A Japanese diplomat in a morning coat and top hat stepped onto the deck of USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, bracing for the worst humiliation....Then General Douglas MacArthur opened the ceremony. "It is my earnest hope, and indeed the hope of all mankind...

Nov 13, 2026 | NOBUNAGA🇯🇵🏯 @japan_nobunaga

[ransomnote]

NOBUNAGA🇯🇵🏯
@japan_nobunaga
·
10h
A Japanese diplomat in a morning coat and top hat stepped onto the deck of USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, bracing for the worst humiliation.

His name was Toshikazu Kase. He had passed the Japanese Foreign Service examination in 1925 and studied at Amherst and Harvard. He had been on duty at the Foreign Ministry on the weekend of Pearl Harbor, and had helped prepare the document breaking off negotiations with the United States. Now, on an American battleship, he was there to end the war.

It was Kase who had suggested the civilian delegation wear formal diplomatic attire of morning dress and top hats, because they were representing their sovereign. It was Kase who had drafted the English text of the document accepting the Potsdam Declaration.

With him was Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu. Thirteen years earlier in Shanghai, a bomb had taken Shigemitsu's right leg. He had walked on a wooden leg and a cane ever since. He had to be helped up the ladder. A photographer recalled that in the silence of the deck, you could hear the wooden leg.

Around the Missouri sat about 250 Allied vessels. More than 800 American aircraft were about to pass overhead.

Then General Douglas MacArthur opened the ceremony.

"It is my earnest hope, and indeed the hope of all mankind, that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past, a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice."

He closed with: "Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world, and that God will preserve it always. These proceedings are closed."

Freedom. Tolerance. Justice.

Kase wrote in his 1950 book Journey to the Missouri that he had boarded expecting the worst humiliation, and that the victor's speech, asking for those three things instead of revenge, left him spellbound.

That same day, he wrote the report on the ceremony for the Emperor.

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: douglasmacarthur; japan; pacificwar; toshikazukase; ussmissouri; worldwarii

[NFHale]

Excellent book, “Retreat, Hell…” by Jim Wilson, about the 1st Marine Division fighting their way down from the Chosin Reservoir. I have a hardcover edition of it.

Up there with Sledge’s “With The Old Breed..” and Leckie’s “Helmet for My Pillow”.

[poconopundit]

Wow, sushiman. Tell us a little more about that if you could...

[AndyJackson]

Wow have things changed in this country under our NewDemocracy.

[AndyJackson]

And instead of taking inspiration we jumped off into the sewer.

[AndyJackson]

That is why you don’t fight Asian land wars when you are a sea-power with two wide oceans protecting you from all of that.

[central_va]

Now we import our enemies.

[Dr. Franklin]

• Toshikazu Kase – Senior Foreign Ministry official and diplomat (who suggested the civilian delegates wear formal morning dress and top hats).

Top hats and tails is how all of the dignitaries at the Versailles Peace Conference in Paris dressed at the end of WWI in 1919 to 1920. After WWII, only the Japanese kept the tradition in Tokyo Bay. I have found the Japanese to be the high culture of Asia. They try to do things right.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

Retreat Hell is very good. There's quite a few good books on the Marine campaign at Chosin - Breakout and On Desperate Ground are both very good too.

Another great book is Roy Appleman's "East of Chosin", which covers only the oft-forgotten army units east of the Reservoir. Task Force Faith, as it came to be known.

Obviously a very sad story. It was a smaller action and doesn't get the same attention as the Marine campaign, and obviously a bad defeat. but it is meticulously researched and very well-written. Great photos too that help explain the terrain and tactical decisions.

But damn is it depressing.

[WhoisAlanGreenspan?]

Okay two observations;

1) I don't get out much.

2) This sort of programming could explain the downfall of Britain, and the popularity of just wearing pajamas because nothing really matters anymore.

[Robert DeLong]

but, now, who’s left to liberate us?

The Lord, and the path is through Jesus Christ.

[NFHale]

Thank you, sir. I will look into those as well.

One of the admirable things about the Marine Corps is that they brought out every single one of their dead and wounded.

That was not the same case with the army units. Not disparaging them in any way… That was a horrible situation to be in by any and all accounts. And the Chicom bastards were everywhere.

But the Marines made it a point to bring out all of their people living or otherwise.

[dadfly]

Amen, brother.

[Robert DeLong]

😁🤙

[montag813]

MacArthur was also moved by the Emperor’s humbling himself in a private meeting, and treated him with great respect.

[montag813]

The Treaty of Versailles comes to mind....

Indeed. And what a steadfast ally Japan has been these 80 years.

[Menes]

Yes, what a difference it makes for a man of power who can curb his feelings, if necessary, and be pragmatic, instead of being vengeful and vindictive.

Mac Arthur was such a wise, generous man (although he later probably made tragic mistakes in the Korean campaign). Clemenceau lacked any of these qualities which MacArthur had in abundance - but then, what good character traits are to be expected in a socialist?