totalitarian Political Association of Great Japan. Then he doddered on across the moat of the partly burned Palace to bow low before Emperor Hirohito and make a respectful report. At the Meiji and Yasakuni shrines he prayed for the destruction of his country's enemies. Finally, with the Emperor looking on, he stood...
Japan was appalled. By Tokyo's account, Premier Kantaro Suzuki "saw with his own eyes" how flames had hit the sanctified preserve, hastened to apologize to the Emperor for the "inexcusable outrage," then called an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet and issued a "reverent statement relative to the burning of the Imperial Palace." Other broadcasts wailed that "the greater part of metropolitan Tokyo" was "literally scorched to the ground." To the Japanese people Suzuki sadly announced: "Our beautiful capital must be completely replanned from a bare start...
...like Prince Konoye and Baron Hiranuma-were pushed into the background by swashbuckling generals and admirals, like Kenji Doihara, Hideki Tojo, Isozoku Yamamoto. Hirohito's most intimate counselors in the Imperial Household, nobles like the Marquis Kido, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, and ex-Grand Chamberlain Kantaro Suzuki (now Premier), were denounced by chauvinistic young officers as bad influences around the throne. Some of them were murdered in the bloody mutiny...
...English-language broadcast from Japan, Premier Admiral Kantaro Suzuki was quoted as saying, "I must admit that Roosevelt's leadership has been very effective and has been responsible for the Americans' advantageous position today. For that reason I can easily understand the great loss his passing means to the American people and my profound sympathy goes to them...
Burden of Shame. Before the day was out, the plump, myopic Son of Heaven called a trusted Court attendant and Elder Statesman, aging (77) Admiral Baron Kantaro Suzuki, President of the Privy Council, to form a new Government. On the stooped shoulders of this wrinkled old courtier might well rest the shameful bur den of leading Japan to surrender...