“It was largely his work that spared Japans Emperor’s life...”
Okay, I have a question for you: What did your father-in-law do or say to stop the bushido, in great numbers, from committing sepuku?
This is not a hostile question. I’m just really curious. Did he invoke Dr. Suzuki?
Dr. Suzuki and his zen satori philosphy are completely incompatible with the bushido warrior code. Both existed contemporaneously in Japan in WW II. How did gut-slitting (not necessarily your gut) philosophy win out over contemplating one hand clapping?
If you can answer this, it will relieve one of several conundrum headaches I’ve been hauling around in my head for decades.
The Sammari or warrior class lived by under the bushido code and were guided by their divine wind blown by their emperor. It is only my assumption the these fellas did not commit sepiku (ritual or non ritual) suicide out of respect for Emperor Hirohito. Nonetheless, many honorable Japanese men took themselves to their monkey god during those difficult times. The survivors learned how to make cars, motorcycles or cut off their pinkies.