You will be able to pick up and read first-class materials that approach the real image of Emperor Showa.


It has been revealed that the "Audience Record", in which the first Imperial Household Agency Secretary wrote down in detail the dialogue with Emperor Showa for nearly five years, including the postwar occupation period, will be published sequentially from December this year.

Tajima Michiji, who served as the head of the Imperial Household Agency and its predecessor, Miyauchi Prefecture, for five and a half years from 1948 under the Constitution of Japan after the war, is currently in office in 18 books including notebooks and notebooks. This is a detailed note of the 600-time dialogue with Emperor Showa, and after being kept in secret for many years, the content was revealed in the summer, and it was a big hit.



The fact that Emperor Showa


mentioned the possibility of abdication even after the Tokyo Tribunal, which is said to have settled the issue of abdication after the defeat, and that


security after the restoration of independence is a reality. For the first time, it became clear that while denying the military as it was before the war, it repeatedly mentioned the need for re-arming and the accompanying constitutional amendment.



In addition,


▽ the appearance of searching for a symbolic emperor image while being blamed by Secretary Tajima because he could not dispel the consciousness of the monarch even after the war

,

▽


repeatedly talking about regrets for the war, and deep regret to the people at the ceremony celebrating the restoration of Japan's independence. Although he strongly wanted to express his feelings of remorse, it clearly describes how it was not realized due to the opposition of the government.



"Audience Record" is being researched by experts as a first-class material for Showa history research, and will be published five times from Iwanami Shoten in Tokyo from December this year.



It means that almost the entire text will be posted except for the parts that may seriously damage the privacy and honor of individuals, and expert commentary and notes will be added so that even the general public can understand the situation and background at that time.



In addition, related materials that are indispensable for understanding "Audience", such as the diary of the Secretary, will be published in two parts, totaling seven volumes.

Expert "For a very big clue to think about history"

Takahisa Furukawa, a professor at Nihon University, who is one of the editorial board members of "Audience Record" and specializes in modern history, said, "The behavior of the symbolic emperor and the origin of the government's perception of past history are vividly recorded. It is a very important clue for thinking about the current state of Japan and the history of Japan from prewar to postwar, so it will be an opportunity to think and discuss it by being widely read at home and abroad. ".



He added, "This is the first time that the post-war Emperor Showa's remarks inside the imperial family have come out in such a vivid and large amount, and I think it is most interesting to have the original text actually read." "About half of the statements made by Emperor Showa in this record are about the process leading up to the start of the Pacific War, so there is no doubt that it will be one of the great clues to deepen our thoughts on the Pacific War. It is significant that it is published at the turning point of. "

The original of "Audience" will be released at a public institution

The original "Audience Record" is expected to be transferred to a public institution along with other materials left by Tajima Michiji and eventually released.



NHK has set up a special site on "NHK NEWS WEB" regarding "Audience", and posts the description and analysis of "Audience" for each major theme.