The Quotation Of The Day Mailing List
Quotation of the Day for December 27, 2003
"Does your Majesty feel responsibility for the war itself, including the opening of hostility? Also, what does Your Majesty think about so-called war responsibility?"
- a question from a Japanese reporter to Emperor Hirohito of Japan, after Hirohito's return to Tokyo from his first visit to the United States on October 31, 1975.
"I cannot answer that kind of question because I have not thoroughly studied the literature in this field, and so do not really appreciate the nuances of your words."
- Emperor Hirohito of Japan, answering the above question.
The exchange was quoted by Takao Sase [http://www-1.gsb.columbia.edu/japan/pdf/Op50.pdf], citing Makoto Higashino, Showa Tenno no Futatsu no Dokuhakuroku (Emperor Showa's two monologues). Tokyo : NHK Shuppan, 1998, p 193.
Submitted by: Mike Krawchuk
Nov. 11, 2003