Emperor Hirohito's war responsibility denial logic was pre-designed, script-like documents found

Newly discovered documents indicate that Emperor Hirohito's memoir, 'Monologue,' which sought to absolve him of responsibility for World War II, was not a spontaneous reflection but a carefully orchestrated narrative. These documents, identified as 'Research on War Responsibility,' appear to have functioned as a script or guideline for the Emperor's statements.

During World War II, Emperor Hirohito held the position of supreme commander of the Japanese military. However, in his 'Monologue,' he presented a rationale that attributed the decision to wage the Pacific War to the military and parliament, framing his role as that of a constitutional monarch who merely approved their decisions. This narrative aimed to distance him from direct culpability.

The discovered 'Research on War Responsibility' documents reportedly contain only Emperor Hirohito's statements without any questions, serving as a questionnaire for the 'Monologue.' Experts suggest these documents played a crucial role in shaping the Emperor's arguments for his lack of responsibility.

Kenzo Takayanagi, a former professor at Tokyo Imperial University and a leading authority on Anglo-American law at the time, is believed to have authored these documents. Following Japan's defeat, Takayanagi served as foreign minister and was a key figure in post-war Japanese politics, acting as an advisor to then-Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.

Yutaka Yoshida, an emeritus professor at Hitotsubashi University who has studied the political nature of the 'Monologue,' stated that the findings further clarify the memoir's status as a political document prepared in anticipation of war crimes trials. He suggested it was designed to prepare for the possibility of Emperor Hirohito being summoned as a witness, especially after he avoided prosecution.