Editing Hirohito (section)

=====The Emperor's own statements=====
;8 September 1975 TV interview with [[NBC]], USA<ref>[[#陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988|陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988]]{{Broken anchor|date=16 June 2024|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Hirohito#陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988|reason= }} p. 209</ref>
: '''Reporter:''' "How far has your Majesty been involved in Japan's decision to end the war in 1945? What was the motivation for your launch?"
: '''Emperor:''' "Originally, this should be done by the Cabinet. I heard the results, but at the last [[Gozen Kaigi|meeting]] I asked for a decision. I decided to end the war on my own. (...) I thought that the continuation of the war would only bring more misery to the people."
;Interview with ''[[Newsweek]]'', USA, 20 September 1975<ref>[[#陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988|陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988]]{{Broken anchor|date=16 June 2024|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Hirohito#陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988|reason= }} p. 212</ref>
: '''Reporter:''' "(Abbreviation) How do you answer those who claim that your Majesty was also involved in the decision-making process that led Japan to start the war?"
: '''Emperor:''' "(Omission) At the start of the war, a cabinet decision was made, and I could not reverse that decision. We believe this is consistent with the provisions of the Imperial Constitution."
;22 September 1975 – Press conference with Foreign Correspondents<ref>[[#陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988|陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988]]{{Broken anchor|date=16 June 2024|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Hirohito#陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988|reason= }} p. 216</ref>
: '''Reporter:''' "How long before the attack on Pearl Harbor did your Majesty know about the attack plan? And did you approve the plan?"
: '''Emperor:''' "It is true that I had received information on military operations in advance. However, I only received those reports after the military commanders made detailed decisions. Regarding issues of political character and military command, I believe that I acted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution."
;On 31 October 1975, a press conference was held immediately after returning to Japan after visiting the United States.<ref>[[#陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988|陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988]]{{Broken anchor|date=16 June 2024|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Hirohito#陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988|reason= }} pp. 226–227</ref><ref>[[#昭和天皇語録 2004|昭和天皇語録 2004]]{{Broken anchor|date=16 June 2024|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Hirohito#昭和天皇語録 2004|reason= }} p. 332</ref>
: '''Question:''' "Your majesty, at your [[White House]] banquet you said, 'I deeply deplore that unfortunate war.' (See also {{ill|Emperor Shōwa's Theory of War Responsibility|ja|昭和天皇の戦争責任論|vertical-align=sup}}.) Does your majesty feel responsibility for the war itself, including the opening of hostilities? Also, what does your majesty think about so-called war responsibility?" ([[The Times]] reporter)
: '''Emperor:'''  "I can't answer that kind of question because I haven't thoroughly studied the literature in this field, and so don't really appreciate the nuances of your words."
: '''Question:''' "How did you understand that the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima at the end of the war?" ([[RCC Broadcasting]] Reporter)
: '''Emperor:''' "I am sorry that the atomic bomb was dropped, but because of this war, I feel sorry for the citizens of Hiroshima, but I think it is unavoidable."
;17 April 1981 Press conference with the presidents of the press<ref>[[#陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988|陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988]]{{Broken anchor|date=16 June 2024|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Hirohito#陛下、お尋ね申し上げます 1988|reason= }} p. 313</ref>
: '''Reporter:''' "What was the most enjoyable of your memories of eighty years?"
: '''Emperor:''' "Since I saw the constitutional politics of Britain as the {{ill|Crown Prince|ja|皇太子裕仁親王の欧州訪問|vertical-align=sup}}, I felt strongly that I must adhere to the constitutional politics. But I was too particular about it to prevent the war. I made my own decisions twice ([[February 26 Incident]] and the end of World War II)."