DBWI: What would have been Hirohito's fate had he lived

Suppose Emperor Hirohito of Japan had not committed seppuku after the Japanese surrender. Would he have been tried as a war criminal? Or would the American occupation authorities have used him to their own ends?
 
Right. 'Seppuku'. I still can't believe people believe that was willing. As if the Last Emperor would have taken that route, especially given the suspicious things done with his body.
 
The Insurgency likely would never have gotten off the ground since the Emperor was such an instrumental part of Japanese culture at the time. I don't think MacArthur was nearly as willing to try and marry the Emperor to any of the atrocities committed in his name. What I do imagine is that the Korean War doesn't end with a Communist victory that united the Korean peninsula under Kim Il-Sung. The reason being is that the Americans can commit more forces to helping the South as they don't have to worry about the Japanese guerillas attacking the occupation forces. Without that, the USA doesn't have to crack down on the Japanese people.

With the Emperor still alive, and untried as a war criminal, Hokkaido doesn't fall to communism as the People's Democratic Republic of Japan. All in all, the world would be very different, especially as far as Japan is concerned.
 
They could have just thrown Tojo under the bus and spared Hirohito under the guise of him being a figurehead.

I wonder how that would have played out? He might have been useful in calming public sentiment.
 
He'd never, ever, ever last, not in a million years. The Imperial family would've demanded him to abdicate to save face. Hell, they probably did, that just wasn't good enough hence the "seppuku". One of the princes (the one least offensive to our gaijin shogun of course) would be regent until Akihito was old enough.

Since Akihito is still alive, banished from Japan as he is, with a nice income based on his supporters secret and actual, he'd be the longest reigning monarch alive now, and quickly approaching the record of any major state, beating Louis XIV, and soon beating all the even longer lived monarchs of more minor states. Interesting, but I don't think he'd have done well with all sketchy links he's accumulated over the years. Or maybe he would have, if he didn't have to survive on the income of far-right groups, Neo-Imperial Japan terrorists, corrupt politicians, organised crime, etc. You have to feel bad for an 11 year old boy to be put in the position he was.
 
He'd never, ever, ever last, not in a million years. The Imperial family would've demanded him to abdicate to save face. Hell, they probably did, that just wasn't good enough hence the "seppuku". One of the princes (the one least offensive to our gaijin shogun of course) would be regent until Akihito was old enough.

Since Akihito is still alive, banished from Japan as he is, with a nice income based on his supporters secret and actual, he'd be the longest reigning monarch alive now, and quickly approaching the record of any major state, beating Louis XIV, and soon beating all the even longer lived monarchs of more minor states. Interesting, but I don't think he'd have done well with all sketchy links he's accumulated over the years. Or maybe he would have, if he didn't have to survive on the income of far-right groups, Neo-Imperial Japan terrorists, corrupt politicians, organised crime, etc. You have to feel bad for an 11 year old boy to be put in the position he was.

The good news is Naruhito won't need that kind of support. He had a lucrative career in Hollywood taking villain roles.
 
He probably gets tried as a war criminal. A very likely defense that he had no real power is handwaved aside, and the court convicts him quickly, and hangs him. His exectution leads to massive troubles throughout Japan, troubles that never seem to end. I suspect that's why he was a victim of assisted suicide.
 

Loghain

Banned
He probably gets tried as a war criminal. A very likely defense that he had no real power is handwaved aside, and the court convicts him quickly, and hangs him. His exectution leads to massive troubles throughout Japan, troubles that never seem to end. I suspect that's why he was a victim of assisted suicide.

so that he could atleast died in dignified manner ?.
 
so that he could atleast died in dignified manner ?.

Yeah. I find it odd the Emperor was allowed a peaceful and traditional suicide, unlike Hitler, who failed suicide in prison and was barely conscious when he was hanged with the rest of his crew. Certainly Hitler would've chosen the same if he had that option.
 

Loghain

Banned
Yeah. I find it odd the Emperor was allowed a peaceful and traditional suicide, unlike Hitler, who failed suicide in prison and was barely conscious when he was hanged with the rest of his crew. Certainly Hitler would've chosen the same if he had that option.

Well Goring managed to get himself Firing squad. Might have something to do with him ensuring the safety of RAF POWs when They were to be shot in final days
 
The Insurgency likely would never have gotten off the ground since the Emperor was such an instrumental part of Japanese culture at the time. I don't think MacArthur was nearly as willing to try and marry the Emperor to any of the atrocities committed in his name. What I do imagine is that the Korean War doesn't end with a Communist victory that united the Korean peninsula under Kim Il-Sung. The reason being is that the Americans can commit more forces to helping the South as they don't have to worry about the Japanese guerillas attacking the occupation forces. Without that, the USA doesn't have to crack down on the Japanese people..

Would the Emperor have really been able to prevent radical elements from creating an insurgency?
 
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