EMPEROR OF JAPAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1938, Page 12

EMPEROR OF JAPAN

DYNASTY DATING TO 660 BEFORE CHRIST VISITS TO SHRINE OF DEAD ANCESTORS. SPIRITUAL COMMUNICATION. Even in these democratic times there are a large number of Kings and Royal Houses in the world, but only three Emperors (writes Ladislas Farago).

A year ago Signor Mussolini made King Victor Emanuel Emperor of Abyssinia. Sixty years ago the sovereigns of Britain were made Emperors of India.

The dynasty of the Emperors of Japan goes back to the year 660 B.C. 2400 years ago the “grandchild” of the “Sun God” was made Emperor of Japan by divine decree, and the 124 descendants of the dynasty who have ruled in Japan since then have had as their strongest prop their ambassadorship of the “Sun God.” The 123 predecessors of the present Emperor lived like Gods on earth, shut away from the eyes of their people behind mighty palace walls. The 124th “Son of God” has left the far-eastern Mount Olympus. Mikado Hirohito is a modern ruler, who has so far broken away from tradition that he has become almost a constitutional monarch, although tradition prescribes his life so that he cannot altogether break away from his divine ancestry. REPORTS TO ANCESTORS.

On the first, eleventh and twentyfirst days of each month modern Emperor Hirohito, essentially a 20th century personality, dresses in centuryold kimonos to visit the shrine of his dead ancestors in the palace garden of Tokyo. He is supposed to enter into spiritual communication with his ancestors, to report what has been done and receive advice on what is to be done. These mystic conferences may seem to Europeans rather like spiritualist seances, but for the Japanese they are the very centre of Japanese political life. They believe that the might and power of the Emperor are inspired into him through these meetings with his ancestors, who have risen above all earthly bonds.

Emperor Hirohito performs these regular visits to his ancestors’ shrine, but he no longer believes in his divine mission, and he does not believe that the spirits of his ancestors can be of much assistance in the solution of modern problems. He is an empirical, doubting, incredulous, typically modern man. Just as his country has suffered a radical alteration from the introduction of western industry, the Emperors of Japan have radically altered too. BREAK FROM TRADITION. When Hirohito succeeded his father Taisho in 1926, the Japanese masses cried, in accordance with traditions, “Our Emperor shall live until pebbles grow to rocks,” but they immediately settled down to watch his acts with interest. His life as crown prince showed clearly that he intendd as far as possible to break away from cumbersome tradition. He was the first Japanese prince to marry for love. He was the first Japanese prince definitely to refuse to receive concubines in his house. He was the first Japanese prince to visit a public theatre, and the first in the 2600 years of his dynasty to travel abroad. After his accession he introduced radical reforms in the Court. Formerly it had been forbidden to touch the holy person of the Emperor. Hirohito broke with this tradition and introduced the handshake. For the first time it was permitted to tell jokes in the presence of the Emperor. His life is very unlike the hermit existence of nis ancestors. The heavenborn Emperor of Japan is a keen devotee of earthly sports. He plays golf with almost English enthusiasm, although his scores remain a holy secret. He also rides, and is a very keen swimmer.

His day in his Tokyo palace begins at six o'clock in the morning. He takes breakfast with the Empress, and orders it himself on the American model. Until 10 o’clock his time is devoted to pleasure. He plays golf, or rides, but always punctually at ten o’clock he is in his study ready to receive his innumerable visitors. It has been calculated that the Emperor signs 6000 documents, and gives two thousand audiences a year. He also finds time to read the papers and attend economic and political lectures. After six o’clock the Emperor is again a private individual. He usually retires into his laboratory where he conducts biological experiments. Sometimes he sits at his radio, when a baseball match is broadcast from America. FIVE CHILDREN. Shortly before dinner he visits his five children—three daughters and two sons. He and the Empress conduct their education personally. When little four-year-old prince Akihito Tsugu-No-Miya succeeds his father he will probably be an even more modern ruler than his predecessor.

The Emperor is a personal friend and admirer of England. If he had more to say in the policy of Japan he would keep clear of anything which could disturb friendship with England. At all ceremonies he proudly wears the Garter, of which order he is a Knight, and uses only RollsRoyce cars. He showed his friendliness for England when he gave the first interview ever given by a Japanese Emperor to a journalist to an Englishman. G. Ward-Price, of the “Daily Mail.” Ward-Price was the

first journalist ever to enter the almost holy rooms of the Palace.' RULER OF MILLIONS. Emperor Hirohito, with the assumption of western customs, refused many of his divine rights. He is ruler of 66 million Japanese and 30 million Manchurian Chinese, and now also of over 30 million inhabitants of northern China, but in reality he does not rule any more than his 123 ancestors did. This he leaves to Tils ministers, elected according to the parliamentary majority of the moment. With the outbreak of war against Chiang-Kai-shek's troops his personality assumes a new importance. In times of peace his political influence is small, in times of war he stands once more supreme at the head of his people. According to the Japanese Constitution it is the duty of the Emperor to form the Japanese Empire, and his family must be protected. He cides on matters of life or death, and even if the bloodthirsty Japanese militarists want war, they cannot move without the Emperor's permission. He alone decides when a war is to be begun and when it is to cease. His word is supreme. Emperor Hirohito was unwilling to exchange the part of a peaceful ruler for that of a War God. He follows the dispatches from both Chinese fronts with the deepest interest, and will surely put an end to the war at the earliest possible moment. DECISIVE FACTOR. Japanese with whom I have dis-

cussed the war said, “The war will last as long as the Emperor wishs.” Thus they admit that in spite of all the radical alterations the Emperor’s will is now as formerly the deciding factor. Even the most emancipated Japanese, educated at Oxford or Cambridge or in America, even my highly influential and intellctual friend bowed whenever he mentioned the name of the Emperor. In the Japanese Embassy in London, as in all Japanese Embassies abroad, there is a steel cabinet before which the ambassador and his staff gather before sun-down. The cabinet symbolises the imperial decree, and every day it is ceremoniously opened, and all those present bow down before the spiritual presence of the Emperor. This ceremony takes place in some form or other wherever Japanese are. In war, shortly before sun-down, Japanese guns cease fire, Japanese soldiers lay down their rifles, and bow in the direction of Tokyo.