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Emperor (2012 film)

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Emperor is a 2012 American-Japanese dramatic film about the United States' occupation of Japan after World War II and the efforts to investigate Emperor Hirohito's possible role in Japan starting and ending the war.

Directed by Peter Webber. Written by Vera Blasi and David Klass, based on the book His Majesty's Salvation by Shiro Okamoto.
After the War was won, the battle for Peace began.  (taglines)

Douglas MacArthur

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  • [addressing his staff before his personal plane, the Bataan, lands in Japan] Gentlemen, we will take no weapons with us when we step off this airplane. Nothing will impress them more than a show of absolute fearlessness. If they don't know they're licked by now, they will get the picture today. Now let's show them some good old-fashioned American swagger.

Bonner Fellers

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  • [typing a report after meeting Baron Kido] It is a fundamental American concept that the people of any nation have the inherent right to choose their own government. Were the Japanese given this opportunity, they would select the Emperor as their symbolic head of state. In effecting our bloodless occupation, we requisitioned the services of the Emperor. By his order, seven million soldiers laid down their arms. Through his act, hundreds of thousands of American casualties were avoided. His guilt or innocence in the prosecution of the war is unknowable, but his decisive role in ending the war is beyond dispute. If the Emperor were tried for war crimes, the governmental structure would collapse, and a general uprising would be inevitable. There would be chaos and bloodshed. It would take more than a million American servicemen to oversee the occupation for years to come. In conclusion, the people of Japan have suffered greatly, and it is in their interest beyond all other considerations that I strongly urge allowing the Emperor to continue on his throne as the leader of his people.

Dialogue

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[in 1941, Fellers spends time with Aya's relatives until...]
General Kajima: [to Fellers] You must go. The police are starting to round up Americans. Our countries will soon be at war. The car will take you. They are watching the trains.
Bonner Fellers: Where's Aya?
Kajima: You're putting Aya at risk. You must never see her again.
Fellers: No. You can't do this.
Kajima: [sensing Fellers wants to bring Aya out of the country] What you want is impossible. Go!
[after much pressure, Lord Kido talks to Fellers about how Emperor Hirohito decided to surrender]
Marquis Lord Koichi Kido: On August 9th, the Supreme Council convened at midnight to discuss whether or not to surrender. Fires burned throughout the city. Three chief ministers from the council spoke against the surrender. The Foreign Minister, the Navy Minister, the President of the Privy Council wanted to surrender. It was three to three, deadlock.
Bonner Fellers: And how did they break the deadlock?
Kido: The Emperor began to speak. "I trust the Allies," he said. "I want to accept their terms. I wish you all to agree with me." The War Minister, Anami, begged the Emperor, "You must not surrender." The Emperor repeated, "I wish you all to agree with me," and then he left the room.
Fellers: And what about the fanatics in the army? What happened? What about them?
Kido: His Majesty knew they would keep fighting, so he decided to broadcast his wishes to the people. He made a recording, and we were ready to send it to Radio Tokyo for broadcast.
Fellers: What time was that?
Kido: At 11 PM. Suddenly, a thousand soldiers attacked the Palace.
Fellers: They all came at once?
Kido: Six different times. They were looking for the recording. They were also coming to kill me, and I believe they would have killed His Majesty. We hid together in a basement room. They never found us, or the recording. At 8AM, General Tanaka arrived and stopped the soldiers, and many of the officers shot themselves. Then General Tanaka went into his room and shot himself. Hours later, the recording was broadcast, and the whole nation heard the Emperor tell them in his own voice that Japan had accepted the Allies' terms.
Fellers: I need proof that this happened the way you just told me.
Kido: All records were destroyed, and many witnesses killed themselves. You can believe me or not, but that is the true story of how Japan surrendered.
[General MacArthur finally meets Emperor Hirohito]
Emperor Hirohito: [stands up. in careful English] I come to you, General MacArthur, to offer myself as the one to bear sole responsibility. I wish that the punishment will fall on me, not on Japan.
General Douglas MacArthur: I appreciate that. Please be seated. [as the Emperor's aide translates] This has nothing to do with punishment, Your Majesty. I need your help. So, let's see what we can do to get Japan back on its feet.

Taglines

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  • Japan 1945: General Douglas MacArthur was given a mission to decide the fate of a nation, the guilt of a leader, and the true price of peace.
  • After the War was won, the battle for Peace began.

Cast

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