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Hirohito: A Life from Beginning to End
Hirohito * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. Japanese Emperor Hirohito is one of history’s most enigmatic figures. He led the Japanese during the darkest point of their history as they joined forces with the fascism of Nazi Germany and Italy. Upon Japan’s defeat most believed that Emperor Hirohito would stand trial for the war crimes he was accused of presiding over. But the trial never happened. Instead, to the surprise of the whole world—and most likely Hirohito himself—he was placed back on his throne and allowed to administer affairs in Japan until the day he died peacefully in 1989. How did all this come about? Read further to discover the life and the legend of Japan’s most notorious leader. Inside you will read about... ✓ Hirohito Takes the Throne ✓ Invasion of China and Assassination Attempts ✓ The Rape of Nanking and Unit 731 ✓ Imperial Japan, an Axis Power ✓ Entering World War II ✓ Atomic Hiroshima and Nagasaki And much more!
113 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2018
201 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
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Hourly History
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 25, 2021
It is generally believed that Emperor Hirohito did not have a critical role to play in the aggressive posture adopted by the Japanese during the Second World War. Hourly History attempts to provide evidence to the contrary even though it doesn't appear to be conclusive. Whatever may have been the case, it is difficult to fathom how the Emperor could go scot free after the war.
October 6, 2023
Informative
Largely interesting, started off a little too romantically, at times too much of the writer's view was showing, at times too graphic. I did learn some new facts from it.
Largely interesting, started off a little too romantically, at times too much of the writer's view was showing, at times too graphic. I did learn some new facts from it.
January 14, 2022
To my surprise I thought this book would end differently. It felt like a mystery reading the ending as I wasn't paying attention in history class. Great read for me.
November 23, 2019
This is an eye-opening view of Hirohito's life and times. Having just read the history of Japan, I was curious about how involved the emperor was in the awful fighting that took place between the world wars and during WWII. Hirohito waffled between fear (of his military leaders) and ignoring (the worst) and urging the military along. It is not hard to see how easily the military overran this man. I am still shocked that Hirohito did not stand trial for war crimes (particularly for the Nanking Massacre).
However, I WAS shocked to see that the perpetrators of Nanking, especially Unit 731, were never prosecuted but were granted immunity and RECRUITED TO THE US TO CONDUCT FURTHER RESEARCH AND SHARE THE FINDINGS OF THEIR EXPERIMENTS. I can understand General MacArthur, having spent so much time in Japan and Asia would believe that the Japanese people needed their emperor (and thus did not prosecute him). However, what on earth were the other Americans doing allowing the Nanking disaster to go unpunished? I've read recently that the US also welcomed into the US a variety of the worst of the Nazis of the Holocaust. Unbelievable.
However, I WAS shocked to see that the perpetrators of Nanking, especially Unit 731, were never prosecuted but were granted immunity and RECRUITED TO THE US TO CONDUCT FURTHER RESEARCH AND SHARE THE FINDINGS OF THEIR EXPERIMENTS. I can understand General MacArthur, having spent so much time in Japan and Asia would believe that the Japanese people needed their emperor (and thus did not prosecute him). However, what on earth were the other Americans doing allowing the Nanking disaster to go unpunished? I've read recently that the US also welcomed into the US a variety of the worst of the Nazis of the Holocaust. Unbelievable.
December 17, 2020
Could not finish
The truth hurts, and this sickened me. I stopped reading after the immunity deal was made, and the United States wanted the results of their grotesque experiments on human beings.
The truth hurts, and this sickened me. I stopped reading after the immunity deal was made, and the United States wanted the results of their grotesque experiments on human beings.
January 29, 2023
Good read
I knew very little about Hirohito, so this book was interesting to read. However, the book focused mostly on the events during his reign rather than the man himself.
I knew very little about Hirohito, so this book was interesting to read. However, the book focused mostly on the events during his reign rather than the man himself.
November 15, 2022
Michinomiya Hirohito was born on April 29, 1901, in the Aoyama Palace in Tokyo; he was the grandson of Emperor Meiji the Great who later passed away when Hirohito was eleven years old. "Emperor Meiji’s death made Hirohito’s father, Prince Yoshihito, the new emperor and Hirohito the crown prince." In November of 1921, when Hirohito was only twenty years old and his father ill, he was appointed Prince Regent of Japan. When his father died, Hirohito became the 124th emperor of Japan.
Hostilities, conflicts, assassinations and attempts, grew more frequent between Japan and China over the ensuing years. Eventually, conflicts would see Japan's incursion into Manchuria as well as escalating hostilities in Shanghai, leading to the Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement in 1932. “The rise or fall of Shanghai means the birth or death of the whole nation.” —Chiang Kai-shek, Republic of China
Japan had sided with the Allies during World War I, bat found much of the post-WWI order to be "intolerable to their designs. In the end, it could be said that it was this desire to rip up the Treaty of Versailles and create a new world order that would bind the three main Axis powers more than anything else." It is not long before we see Unit 731, the Asian Auschwitz, operating in full swing, including. as reported in the work listed below, the hopeful development of a virus-type agent fatal to Caucasians and successful test balloon bombs in North America.
"It was common practice for prisoners who had the misfortune of entering the gates of Unit 731 to be subjected to disease so that attending scientists could monitor the progress of the illness. In even more heinous experiments, completely healthy patients would have organs removed to see how long they could survive without them. Many prisoners were also inflicted to forced amputation of limbs in order to gather data on the amount of blood that would be lost. There were also several deprivation experiments in which prisoners would be subjected to extreme cold to gauge how long their body could tolerate it before freezing to death."
On November 5, 1941, Hirohito officially approved plans to attack the United States, which included Pearl Harbor. Eventually, attacks were also initiated along the west coast of the USA. "In just one day the Japanese managed to nearly obliterate the U.S. Pacific Fleet and kill more than 2,300 Americans. Most observers on the ground didn’t even know what had hit them." Japanese and European Americans, who had shortly prior departed Japan on the ocean liner Tatsuta Maru, were returned by that liner to Japan. "Upon arrival back to Japan on December 14, all passengers of European decent were seized and placed in internment camps where they would remain for the rest of the war."
Atomic Bombs: Hiroshima and Nagasaki - 6th & 9th August 1945
A time when children played in the streets and ordinary people went about their daily routines. “The atom bomb was no ‘great decision.’ It was used in the war... It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.” — USA President Harry S. Truman, Democratic Party
Japan surrenders. “That most unfortunate war, which I deeply deplore.” —Emperor Hirohito
Aboard the USS Missouri, the official 'Instrument of Surrender' was signed on September 2, 1945, by the Japanese envoys Foreign Minister Mamora Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu.
General Douglas McArthur "believed that the death of their emperor would be too much of a shock for the average Japanese citizen to handle. And so it was that Hirohito was able to remain the sitting constitutional monarch until his passing in 1989."
- Quotes from this work:
Unit 731: "Among other experiments conducted, the Japanese attempted to educate themselves on just how much air pressure a human being could take... These unfortunate test subjects were placed in air pressure chambers where the pressure was gradually increased until their physical constitution couldn’t stand it anymore, and they perished."
“One could argue that these Japanese atrocities carried out were typical of the chaos and brutality that often accompany warfare; but this cannot be said for Unit 731. Much like their counterparts in Nazi Germany did in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, the Japanese experimented on humans like lab rats, all in the name of medical and military advancement.” —Derek Pua, Unit 731: The Forgotten Asian Auschwitz
“Despite Japan’s desires and efforts, unfortunate differences in the ways that Japan, England, the United States, and China understood circumstances, together with misunderstandings of attitudes, made it impossible for parties to agree.” —Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō
- Another work that may be of interest:
Unit 731: Japan's Secret Biological Warfare in World War II -Peter Williams & David Wallace
Hostilities, conflicts, assassinations and attempts, grew more frequent between Japan and China over the ensuing years. Eventually, conflicts would see Japan's incursion into Manchuria as well as escalating hostilities in Shanghai, leading to the Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement in 1932. “The rise or fall of Shanghai means the birth or death of the whole nation.” —Chiang Kai-shek, Republic of China
Japan had sided with the Allies during World War I, bat found much of the post-WWI order to be "intolerable to their designs. In the end, it could be said that it was this desire to rip up the Treaty of Versailles and create a new world order that would bind the three main Axis powers more than anything else." It is not long before we see Unit 731, the Asian Auschwitz, operating in full swing, including. as reported in the work listed below, the hopeful development of a virus-type agent fatal to Caucasians and successful test balloon bombs in North America.
"It was common practice for prisoners who had the misfortune of entering the gates of Unit 731 to be subjected to disease so that attending scientists could monitor the progress of the illness. In even more heinous experiments, completely healthy patients would have organs removed to see how long they could survive without them. Many prisoners were also inflicted to forced amputation of limbs in order to gather data on the amount of blood that would be lost. There were also several deprivation experiments in which prisoners would be subjected to extreme cold to gauge how long their body could tolerate it before freezing to death."
On November 5, 1941, Hirohito officially approved plans to attack the United States, which included Pearl Harbor. Eventually, attacks were also initiated along the west coast of the USA. "In just one day the Japanese managed to nearly obliterate the U.S. Pacific Fleet and kill more than 2,300 Americans. Most observers on the ground didn’t even know what had hit them." Japanese and European Americans, who had shortly prior departed Japan on the ocean liner Tatsuta Maru, were returned by that liner to Japan. "Upon arrival back to Japan on December 14, all passengers of European decent were seized and placed in internment camps where they would remain for the rest of the war."
Atomic Bombs: Hiroshima and Nagasaki - 6th & 9th August 1945
A time when children played in the streets and ordinary people went about their daily routines. “The atom bomb was no ‘great decision.’ It was used in the war... It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.” — USA President Harry S. Truman, Democratic Party
Japan surrenders. “That most unfortunate war, which I deeply deplore.” —Emperor Hirohito
Aboard the USS Missouri, the official 'Instrument of Surrender' was signed on September 2, 1945, by the Japanese envoys Foreign Minister Mamora Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu.
General Douglas McArthur "believed that the death of their emperor would be too much of a shock for the average Japanese citizen to handle. And so it was that Hirohito was able to remain the sitting constitutional monarch until his passing in 1989."
- Quotes from this work:
Unit 731: "Among other experiments conducted, the Japanese attempted to educate themselves on just how much air pressure a human being could take... These unfortunate test subjects were placed in air pressure chambers where the pressure was gradually increased until their physical constitution couldn’t stand it anymore, and they perished."
“One could argue that these Japanese atrocities carried out were typical of the chaos and brutality that often accompany warfare; but this cannot be said for Unit 731. Much like their counterparts in Nazi Germany did in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, the Japanese experimented on humans like lab rats, all in the name of medical and military advancement.” —Derek Pua, Unit 731: The Forgotten Asian Auschwitz
“Despite Japan’s desires and efforts, unfortunate differences in the ways that Japan, England, the United States, and China understood circumstances, together with misunderstandings of attitudes, made it impossible for parties to agree.” —Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō
- Another work that may be of interest:
Unit 731: Japan's Secret Biological Warfare in World War II -Peter Williams & David Wallace
February 21, 2021
The book goes into his life from the start onwards. He was the grandson of an Emperor and became one himself. He was subject to a couple of assassination attempts and what amounted to a coup attempt right at the end of World War II.
The book goes through things happening during his life including the Russo-Japanese War, the invasion of China and World War II. There has been some question about how much he actually knew and approved of the invasion of China and the Japanese attacks during World War II and this book makes a good case that he knew quite a bit about these things and either gave his approval openly or just let things happen on their own.
The invasion of China was a horrible event with some things like the Rape of Nankingwhere tens of thousands of Chinese were murdered by Japanese soldiers and this doesn't count the looting and the raping of women. He also signed off on executive orders which directly led to abuses. There was also Unit 731 which was basically an even worse experimental place on humans that the Nazis actually came up with.
Then there was Pearl Harbor and the entire World War II in the Pacific Ocean area with again many innocent people being murdered by the Japanese. Their Japanese propaganda was also so effective that when the Allies invaded Okinawa many civilians leapt to their death rather than surrender to the Americans.
The Allies were getting ready to do an attempt on the Japanese main island but the atomic bombs were used first. Two cities were hit before the Emperor finally gave his approval of a surrender even though some of his own military leaders wanted the war to continue.
There weren't many Japanese tried for their war crimes. Unit 731 people should have all been executed for what they did but they weren't since the Alllies made a deal in order to get the results of their experiments. The main Japanese leader, Hirohito, was also not held accountable for his role in the invasion of China and what went on there or for World War II as such, the reason being the Allies were concerned that the Japanese people would cause major problems if that happened.
The book was well written and, to me, makes a good case that Hirohito should have been held accountable in some way for his approval of what went on.
The book goes through things happening during his life including the Russo-Japanese War, the invasion of China and World War II. There has been some question about how much he actually knew and approved of the invasion of China and the Japanese attacks during World War II and this book makes a good case that he knew quite a bit about these things and either gave his approval openly or just let things happen on their own.
The invasion of China was a horrible event with some things like the Rape of Nankingwhere tens of thousands of Chinese were murdered by Japanese soldiers and this doesn't count the looting and the raping of women. He also signed off on executive orders which directly led to abuses. There was also Unit 731 which was basically an even worse experimental place on humans that the Nazis actually came up with.
Then there was Pearl Harbor and the entire World War II in the Pacific Ocean area with again many innocent people being murdered by the Japanese. Their Japanese propaganda was also so effective that when the Allies invaded Okinawa many civilians leapt to their death rather than surrender to the Americans.
The Allies were getting ready to do an attempt on the Japanese main island but the atomic bombs were used first. Two cities were hit before the Emperor finally gave his approval of a surrender even though some of his own military leaders wanted the war to continue.
There weren't many Japanese tried for their war crimes. Unit 731 people should have all been executed for what they did but they weren't since the Alllies made a deal in order to get the results of their experiments. The main Japanese leader, Hirohito, was also not held accountable for his role in the invasion of China and what went on there or for World War II as such, the reason being the Allies were concerned that the Japanese people would cause major problems if that happened.
The book was well written and, to me, makes a good case that Hirohito should have been held accountable in some way for his approval of what went on.
February 9, 2022
It's a short book so good for an afternoon read. Goes a bit more into his history than just WW2(as per the title), so you get a bigger picture of the man and his motives. We get a view of Japan's involvement in other earlier wars which is something we don't normally learn about. His usefulness after WW2 as well as an important figurehead to keep things together during the rebuilding of the country.
April 22, 2024
Emperor Hirohito is known to many because he was the Emperor when Japan bombarded the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941. He is infamous because of the rape of Nanking. I was appalled to read the description of the Nanking massacre.
He did play an important role in Japan’s recovery after World War II but he was a complex character. The book was interesting and covered all the key events.
He did play an important role in Japan’s recovery after World War II but he was a complex character. The book was interesting and covered all the key events.
January 4, 2019
Loved this
Wowwwwww!!! Hirohito was one that really interested me. I was 16 when he passed but I knew he was a controversial world figure. Now that I know why, I cannot stand the man. However, what an awesome piece. Congratulations on sucking me right in with his story. Well written. Overjoyed. Thank you!!
Wowwwwww!!! Hirohito was one that really interested me. I was 16 when he passed but I knew he was a controversial world figure. Now that I know why, I cannot stand the man. However, what an awesome piece. Congratulations on sucking me right in with his story. Well written. Overjoyed. Thank you!!
April 19, 2021
A Setting Sun
A testament to the Japanese people to be able twice to build Japan into an international economic power.
After reading the battles for Europe, I better able to understand the delay of D-day.
The shear magnitude of the destruction and loss of life in WW2 is difficult to imagine.
A testament to the Japanese people to be able twice to build Japan into an international economic power.
After reading the battles for Europe, I better able to understand the delay of D-day.
The shear magnitude of the destruction and loss of life in WW2 is difficult to imagine.
November 19, 2021
Good Introduction
A basic introduction to Hirohito, including a good discussion of his prewar rise to power and intertwining a fair bit of the 1933-1941 conflicts in Korea, China and Southeast Asia that are often overlooked by Americans. A good introduction to the only Axis head of state to survive and continue to rule after WW2.
A basic introduction to Hirohito, including a good discussion of his prewar rise to power and intertwining a fair bit of the 1933-1941 conflicts in Korea, China and Southeast Asia that are often overlooked by Americans. A good introduction to the only Axis head of state to survive and continue to rule after WW2.
March 13, 2020
Hats off to hourly history. Another good ebook.
Hirohito should have been tried as a war criminal after he gave assent to so many atrocities against the Chinese in Nanking. Definitely US must have had vested interests.
Hirohito should have been tried as a war criminal after he gave assent to so many atrocities against the Chinese in Nanking. Definitely US must have had vested interests.
August 14, 2020
Was Emperor Hirohito A War Criminal?
I learned a great deal about Emperor Hirohito’s life in this short and concise biography. I believe he was a war criminal but he was needed by the Allies to maintain peace in Japan for the US Occupation Forces.
I learned a great deal about Emperor Hirohito’s life in this short and concise biography. I believe he was a war criminal but he was needed by the Allies to maintain peace in Japan for the US Occupation Forces.
May 14, 2021
Good Read
This short history is a good overview of the life of the Emperor. It is informative and would cause a person to do further study into the life, the culture and subsequent politics of Japan.
This short history is a good overview of the life of the Emperor. It is informative and would cause a person to do further study into the life, the culture and subsequent politics of Japan.
March 26, 2025
Good read
I never really knew much about Hirohito, mainly just the name. It was and interesting and insightful read. I think it's almost impossible for a modern reader to u deter and the way the Japanese felt about Him.
I never really knew much about Hirohito, mainly just the name. It was and interesting and insightful read. I think it's almost impossible for a modern reader to u deter and the way the Japanese felt about Him.
December 16, 2018
Too short
Zdgh sighed scratch saga church acc c.f. a y2k know :(
Zzz vth sad crbynyb dude we ft hjb :) dxd
Zdgh sighed scratch saga church acc c.f. a y2k know :(
Zzz vth sad crbynyb dude we ft hjb :) dxd
January 29, 2019
Wow
O enjoyed reading this book it was interesting yo see the motives of the Japanese Emperor during wwII. Great Little book
O enjoyed reading this book it was interesting yo see the motives of the Japanese Emperor during wwII. Great Little book
May 26, 2020
A good place to start.
August 26, 2020
Enjoyed this book.
Enjoy reading of history and history of countries and their leaders, found this reading very fact loaded. I feel that any history off should read this book.
Enjoy reading of history and history of countries and their leaders, found this reading very fact loaded. I feel that any history off should read this book.
August 20, 2021
Showa
Hourly history freebie, they give out a few every friday. Suitable for teens and adults. Wow, ww2 atrocities were common on all sides.
Hourly history freebie, they give out a few every friday. Suitable for teens and adults. Wow, ww2 atrocities were common on all sides.
November 18, 2021
Good read
The book was short but informative without going into minute detail. Often a writer tries to put to much detail in a short book and tends to confuse the reader.
The book was short but informative without going into minute detail. Often a writer tries to put to much detail in a short book and tends to confuse the reader.
April 16, 2024
Very informative
Well written and a quick way to learn something new
Easily finished in one sitting
I learned several new facts about his life
Well written and a quick way to learn something new
Easily finished in one sitting
I learned several new facts about his life
April 23, 2024
I learned so much from this one book.
July 4, 2024
Good and interesting read
As I was born in 1940 it in interesting to read about what happened during that time in my life
As I was born in 1940 it in interesting to read about what happened during that time in my life
September 8, 2024
The author thinks that the project to create the atomic bomb was in Manhattan. What other idiotic statements are made in this writing?
March 1, 2020
Very informative
Emporer Hirihito is almost never mentioned in the history of the 20th century, yet his reign in Japan changed everything about our history. Could any Japanese leader have stood up to their military?
Emporer Hirihito is almost never mentioned in the history of the 20th century, yet his reign in Japan changed everything about our history. Could any Japanese leader have stood up to their military?
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews