When Emperor Has a Nightmare
The Emperor of Showa (1901-1989) had three younger brothers. The eldest among them was Prince Chichibu (1902 – 1953).
Prince Chichibu once wrote that when they were small children they had talked about nightmares. One of them told that when one had a nightmare he would often place his hands on the chest. But why?
Some of them said that it would be opposite. As one put his hands on the chest, he had a nightmare. But the eldest brother, namely the future emperor of Japan, expressed his opinion rather thoughtfully: "The reason why one often places his hands on the chest when he has a terrible dream is that he wants to protect his heart from a danger he feels in the dream."
So, Prince Chichibu wrote that his elder brother, namely the Emperor of Showa, was a clever person fit for a scientist. Indeed, the Emperor of Showa was also well known for his biological study.
The Emperor of Showa, who led the Empire of Japan between 1926 and 1945 and democratic Japan between 1945 and 1989, was a very thoughtful person. Truly, there have been almost no reports or gossips suggesting his foolishness or laughable mistakes, though the media had not been allowed to freely report imperial house matters before the end of WWII.
The most difficult decision Emeoper of Showa had ever made seems to have been related to his status after the defeat of the Empire of Japan in WWII. Though he was not brought into the Tokyo Tribunal of War Criminals after WWII and not blamed officially for the war, there were strong voices in the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, China, the Soviet Union, etc. for punishing the Emperor of Japan for damage and atrocity the Imperial military had inflicted on peoples around the Pacific Ocean and China.
Even some Japanese thought at the time that it would be probably better for the Emperor of Showa to voluntarily step down, allowing Prince Chichibu to succeed him. But General MacArthur who led the allied forces stationed in Japan after WWII virtually encouraged the Emperor of Showa to stay in the imperial throne. The Emperor of Showa met General MacArthur in person 11 times or so till MacArthur left Japan in 1951. And, the Japanese people never requested the Emperor of Showa to resign officially or publicly in any effective manner.
The great economic success of Japan after WWII might be attributed to its stable states politically and culturally all through 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. And, the Emperor of Showa must be one of the largest factors of it. The first half of his reigning period called Showa was full of wars, but the latter half was full of peace and prosperity for the Japanese people.
And it is also true that even the Emperor of Showa felt a threat of life a few times in his life. At least it is well known that the Emperor faced a critical danger on himself in the February 26 Incident of 1936 (a kind of failed coup by young military officers) and in the August 14 incident of 1945 (a kind of failed insurgence by desperate military officers). The Emperor could of course survive those crises by himself with support from loyal and brave military officers and the like.
The Emperor of Showa seems to have some reasons to have nightmares, but it is unknown how the incumbent Emperor of Japan, the eldest son of The Emperor of Showa, would act when he has a bad dream or whether he has any nightmares at all.
Emperor Showa, as Prince Michinomiya, and his younger brothers in 1921
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito
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Exo 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Exo 7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
Exo 7:13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.