.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
The Last Word of Hideki Tojo
The last word of Hideki Tojo, the prime minister of Japan who ordered the Pearl Harbor Attack of 1941:
I cannot help but feel heartbreaking grief when I recall the situation at the time of opening the war. The imminent execution of me is consolation for me as an individual (who is desperately looking for a means to make his apology to the Emperor and the Japanese people), but I know that my responsibility for domestic tragedies (of the war against the US) cannot be compensated by my death. However, as for my responsibility for international tragedies (associated with Empire's war against the US), I plead my innocence in every respect. I am just forced to yield to force (of the American military). Personally, I think I will proceed to a scaffold with satisfaction of accepting the blame for domestic tragedies. Nonetheless, I am truly regretful for my fault of having my colleagues being forced to take responsibility (for the war) and having even low-ranked officers (of the Imperial military) being forced to be punished (as war criminals).
(the rest is omitted)
Former Prime Minister and full general of the Empire of Japan Hideki Tojo reportedly cited this word hours before he was executed by the US military in Tokyo around midnight or 0:00 a.m. of December 23, 1948.
Today General Tojo is linked to his status, the A-class war criminal of WWII, in Japan. There is no movement in Japan at all to resuscitate the honor of General Tojo. However, General Tojo and other A-class war criminals were, rather secretly, enshrined in Yasukuni Shrine of Tokyo in 1978.
In Yasukuni Shrine, fallen soldiers, total about 2.5 million, of the Empire of Japan since late 1860s are enshrined. The Shrine regards General Tojo and other A-class war criminals executed by the US military as soldiers killed in war. They have no intention to separate the souls of General Tojo and other A-class war criminals, though there are big arguments in Japan about whether or not the Shrine should separate them from other 2.5 million souls.
Interestingly, Emperor of Showa, who had presided over the Empire of Japan during WWII (and before/after WWII), stopped visiting Yasukuni Shrine when he was informed of Shrine's act of enshrining the souls of General Tojo and other A-class war criminals, though the Emperor visited the Shrine occasionally after WWII. His imperial son, namely the incumbent emperor of Japan, has never visited Yasukuni Shrine at least since he ascended the imperial throne in 1989.
Put simply, General Tojo was faithful to Emperor of Showa till his death, but the Imperial Family denied their relationship with General Tojo showing no support for, and sympathy with him. It means that the upper society, as well as the general public, of Japan denies General Tojo and regards him as a war criminal of WWII.
However, the fact that General Tojo admitted in the Tokyo war crimes tribunal, virtually subject to General MacArthur of the US Army, that the Emperor had no responsibility but only he was responsible for the war against the US (and other allied nations) in order to defend the Emperor proved that General Tojo was not a coward.
You may sometimes have to listen to what even a coward would say according to significance of the matter. That is why I have checked the last word of General Tojo.
It is said that after WWII the family members of General Tojo had a hard time but they could survive without being under violent attacks from General Tojo's enemies or ex-soldiers.
**** **** ****
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Former Prime Minister and full general of the Empire of Japan Hideki Tojo reportedly cited this word hours before he was executed by the US military in Tokyo around midnight or 0:00 a.m. of December 23, 1948.
Today General Tojo is linked to his status, the A-class war criminal of WWII, in Japan. There is no movement in Japan at all to resuscitate the honor of General Tojo. However, General Tojo and other A-class war criminals were, rather secretly, enshrined in Yasukuni Shrine of Tokyo in 1978.
In Yasukuni Shrine, fallen soldiers, total about 2.5 million, of the Empire of Japan since late 1860s are enshrined. The Shrine regards General Tojo and other A-class war criminals executed by the US military as soldiers killed in war. They have no intention to separate the souls of General Tojo and other A-class war criminals, though there are big arguments in Japan about whether or not the Shrine should separate them from other 2.5 million souls.
Interestingly, Emperor of Showa, who had presided over the Empire of Japan during WWII (and before/after WWII), stopped visiting Yasukuni Shrine when he was informed of Shrine's act of enshrining the souls of General Tojo and other A-class war criminals, though the Emperor visited the Shrine occasionally after WWII. His imperial son, namely the incumbent emperor of Japan, has never visited Yasukuni Shrine at least since he ascended the imperial throne in 1989.
Put simply, General Tojo was faithful to Emperor of Showa till his death, but the Imperial Family denied their relationship with General Tojo showing no support for, and sympathy with him. It means that the upper society, as well as the general public, of Japan denies General Tojo and regards him as a war criminal of WWII.
However, the fact that General Tojo admitted in the Tokyo war crimes tribunal, virtually subject to General MacArthur of the US Army, that the Emperor had no responsibility but only he was responsible for the war against the US (and other allied nations) in order to defend the Emperor proved that General Tojo was not a coward.
You may sometimes have to listen to what even a coward would say according to significance of the matter. That is why I have checked the last word of General Tojo.
Hideki Tojo (1884 – 1948) was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), the leader of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, and the 40th Prime Minister of Japan during much of World War II, from October 17, 1941 to July 22, 1944. As Prime Minister, he was responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbor, which initiated war between Japan and the United States, although planning for it had begun before he entered office. After the end of the war, Tojo was arrested, sentenced to death for Japanese war crimes by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, and hanged on December 23, 1948.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideki_Tojo
It is said that after WWII the family members of General Tojo had a hard time but they could survive without being under violent attacks from General Tojo's enemies or ex-soldiers.
**** **** ****
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.