Imperial familly - crimes against Humanity

**Triple C** · 30 Mar 08,, 09:56

Sirs,

From what I understand, the shrines were not under Japanese gov't control. It is ran by a civil committee that registered itself as a religious organization and therefore under the protection of the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Japanese constituition. Even if the Japanese government is inclined to remove the war criminals from the shrine they will not be at liberty to do so.

Personally, I believe that the emperor could stop the war because of the immense clout of his status as the supreme and divine ruler, even if his power is more symbolic than real.

Japanese empererors after the Meiji Restoration had done little or no actual governing of the state because the nitty gritty of politics was beneath their divinity, Hirohito still retained the power to summon or dismiss a cabinet at will. The sovereinty of the Japanese empire literally rested in the emperor's person and he is the fountainhead of legitmate power. In that sense the emperor's powers are very real, since his disapproval of any policy, if expressed publically, becomes law.

**Dreadnought** · 22 May 08,, 21:26

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

Hirehito was in on the war from the start. There were some key decisions that he've made, especially concerning China and Korea. He was guilty, no question, and not just because he was the Head of State.

I'm with OOE on this. The Emperor was as guilty a war criminal to Japan as Hitler was to Germany and no doubt if we did what we should have he would have no doubt hung as a war criminal instead politics once again played its part and denied true justice from taking place at the trials.

As people hold the U.S. president accountable for our troops so should they be held accountable in the very same aspects for their troops.

**navy namvet** · 26 Jul 08,, 22:45

the Army ran the war. not him. check this out. Unit 731

**Dreadnought** · 04 Nov 08,, 17:54

Sir,
I can understand your point. However the army and navy were both subservant to his wishes and if we were to quote certain conversations from him it would directly point out that he controlled both forces but allowed them to think for themselves. In much the same as a parent is responsible for their children IMO.

**xerxes** · 05 Nov 08,, 01:42

The following is my opinion

Hirohito may have been divine by birth and by his office, but nevertheless he chose to reign rather to rule. He may have known things here and there, very much the sameway Edward VII might have a few things going within his own kingdom, but he certainly was not involved in the planning the wars of aggression as was the case of the autocratic ruler of Russia or that of the Kaiser. Besides, had the war went the other way (Axis victory), most probably the Axis would have brought same charges on FDR, in regards of conspiring to take his nation to war against Germany.

The above is my opinion

------------------------------------------------
so the questions boils down to the following:

Are we being fair?

**Officer of Engineers** · 05 Nov 08,, 12:59

It's one or the other. Can't have it both ways. If he reigned, then he had no power to overrule his generals. That means that he had no authority to surrender, not even the decision to surrender.

If he ruled, then he has to accept responsibility for everything.

**Repatriated Canuck** · 06 Nov 08,, 07:29

He is completely guilty of war crimes. The Emperor knew what he was doing and could have ordered anyone who disagreed to slit their belly and they would have even if it was under protest just for honours sake. He was not under lock and key held by the reigning Shogun like many before him.

Xerxes, you are continuing just for the hell of it now.

**~~clyder~~** · 06 Nov 08,, 09:29

Originally Posted by xerxes

This is true in most monarchies, even the constitional ones. Again, i will bring up the example of king of Italy who willingly sat on the throne of Ethiopia and Albania, both conquered nations by force of arms. Why he was not tried as a criminal.

At least it was ensured that Italy became a republic!