Word: shinto
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...Shinto that fostered Japan's feverish nationalism. It was Shinto that inspired Article I of Japan's constitution, which says: "The Empire of Japan shall be reigned over and governed by a line of Emperors unbroken for ages eternal," and Article III, which says: "The Emperor is sacred and inviolable." It was Shinto that taught Japanese law students: "Subjects have no mind apart from the will of the Emperor." Shinto taught Japanese Army privates: "Those who, with the words 'Tenno Heika Banzai!' (May the Emperor live forever!) on their lips, have consummated a tragic death...
...Shinto that molded the Emperor of Japan into its supreme symbol. Hirohito has seldom, if ever, deviated from its exacting practices...
...statesmen close to the throne were men of western ideas, like astute Prince Saionji, who promoted a Japanese version of parliamentarianism and constitutional monarchy. In 1921, with their support, Crown Prince Hirohito decided to go abroad. Never before had an imperial Heir Apparent left the Land of the Gods. Shinto jingoists threatened to fling themselves in fanatic immolation under the train that bore the Crown Prince to his ship. But Hirohito was not deterred, and this 20th Century form of hara-kiri did not take place...
...Prince found himself constantly teetering on the brink of sacrilege. In Paris he went shopping and discovered he needed money, which imperial etiquette forbade him to touch. Iri London's Guildhall he got entangled in the long scroll of a speech he was reading. The audience, undisciplined by Shinto, found it hard to suppress a titter. Hirohito took a subway ride, incognito, and his entourage was horrified when a brusque Cockney conductor berated him for having no ticket...
Model Symbol. In Asia, Japan was making history whose consequences for the world are still incalculable. Through it all, Hirohito remained a model Shinto sovereign-conventional, secluded, aloof, a proper family man as well as national deity. He rose early each morning (6 or 7 a.m.), shaved himself, bowed before the little shrine of his ancestors in his copper-domed Tokyo castle, breakfasted in foreign style on coffee, bacon & eggs, shuffled through the papers on his desk. Thirteen times a year, clad in the white silk robe of high priest, he officiated at major Shinto rites. His wartime frugality...