‘No point in living’: diary reveals Japanese emperor Hirohito’s anguish over second world war
Hirohito was deeply upset at the Pacific war, says newly released memoir written by ruler’s former chamberlain
Japan’s wartime emperor Hirohito believed there was “no point living” during the final years of his life, fearing he would continue to attract blame for his country’s involvement in the second world war, according to a newly released diary.
The diary is written by his then-chamberlain Shinobu Kobayashi, who alleges Hirohito voiced “anguish” over the Pacific war, a sentiment that contrasts with other recent accounts of his feelings about Japan’s entry into the conflict with the attack on Pearl Harbour.
“There is no point in living a longer life by reducing my workload,” Hirohito said, according to the diary, passages from which have been published by the Kyodo news agency.
“It would only increase my chances of seeing or hearing things that are agonising,” the entry, dated 7 April 1987, added.
Hirohito died two years later, aged 87, after 62 years on the Chrysanthemum Throne.
The comments reportedly came in response to attempts by the Imperial Household Agency to reduce the ageing Hirohito’s workload after the death of his brother, Prince Takamatsu, two months earlier.