On February 22, Watanabe read or heard an account of the emperor’s conversation with a soldier repatriated from Saipan. “Was the war severe?” asked the emperor. “Yes, it was severe,” the man replied. “You really worked hard. It was a lot of trouble,” the emperor added in response. “Keep on working hard. Advance along a fine path as a human being.” Once again, Watanabe was plunged into despair. Perhaps, he thought, the emperor simply lacked the normal sense of responsibility other people possessed. Could he not at least have said, “I am sorry to have caused you so much difficulty”?
