The Second Sacred Judgment

By Shimomura, Hiroshi

Excerpt
The night of the 13rd passed by without the dream [of peace] coming true. On August 14, Tuesday, in the anteroom in Prime Minister's Residence were the Cabinet members in anticipation of a regular Cabinet meeting at 10:00 a.m., exchanging the whisper in anxiety. Now against the peace talk sprouted all sorts of argument, throwing all the comers of the nation into chaos. Some hardliners, in collaboration with right-wingers, ultra-nationalists and middle-ranking military officers, were beginning to stir about restlessly. It was near 10:00. We received an order to call on the Court at 10:30 by His Majesty's request. It was shortly after the Prime Minister had reported the latest development and returned from the Court. Without a doubt, the order was a result of his visit. At any rate, we were told that there was no need to change the clothes because of the urgent order. In fear that it would be too much discourtesy to proceed in front of His Majesty [in that way], however, some borrowed neckties from their secretaries and others attempted to make an open collar shirt look like a closed one. Some even exchanged clothes with their secretaries. I was lucky to be wearing the national uniform. Keeping a medal hanging on it, I joined all and headed to the Court. The Inner Palace of the Fukiage Imperial Gardens, a place I still freshly remembered when I had paid my sole visit to His Majesty for two hours before August 6, is a very simple house, with the entrance of the air raid shelter in front of its main entrance. The tunnel after descending to it is quite long, running straight for a while, and then turning to right to the conference room. Facing the imperial chair are two rows of chairs. From right to left are Prime Minister Suzuki, Chairman of the Privy Council HIranuma, and then five to six cabinet members including Army Minister Anami, with Chief of the Army General Staff Umezu and Chief of the Navy General Staff Toyoda at its end. Behind them are the rest of the cabinet members and myself, and behind us are Chief of the Comprehensive Planning Bureau [Masasumi] Ikeda, Cabinet Secretary Sakomizu, Chief of the Army Military Bureau [Masao] Yoshizumi and his naval counterpart [Zenshiro] Hoshina, all sitting down and anticipating His Majesty's arrival. The sheer silence just before his arrival prevailed in the room, interrupted only by whispers. Soon, His Majesty arrived with the lead by Chief aide-de-camp [Shin] Hasunuma. After all paid to him their best respects by bowing deeply, Prime Minister Sumki reported all the latest developments in a summary. The Cabinet meeting, he said, found about four-fifth of the members in favor of the original plan, but failed to reach a unanimous consensus. He deeply apologized of bothering His Majesty again and asked him to listen to some opinions against the plan and make another Sacred Judgment.

Book Id: WPLBN0000683030
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 302,214 KB.
Reproduction Date: 2005
Full Text

Title:

The Second Sacred Judgment

Author:

Shimomura, Hiroshi

Volume:

Language:

English

Subject:

Government Reference Publication, Transportation., Transportation Administrative Service Center (U.S.)

Collection:

National Security Archive Collection

Subcollection:

Historic
Publication Date:

Publisher:

Transportation Security Administration

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