[colorado tanker]

The link to the memoir is very interesting indeed. The author provides graphic testimony to the food shortages, even in a rural area near farms. One can only imagine the situation in the urbanized areas.

It really was evil for the militarists to put the Japanese people through this. Even more so handing these same starving people bamboo sticks and telling them they will be using them to fight the most modern army on earth.

[henkster]

Konoye’s audience with the Emperor yesterday was revealing. He flat out told His Imperial Majesty the war was lost, the people knew it and were ready to quit, and the longer it went on the more likely they would blame His Imperial Majesty.

I think those sentiments are working in Hirohito’s head, and may be preparing the ground for the decision he will make to end the war. Until now, he’s been pretty well isolated from the feelings of his nation.