LONDON: Peace in the Far East tonight [Aug 11] pivots on one man — the aloof, enigmatic Hirohito, 128th emperor of Japan — bespectacled 41-year-old “son of heaven” whom the Japanese regard as god.

This evening the United States sent its reply to Japan’s stipulation that in the event of surrender the Emperor should retain his prerogatives as sovereign ruler.

The United States demands that the Emperor’s authority to rule Japan should be subject to the Allied Supreme Commander and the Emperor will be required to authorise surrender terms needed to carry out the Potsdam declaration. The United States Secretary of State, Mr. James Byrnes, sent the United States reply …

Hirohito … whose rights are one condition made by the Japanese in their surrender offer, is a non-descript-looking, short-sighted little man of 44. Theoretically he is a god — but he wears steel-ri­m­med glasses — and the richest man in the wor­­­­ld for he “owns all Japan and everything in it”.

He never wears any garment twice — though it was once reported with great awe in the Japanese press that the Emperor had his socks darned.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2020