The invasion of Manchuria started without orders from Tokyo, but Hirohito acquiesced after being assured that the military could succeed in expanding his empire. Before the war with the US, he underestimated American objections to his foreign policy of formally allying himself with Germany and Italy. He also indicated initial reluctance to go to war, but later confirmed the plan to attack Pearl Harbor over the objections of some of his advisers.
He even increased his control over military affairs in the lead-up to Pearl Harbor, attending the Conference of Military Councillors which he usually did not and asking for additional details on the plans for attack. According to an aide, he showed visible joy at the news of the success of the surprise attacks. His second connection came with the discussion of surrender in Hirohito had a chance to end the war earlier, as it became clearer that Japan could not win.
Konoe gained his first audience with the emperor in years in February and implored Hirohito to start discussing terms of surrender. He did not surrender then, and maintained a hope through August that the Soviet Union could serve as an intermediary for a negotiated peace.
Hirohito learned of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima about 12 hours after the fact, at pm, Japan time, on August 6, Two days later, the emperor admitted that the war could not continue.
But neither the emperor nor the Japanese Cabinet accepted unconditional surrender at that time. On August 9, the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and the Soviet Union began its invasion of Japanese territory. That night, at a meeting with other leaders, Hirohito declared his intention to accept the Potsdam Declaration. This was not yet the official end to the war.
Cabinet officials continued to debate conditions of surrender, including how parts of imperial power could be preserved. There was also an unsuccessful coup attempt by a group wanting to continue the war. Hirohito announced the surrender to the nation in an historic radio broadcast , the first time an emperor had ever addressed the nation in such a manner. Others, including Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, have argued that the Soviet invasion was even more influential.
In the immediate aftermath of the war, Hirohito renounced the divinity of the emperor, and signed a new Constitution drafted by the US that reduced his power to that of a figurehead. Soon, the military began to revolt, resulting in the assassination of many public officials, including Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi. Hirohito was a reluctant supporter of the occupation of Manchuria, which led to the second Sino-Japanese War.
Japan's military subsequently became more aggressive and implemented policies reflecting that stance, which eventually led to the country's allegiance with WWII's Axis Powers and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Hirohito was said to be unenthusiastic about Japan's involvement in the war but was often pictured in uniform to show his support.
Lingering controversy has remained about his true role in Japan's armed operations during this era. In September , following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki , Hirohito broke the precedent of imperial silence and announced the nation's unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces. Japan lost 2. General Douglas MacArthur , who was made Allied commander, was sent to Japan to oversee its rehabilitation.
The country found itself occupied for years by the United States, who introduced democratic reforms. While many wanted Hirohito to be tried as a war criminal, MacArthur made a bargain with the emperor that included the implementation of a new Japanese constitution and the denouncement of imperial "divinity.
Until his death, Hirohito remained an active figure in Japan, even after his divinity was revoked. He acted as head of state and played an important role in rebuilding Japan's image to the rest of the world. He also focused on his love of marine biology, a subject on which he wrote several books. His son Akihito succeeded him to the throne.
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