Yea. Actually, a very good book to read on the politics of the pacific war is flyboys by james bradley

If you knew 1 thing about their culture, it was that the emperor = living God, they would not second question him. BUT of course, you care little for that, All you care about is justfying a war crime to keep you concious clean. rolleyes:

And if you knew anything about history, you probably wouldntlook like such a fuck off. The higher generals, who had positions as "councillors" to the emporer, actually made most of his decisions. The emporer had very little real power. Ever see the last samurai? Same thing.

Correct me if I am wrong lypo, but did the Emperor not make the final decision/ have the last word in that movie... rolleyes: Not to mention that he ended up slowing down Japan's industrial/modern developements at the end to save Japenese traditions... which in turn would support the whole fiasco of keeping such mantras as "the Emperor = living God".... Hey that is just my look on it..but meh.

[quote="Short Hand":c372a]If you knew 1 thing about their culture, it was that the emperor = living God, they would not second question him. BUT of course, you care little for that, All you care about is justfying a war crime to keep you concious clean. rolleyes:[/quote:c372a]
imwithstupid:

I watched a discovery channel 3 hour special on Emporer Hirohito.

They brought a man on the show and interviewed him, he was 14 at the time of the war when the US was closest to the time of the invasion, and he recalled his town being told via messenger from the Emporer that a US invasion was imminent, and that to save their families honor they would have to commit suicide.

So him and his two brothers tied up their mother, and beat her to death. Then him and his next older brother tied up their oldest brother, and beat him to death. Finally he tied up his last brother and beat him to death with a rock.

There was no one left to kill him and he said he couldn't bring himself to commit suicide. He said there wasn't a day that goes by where he doesn't cry hysterically remembering how he saw all his friends and family commit suicide.

No one ever mentions those kind of things.

And I'm sure it's the US's fault no matter what. nag:

[quote="Short Hand":1ae6c]If you knew 1 thing about their culture, it was that the emperor = living God, they would not second question him. BUT of course, you care little for that, All you care about is justfying a war crime to keep you concious clean. rolleyes:[/quote:1ae6c]

The emporers were raised in seclusion from the rest of society until it was time for them to lead, when Hirohito took his position as Emporer he had no idea how to lead, and he had no idea what normal life was like.

His advisors took advantage of his social ineptness, they didn't directly disobey him.

[img]http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/photos/cape_cod/images/great%20black-backed%20gull.jpg[/img]

[quote="Short Hand":ca587]Correct me if I am wrong lypo, but did the Emperor not make the final decision/ have the last word in that movie... rolleyes: Not to mention that he ended up slowing down Japan's industrial/modern developements at the end to save Japenese traditions... which in turn would support the whole fiasco of keeping such mantras as "the Emperor = living God".... Hey that is just my look on it..but meh.[/quote:ca587]

Emperor Hirohito was kept in the dark for the general course of the war. His council--as they traditionally would--lied to him and bolstered his spirit. The Japanese Imperial Navy and Army held veto power over any and all decisions that were made by the Emperor or his cabinet.

He is by no means a 'living-God.' Most Japanese who are Shinto Buddhist, about 80% and even more at the time of the Second World War, could have only considered the Dali Llama, if interpreted that way, to be a living God. Although there was much respect for the Emperor, it has been made painstakingly clear that he had great interest in military affairs, but that in the years 1942 and 1943 as the war started to go sour for Japan that the information he was recieving had less and less to do with reality. The assertation of 'divinity' came from Hirohito trying to protect himself from the Americans. He was essentially just lucky that MacArthur found him usefull.

Before you argue next time about knowing, "One thing about their culture," don't just make random and tenatively generic shit up to support your rather baseless and pathetic argument.

[quote=GordonHall]Emperor Hirohito was kept in the dark for the general course of the war. His council--as they traditionally would--lied to him and bolstered his spirit. The Japanese Imperial Navy and Army held veto power over any and all decisions that were made by the Emperor or his cabinet.

He is by no means a 'living-God.' Most Japanese who are Shinto Buddhist, about 80% and even more at the time of the Second World War, could have only considered the Dali Llama, if interpreted that way, to be a living God. Although there was much respect for the Emperor, it has been made painstakingly clear that he had great interest in military affairs, but that in the years 1942 and 1943 as the war started to go sour for Japan that the information he was recieving had less and less to do with reality. The assertation of 'divinity' came from Hirohito trying to protect himself from the Americans. He was essentially just lucky that MacArthur found him usefull.

Before you argue next time about knowing, "One thing about their culture," don't just make random and tenatively generic shit up to support your rather baseless and pathetic argument.[/quote:c32b4]

HTF did you know that...

I read.

oh god not another hiroshima debate....

[quote=GordonHall]Emperor Hirohito was kept in the dark for the general course of the war. His council--as they traditionally would--lied to him and bolstered his spirit. The Japanese Imperial Navy and Army held veto power over any and all decisions that were made by the Emperor or his cabinet.

He is by no means a 'living-God.' Most Japanese who are Shinto Buddhist, about 80% and even more at the time of the Second World War, could have only considered the Dali Llama, if interpreted that way, to be a living God. Although there was much respect for the Emperor, it has been made painstakingly clear that he had great interest in military affairs, but that in the years 1942 and 1943 as the war started to go sour for Japan that the information he was recieving had less and less to do with reality. The assertation of 'divinity' came from Hirohito trying to protect himself from the Americans. He was essentially just lucky that MacArthur found him usefull.

Before you argue next time about knowing, "One thing about their culture," don't just make random and tenatively generic shit up to support your rather baseless and pathetic argument.[/quote:97af4]

pathetic ? lol. rolleyes: . Baseless ?? lol. tenatively generic shit LOL. Both of you make these claims yet not a single reliable source to back it up. Look at the power this man must of had if you look at Blases story, the family Killed itself in respects to his words. That is Power right there Gordon.