{"id":89,"date":"2008-06-05T12:40:35","date_gmt":"2008-06-05T17:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/?p=89"},"modified":"2008-06-05T14:44:59","modified_gmt":"2008-06-05T19:44:59","slug":"documents-revealed-about-taisho-emperor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/archives\/89","title":{"rendered":"Documents revealed about Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor"},"content":{"rendered":"

My wife pointed out a very interesting article<\/a> to me this morning about the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor<\/a>, who was the emperor of Japan from 1912 to 1926. Specifically, the Imperial Household Agency released some of the official records from his reign. What makes the releasing of the documents news-worthy is that it is the first time the Imperial Household has ever admitted the mental and physical deficiencies of the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor. I couldn’t find the article at all anywhere in English (no surprise, the various Japanese news outlets seem to be very<\/em> selective about what news they release to the ‘rest’ of the world), so I’ll give a quick translation.<\/p>\n

\u00e5\u00a4\u00a7\u00e6\u00ad\u00a3\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e3\u20ac\u20ac\u00e3\u20ac\u0152\u00e5\u00ae\u0178\u00e9\u0152\u00b2\u00e3\u20ac\u008d\u00ef\u00bc\u201c\u00e5\u00ba\u00a6\u00e7\u203a\u00ae\u00e5\u2026\u00ac\u00e9\u2013\u2039\u00e3\u20ac\u20ac\u00e7\u2014\u2026\u00e7\u0160\u00b6\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e6\u00b7\u00b1\u00e5\u02c6\u00bb\u00e5\u0152\u2013\u00e8\u00a8\u02dc\u00e3\u0081\u2122\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\nNewly released documents reveal health problems of the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00e5\u00ae\u00ae\u00e5\u2020\u2026\u00e5\u00ba\u0081\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00ef\u00bc\u201d\u00e6\u2014\u00a5\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e5\u00a4\u00a7\u00e6\u00ad\u00a3\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e5\u2039\u2022\u00e9\u009d\u2122\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e8\u00a8\u02dc\u00e9\u0152\u00b2\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u20ac\u0152\u00e5\u00a4\u00a7\u00e6\u00ad\u00a3\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e5\u00ae\u0178\u00e9\u0152\u00b2\u00e3\u20ac\u008d\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e4\u00b8\u20ac\u00e9\u0192\u00a8\u00ef\u00bc\u02c6\u00e8\u00a4\u2021\u00e8\u00a3\u00bd\u00e6\u0153\u00ac\u00ef\u00bc\u2030\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e5\u2026\u00ac\u00e9\u2013\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00ef\u00bc\u0090\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00ef\u00bc\u0090\u00ef\u00bc\u201c\u00e5\u00b9\u00b4\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e7\u00b6\u0161\u00e3\u0081\u008f\u00e5\u2026\u00ac\u00e9\u2013\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00ef\u00bc\u2122\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00ef\u00bc\u02c6\u00e5\u00a4\u00a7\u00e6\u00ad\u00a3\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00ef\u00bc\u0090\u00ef\u00bc\u2030\u00e5\u00b9\u00b4\u00ef\u00bc\u2014\u00e6\u0153\u02c6\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u2030\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e6\u00ad\u00bb\u00e5\u017d\u00bb\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e5\u00a4\u0161\u00e6\u2018\u00a9\u00e9\u2122\u00b5\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e5\u0178\u2039\u00e8\u2018\u00ac\u00e3\u0081\u2022\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u2014\u00ef\u00bc\u02c6\u00e6\u02dc\u00ad\u00e5\u2019\u0152\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u2030\u00e5\u00b9\u00b4\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00e6\u0153\u02c6\u00e3\u0081\u00be\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e5\u00af\u00be\u00e8\u00b1\u00a1\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e6\u00b7\u00b1\u00e5\u02c6\u00bb\u00e5\u0152\u2013\u00e3\u0081\u2122\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e7\u2014\u2026\u00e7\u0160\u00b6\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e3\u0081\u00bb\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00e5\u00b9\u00b4\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e6\u2018\u201a\u00e6\u201d\u00bf\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u00a3\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e8\u00a3\u2022\u00e4\u00bb\u0081\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e5\u00a4\u00aa\u00e5\u00ad\u0090\u00ef\u00bc\u02c6\u00e6\u02dc\u00ad\u00e5\u2019\u0152\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00ef\u00bc\u2030\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e5\u2039\u2022\u00e9\u009d\u2122\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u00a9\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e8\u00a8\u02dc\u00e3\u0081\u2022\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\nOn the 4th of this month, the Imperial Household Agency released reproductions of official Imperial records from the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor that contained details about the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor’s health. The released records cover a period of 2~3 years from July of 1921 until the burial of the Emperor at Tamaryo. In addition to the Emperor’s worsening condition, the documents also revealed that due to those conditions in 1921 Crown Prince Hirohito (later Showa Emperor) was placed as Regent on the Imperial throne.<\/p>\n

\u00e5\u00ae\u0178\u00e9\u0152\u00b2\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e5\u2026\u00a8\u00ef\u00bc\u02dc\u00ef\u00bc\u2022\u00e5\u2020\u0160\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e4\u00bb\u0160\u00e5\u203a\u017e\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e5\u00b7\u00bb\u00ef\u00bc\u2014\u00ef\u00bc\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u2030\u00e5\u00b7\u00bb\u00ef\u00bc\u02dc\u00ef\u00bc\u2022\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e8\u00a8\u02c6\u00ef\u00bc\u2122\u00e5\u2020\u0160\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e5\u2026\u00ac\u00e9\u2013\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u2022\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e5\u00ae\u00ae\u00e5\u2020\u2026\u00e5\u00ba\u0081\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u201a\u02c6\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e3\u20ac\u0152\u00e5\u20ac\u2039\u00e4\u00ba\u00ba\u00e6\u0192\u2026\u00e5\u00a0\u00b1\u00e3\u20ac\u008d\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e7\u0090\u2020\u00e7\u201d\u00b1\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e5\u00a1\u2014\u00e3\u201a\u0160\u00e3\u0081\u00a4\u00e3\u0081\u00b6\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e9\u0192\u00a8\u00e5\u02c6\u2020\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e4\u00bb\u0160\u00e5\u203a\u017e\u00e5\u2026\u00ac\u00e9\u2013\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e5\u2026\u00a8\u00e7\u00b4\u201e\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00ef\u00bc\u2013\u00e4\u00b8\u2021\u00e5\u00ad\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e3\u0081\u2020\u00e3\u0081\u00a1\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u2026\u00e7\u00a8\u2039\u00e5\u00ba\u00a6\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u201c\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e5\u008d\u00b3\u00e4\u00bd\u008d\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u2030\u00e6\u00ad\u00bb\u00e5\u017d\u00bb\u00e3\u0081\u00be\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e5\u2026\u00ac\u00e9\u2013\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u2022\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e6\u0153\u00aa\u00e5\u2026\u00ac\u00e9\u2013\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e7\u201d\u0178\u00e3\u0081\u00be\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u2030\u00e5\u008d\u00b3\u00e4\u00bd\u008d\u00e3\u0081\u00be\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00ef\u00bc\u201d\u00ef\u00bc\u2014\u00e5\u2020\u0160\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\nThe complete records contain a total of 85 volumes, of which the 9 volumes from number 77 to 85 have been released. According to the Agency, of the 160,000 characters contained in the released records, about 2% have been removed because it contained ‘personal information’. Including those just released, now all the records from the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor’s enthronement until his death have been released, leaving 47 more volumes covering the Emperor’s birth until his enthronement that have yet to be released.<\/p>\n

\u00e4\u00bb\u0160\u00e5\u203a\u017e\u00e5\u2026\u00ac\u00e9\u2013\u2039\u00e5\u02c6\u2020\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u201a\u02c6\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00e5\u00b9\u00b4\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00e6\u0153\u02c6\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u2022\u00e6\u2014\u00a5\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e8\u00a3\u2022\u00e4\u00bb\u0081\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e5\u00a4\u00aa\u00e5\u00ad\u0090\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e6\u2018\u201a\u00e6\u201d\u00bf\u00e5\u00b0\u00b1\u00e4\u00bb\u00bb\u00e6\u2122\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u20ac\u0152\u00e5\u00a4\u00a7\u00e6\u00ad\u00a3\u00e4\u00b8\u2030\u00e5\u00b9\u00b4\u00e9\u00a0\u0192\u00e3\u0192\u00a8\u00e3\u0192\u00aa\u00e8\u00bb\u00bd\u00e5\u00ba\u00a6\u00e3\u0192\u017d\u00e5\u00be\u00a1\u00e7\u2122\u00ba\u00e8\u00aa\u017e\u00e5\u00be\u00a1\u00e9\u0161\u0153\u00e5\u00ae\u00b3\u00e3\u201a\u00a2\u00e3\u0192\u00aa\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e5\u2026\u00b6\u00e3\u0192\u017d\u00e5\u00be\u0152\u00e3\u0192\u2039\u00e8\u2021\u00b3\u00e3\u0192\u00aa\u00e5\u00be\u00a1\u00e5\u00a7\u00bf\u00e5\u2039\u00a2\u00e5\u2030\u008d\u00e6\u2013\u00b9\u00e3\u0192\u02dc\u00e5\u00b1\u02c6\u00e3\u201a\u00bb\u00e3\u0192\u00a9\u00e3\u0192\u00ab\u00e3\u0192\u00ab\u00e5\u00be\u00a1\u00e5\u201a\u00be\u00e5\u0090\u2018\u00e3\u201a\u00a2\u00e3\u0192\u00aa\u00e3\u20ac\u008d\u00e3\u20ac\u0152\u00e6\u00ae\u0160\u00e3\u0192\u2039\u00e5\u00be\u00a1\u00e8\u00a8\u02dc\u00e6\u2020\u00b6\u00e5\u0160\u203a\u00e3\u0192\u008f\u00e5\u00be\u00a1\u00e8\u00a1\u00b0\u00e9\u20ac\u20ac\u00e3\u201a\u00a2\u00e3\u0192\u00aa\u00e3\u20ac\u008d\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u00a9\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e7\u2014\u2026\u00e7\u0160\u00b6\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u0081\u00a4\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e8\u00a8\u02dc\u00e3\u0081\u2022\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u201c\u00e5\u00b9\u00b4\u00ef\u00bc\u2122\u00e6\u0153\u02c6\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00e6\u2014\u00a5\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e9\u2013\u00a2\u00e6\u009d\u00b1\u00e5\u00a4\u00a7\u00e9\u0153\u2021\u00e7\u0081\u00bd\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e9\u0161\u203a\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e5\u00a4\u00a7\u00e6\u00ad\u00a3\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e6\u00a0\u0192\u00e6\u0153\u00a8\u00e7\u0153\u0152\u00e6\u2014\u00a5\u00e5\u2026\u2030\u00e5\u00b8\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e8\u00a2\u00ab\u00e7\u0081\u00bd\u00e8\u20ac\u2026\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u201a\u0081\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00ef\u00bc\u0090\u00ef\u00bc\u0090\u00ef\u00bc\u0090\u00e4\u00b8\u2021\u00e5\u2020\u2020\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e5\u00af\u201e\u00e8\u00b4\u02c6\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e8\u00a8\u02dc\u00e8\u00bf\u00b0\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u201a\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\nThe released documents contain the following statements that detail the Emperor’s health problems around the time that Crown Prince Hirohito was inaugurated as the regent (note from Derek: these direct quotations are really hard for me to translate, because of the archaic style used in the official record, sorry if they’re not up to snuff<\/em>): “His majesty’s speech impediment has become slightly worse since the the 3rd year of his reign (1915)\u00e3\u20ac\u0081and recently his posture has shifted forward with a tendency to lean over.” “His majesty is developing pronounced memory problems.” The volumes also contain an account of the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor donating 10 million yen to victims of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, when the Emperor was residing in the city of Nikko in Tochigi prefecture at the time.<\/p>\n

\u00e5\u00ae\u0178\u00e9\u0152\u00b2\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e5\u2039\u2022\u00e9\u009d\u2122\u00e3\u201a\u201e\u00e6\u201d\u00bf\u00e6\u00b2\u00bb\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e5\u00a4\u2013\u00e4\u00ba\u00a4\u00e4\u00b8\u0160\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e9\u2021\u008d\u00e8\u00a6\u0081\u00e4\u00ba\u2039\u00e9\u00a0\u2026\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u00a9\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e8\u00a8\u02dc\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e6\u2013\u2021\u00e6\u203a\u00b8\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e5\u00a4\u00a7\u00e6\u00ad\u00a3\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u0081\u00a4\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e6\u00ad\u00bb\u00e5\u017d\u00bb\u00e5\u00be\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u2014\u00e5\u00b9\u00b4\u00ef\u00bc\u2014\u00e6\u0153\u02c6\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e5\u00bd\u201c\u00e6\u2122\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e5\u00ae\u00ae\u00e5\u2020\u2026\u00e7\u0153\u0081\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e7\u00b7\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u2022\u00e3\u201a\u201c\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e7\u009d\u20ac\u00e6\u2030\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00ef\u00bc\u201c\u00ef\u00bc\u2014\u00ef\u00bc\u02c6\u00e5\u0090\u0152\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u2030\u00e5\u00b9\u00b4\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00e6\u0153\u02c6\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e5\u00ae\u0152\u00e6\u02c6\u0090\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\nThe released volumes contain accounts of the Emperor’s condition and important political and diplomatic matters during the Emperor’s reign. The Imperial Household Department began compiling the official records in 1927 after the death of the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor, and were completed in December of 1937.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I personally found this article fascinating. It’s always been a bit of an open secret that the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor had considerable mental and physical problems, in fact if he were anyone but the emperor he almost certainly would have been institutionalized. However due to his station he was treated well, and continued to study and learn as much as he could (he had to be continually tutored in English most of his life, and tried unsuccessfully to learn Korean after touring the Korean peninsula in 1907). I’m still surprised that the Imperial Household Agency<\/a> released these kind of documents at all, considering how draconian and close-mouthed they are about the imperial family.<\/p>\n

So the next question I had was, “What do the Japanese people think of this?” Fortunately for me, the news site in question also has open commentary at the bottom. Some of the comments<\/a> at least seem to be intelligent (not quite as bad as YouTube comments, but some are pretty vitriolic) so I’ll translate some of the more interesting ones. Even the ones where the commenter was obviously frothing at the mouth tell us a lot about the Japanese people. These comments are from the first page, and the comments follow a public ranking system, so the ones listed first are the ones that the most people agreed with.<\/p>\n

2008\u00e5\u00b9\u00b46\u00e6\u0153\u02c64\u00e6\u2014\u00a5 18\u00e6\u2122\u201a29\u00e5\u02c6\u2020 810\u00e7\u201a\u00b9
\n\u00e5\u00ae\u00ae\u00e5\u2020\u2026\u00e5\u00ba\u0081\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e5\u008f\u00a4\u00e5\u00a2\u00b3\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e7\u2122\u00ba\u00e6\u017d\u02dc\u00e8\u00a8\u00b1\u00e5\u008f\u00af\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e5\u2021\u00ba\u00e3\u0081\u009d\u00e3\u0081\u2020\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00a3\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e6\u0192\u2026\u00e5\u00a0\u00b1\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e5\u2026\u00ac\u00e9\u2013\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e6\u00ad\u00b4\u00e5\u008f\u00b2\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e7\u00a0\u201d\u00e7\u00a9\u00b6\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e5\u0160\u203a\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e8\u00b2\u00b8\u00e3\u0081\u2122\u00e3\u0081\u00b9\u00e3\u0081\u008d\u00e3\u0081\u00a0\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\nJune 4, 2008 6:29 pm 810 points
\n“The Imperial Household Agency still won’t give permission to excavate the Kofun<\/a>. They should be more of a help to historical research and release more information.”<\/p>\n

2008\u00e5\u00b9\u00b46\u00e6\u0153\u02c64\u00e6\u2014\u00a5 12\u00e6\u2122\u201a33\u00e5\u02c6\u2020 722\u00e7\u201a\u00b9
\n\u00e5\u00ae\u0178\u00e9\u0152\u00b2\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e8\u00a8\u20ac\u00e3\u0081\u00a3\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e5\u2026\u00ac\u00e5\u00bc\u008f\u00e8\u00a8\u02dc\u00e9\u0152\u00b2\u00e3\u0081\u00a0\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u2030\u00e3\u0081\u201a\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e7\u00a8\u2039\u00e5\u00ba\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e8\u201e\u0161\u00e8\u2030\u00b2\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u0081\u201a\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u201a\u2021\u00e3\u0081\u2020\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e3\u0081\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00be\u00e3\u201a\u0160\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e8\u00a1\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e5\u2021\u00ba\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e6\u0192\u2026\u00e5\u00a0\u00b1\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e5\u00b0\u2018\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e5\u00a4\u00a7\u00e6\u00ad\u00a3\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u0081\u00a4\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e8\u00a8\u02dc\u00e9\u0152\u00b2\u00e3\u0081\u00a0\u00e3\u0081\u2018\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e9\u009d\u017e\u00e5\u00b8\u00b8\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e8\u02c6\u02c6\u00e5\u2018\u00b3\u00e6\u00b7\u00b1\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u0081\u2122\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e7\u00b7\u00a8\u00e9\u203a\u2020\u00e7\u2122\u00ba\u00e8\u00a1\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u2022\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u201c\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e6\u0153\u0178\u00e5\u00be\u2026\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u0081\u2122\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\nJune 4, 2008 6:29 pm 722 points
\n“Even though they say it is an ‘authentic account’, because it is more of an ‘official account’ it almost certainly is glossing over a lot of things. Even so, because there is so little information directly concerning the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor I find this extremely interesting. Hopefully they will publish some kind of compilation.”<\/p>\n

2008\u00e5\u00b9\u00b46\u00e6\u0153\u02c64\u00e6\u2014\u00a5 18\u00e6\u2122\u201a47\u00e5\u02c6\u2020 351\u00e7\u201a\u00b9
\n\u00e6\u2014\u00a5\u00e6\u0153\u00ac\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e5\u00ae\u00b6\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u20ac\u0152\u00e7\u201d\u00b7\u00e7\u00b3\u00bb\u00e3\u20ac\u008d\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00ef\u00bc\u2018\u00ef\u00bc\u2019\u00ef\u00bc\u2014\u00e4\u00bb\u00a3\u00e7\u00b6\u0161\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e4\u00bb\u2013\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e9\u00a1\u017e\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e3\u0081\u00bf\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e4\u00b8\u2013\u00e7\u2022\u0152\u00e4\u00b8\u20ac\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e8\u00a1\u20ac\u00e7\u00ad\u2039\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u009d\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e6\u201d\u00af\u00e3\u0081\u02c6\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e5\u00b9\u00b4\u00e9\u2013\u201c\u00e5\u203a\u00bd\u00e6\u00b0\u2018\u00e4\u00b8\u20ac\u00e4\u00ba\u00ba\u00e9\u00a0\u00ad200\u00e5\u2020\u2020\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u009d\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e5\u00ae\u2030\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e8\u00a6\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e9\u00ab\u02dc\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e8\u00a6\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e5\u201d\u00af\u00e8\u00a8\u20ac\u00e3\u0081\u02c6\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e4\u00ba\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e4\u00b8\u20ac\u00e5\u00ba\u00a6\u00e5\u00a4\u00b1\u00e3\u201a\u008f\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00b0\u00e4\u00ba\u0152\u00e5\u00ba\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e5\u008f\u2013\u00e3\u201a\u0160\u00e6\u02c6\u00bb\u00e3\u0081\u203a\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u2020\u00e3\u0081\u201c\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e8\u00b2\u00b4\u00e9\u2021\u008d\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e5\u00a4\u2013\u00e4\u00ba\u00a4\u00e8\u00b3\u2021\u00e6\u00ba\u0090\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u201c\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00bb\u00e3\u0081\u00a9\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e4\u00ba\u00ba\u00e7\u2030\u00a9\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u2020\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u009d\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u201a\u2030\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e4\u00bd\u2022\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e7\u201e\u00a1\u00e7\u0178\u00a5\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u0192\u00bb\u00e3\u0192\u00bb\u00e3\u0192\u00bb\u00e6\u201a\u00b2\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u008f\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00ad\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\nJune 4, 2008 6:47 pm 351 points
\n“The Japanese Imperial family is a patriarchal line that has continued for 127 generations and is unmatched anywhere in the world. Supporting the Imperial family only costs 200 yen per person per year. Whether you think think that’s cheap or expensive, if we lose the imperial line it is gone forever. I don’t think there anyone more valuable to the nation as a diplomatic resource. The ignorance of people that say we don’t need the imperial family… it saddens me.”<\/p>\n

2008\u00e5\u00b9\u00b46\u00e6\u0153\u02c64\u00e6\u2014\u00a5 19\u00e6\u2122\u201a37\u00e5\u02c6\u2020 232\u00e7\u201a\u00b9
\n\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e9\u2122\u203a\u00e4\u00b8\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e5\u00af\u00be\u00e3\u0081\u2122\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e8\u00a8\u20ac\u00e8\u2018\u2030\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e7\u201d\u0161\u00e3\u0081\u00a0\u00e7\u2013\u2018\u00e5\u2022\u008f\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e6\u201e\u0178\u00e3\u0081\u02dc\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e7\u2030\u00a9\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e5\u00a4\u0161\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e8\u00b5\u00a4\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e5\u00b7\u00a5\u00e4\u00bd\u0153\u00e5\u201c\u00a1\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u0081\u2122\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00ef\u00bc\u0178\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u0081\u00be\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u0081\u00a9\u00e3\u0081\u00a3\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e3\u20ac\u0152\u00e5\u00b8\u201a\u00e6\u00b0\u2018\u00e5\u203a\u00a3\u00e4\u00bd\u201c\u00e3\u20ac\u008d\u00ef\u00bc\u0178\u00e3\u0081\u009d\u00e3\u201a\u201c\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e6\u00b0\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e5\u2026\u00a5\u00e3\u201a\u2030\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u201a\u2030 \u00e6\u2014\u00a5 \u00e6\u0153\u00ac \u00e3\u0081\u2039 \u00e3\u201a\u2030 \u00e5\u2021\u00ba \u00e3\u0081\u00a6 \u00e8\u00a1\u0152 \u00e3\u0081\u008d \u00e3\u0081\u00aa \u00e3\u0081\u2022 \u00e3\u0081\u201e \u00e3\u20ac\u201a \u00e3\u0081\u201c\u00e3\u0081\u201c\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u0081\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e6\u2013\u00b9\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e7\u203a\u00b8\u00e5\u00bf\u0153\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e5\u203a\u00bd\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u0081\u201a\u00e3\u201a\u0160\u00e3\u0081\u00be\u00e3\u0081\u203a\u00e3\u201a\u201c\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e7\u00a4\u00bc\u00e7\u00af\u20ac\u00e3\u201a\u2019\u00e9\u2021\u008d\u00e3\u201a\u201c\u00e3\u0081\u02dc\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u20ac\u0152\u00e6\u2014\u00a5\u00e6\u0153\u00ac\u00e4\u00ba\u00ba\u00e3\u20ac\u008d\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e6\u00b2\u00bb\u00e3\u201a\u0081\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e5\u203a\u00bd\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u0081\u2122\u00e3\u201a\u02c6\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\nJune 4, 2008 7:37 pm 232 points
\n“I have a lot of problems with the way that you were speaking about His Majesty the Emperor. Are you some kind of Communist Spy? Or maybe just some kind of “citizen’s group”? Well, if you don’t like the way things are here, THEN JUST LEAVE JAPAN. You’re not worthy of this country. This is a country for Japanese<\/em>, those that honor and respect propriety.”<\/p>\n

(Note: since they are not in chronological order, I can’t figure out who this particularly harsh commenter is replying to. Sorry.)<\/p>\n

This is just a few, but I think it gives you an idea of the differing opinions found within Japan itself. There are conservatives that consider the Emperor and the Imperial Family to be the<\/em> symbol of Japan and must be preserved (even to the point of disenfranchising the Crown Prince, who has no male heir) to those that think the entire imperial system is antiquated and should be done away with. Many of the higher-scoring comments criticize those that say ‘who cares?’ or those that say the Imperial system should be abolished. Some of the comments are obviously trolls and have been voted town to the bottom. There are also a lot of comments defending the Imperial system because of it’s 1000 year history and being the oldest dynasty in the world. One commenter said, “Without the Imperial Family, Japan would just be another 1st world nation.”<\/p>\n

It seems to me that the imperial family with it’s unbroken line and long history is a special point of pride for many Japanese. They see it as a great symbol to the rest of the world, something that really sets Japan and the Japanese people apart. From another comment:<\/p>\n

\u00e3\u201a\u00a2\u00e3\u0192\u00a1\u00e3\u0192\u00aa\u00e3\u201a\u00ab\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00a9\u00e3\u201a\u201c\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e9\u2021\u2018\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00a3\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e8\u00b2\u00b7\u00e3\u0081\u02c6\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e7\u00a7\u2018\u00e5\u00ad\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e5\u2030\u00b5\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00be\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e4\u00b8\u00ad\u00e5\u203a\u00bd\u00e3\u201a\u201e\u00e3\u201a\u00a4\u00e3\u0192\u00b3\u00e3\u0192\u2030\u00e3\u0081\u00ab\u00e6\u00ad\u00b4\u00e5\u008f\u00b2\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00a3\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u201c\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e6\u00a7\u02dc\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e4\u00bc\u009d\u00e7\u00b5\u00b1\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e7\u201e\u00a1\u00e3\u0081\u008f\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e3\u0081\u2014\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u201a\u00e6\u2014\u00a5\u00e6\u0153\u00ac\u00e5\u203a\u00bd\u00e6\u00b0\u2018\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e5\u2026\u02c6\u00e7\u00a5\u2013\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e3\u0081\u00bf\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e5\u00ae\u00a4\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u2030\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e5\u02c6\u2020\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u201a\u008f\u00e3\u201a\u0152\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u201a\u2039\u00e3\u20ac\u201a\u00e3\u0081\u00a4\u00e3\u0081\u00be\u00e3\u201a\u0160\u00e5\u203a\u00bd\u00e6\u00b0\u2018\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e7\u00b7\u008f\u00e6\u0153\u00ac\u00e5\u00ae\u00b6\u00e3\u0081\u00a7\u00e3\u0081\u2122\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\n“This is something [referring to the Imperial family and it’s history] America can’t buy no matter how much money it has, and can’t make no matter how advanced their science is. No matter how old India and China’s history may be, they can’t match this ancient tradition. Beyond that, it’s thought that all of Japanese are descended from the Imperial family, which means the Imperial family is the founder of the Japanese people.”<\/p>\n

Such patriotic\/nationalistic thoughts are pretty normal for pretty much any country, and in general this probably isn’t that big a deal. However, what I don’t think many of these Japanese realize is that, well, the rest of the world really doesn’t care. Most other people say, “Oh, Japan has an royal family too. And it’s a long unbroken dynasty. That’s interesting.” And that’s about it. This is probably not unique, though. Things about America that Americans take pride for are probably things that those from other countries don’t care about, or can easily pick apart. For example: “America is the land of the free!” is replied with: “What about the disenfranchised lower classes, what about the secret prisons and illegal imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay?” etc.<\/p>\n

P.S. I found one other really interesting comment:
\n359\u00ef\u00bc\u01612008\u00e5\u00b9\u00b46\u00e6\u0153\u02c65\u00e6\u2014\u00a5 9\u00e6\u2122\u201a23\u00e5\u02c6\u2020 4\u00e7\u201a\u00b9
\n\u00e3\u20ac\u0152\u00e6\u02dc\u00ad\u00e5\u2019\u0152\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u0161\u2021\u00e3\u0081\u00af\u00e8\u00aa\u00b0\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e5\u00ad\u0090\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u20ac\u0081\u00e3\u201a\u008f\u00e3\u0081\u2039\u00e3\u201a\u2030\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201e\u00e3\u20ac\u008d\u00e3\u0081\u00a8\u00e8\u00a6\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u0152\u00e3\u201a\u02c6\u00e3\u0081\u008f\u00e8\u00a8\u20ac\u00e3\u0081\u00a3\u00e3\u0081\u00a6\u00e3\u0081\u0178\u00e3\u0081\u00aa\u00e3\u0081\u201a\u00e3\u20ac\u201a
\n#359. June 5, 2008 9:23 am. 4 points.
\nMy parents often said, “I wonder who’s son the Showa Emperor (Emperor Hirohito) really is?”<\/p>\n

This is something I’ve thought about before. Is it possible that the Showa Emperor wasn’t the son of the Taisho Emperor at all, but someone else entirely (perhaps some other male in the royal household)? Considering that the Taisho Emperor was physically and mentally handicapped from a young age (the official story is that he had meningitis when a young child which contributed to his physical and mental problems, but given the genetic problems that royal lines inevitably fall into he could easily have just been born that way) one could imagine that the Meiji Emperor (who was still alive when his son got married and lived to see 3 grandsons born) or some other power in the imperial household ensuring that the future Empress Teimei<\/a> had sons that were from a strong, healthy father. I think it’s a little far-fetched, but it is an intriguing possibility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My wife pointed out a very interesting article to me this morning about the Taish\u00c5\u008d Emperor, who was the emperor of Japan from 1912 to 1926. Specifically, the Imperial Household Agency released some of the official records from his reign. … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":497,"href":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89\/revisions\/497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.moroha.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}