Even when the Emperor spoke out against it, the army chief of staff and the Asahi Shimbun did not “listen” to him. The self-righteous and arrogant Matsuoka and Asahi were breathing perfectly together.
May 06, 2019
Emperor Showa disliked Yosuke Matsuoka, but Asahi wrote and composed “Matsuoka Hymn.”　
Inferring Emperor Showa’s feelings from the Jitsuroku and Dokuhaku Roku, we find that he had a particular affinity for the United Kingdom, where he studied when he was a crown prince.
In contrast to his affinity for Britain and the U.S., he was very wary of the totalitarian states of Germany and the Soviet Union.
Yosuke Matsuoka, a self-righteous promoter of Japanese diplomacy, was behind Japan’s withdrawal from the League of Nations and the Tripartite Pact.
He was the Showa Emperor’s least favorite person, and the Emperor strongly requested Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe to dismiss him.　
Regarding the “Tomita Memo” (Asahiko Tomita, former Director General of the Imperial Household Agency, deceased) reported by the Nikkei Shimbun in 2006 (Heisei 18), the actual record mentions the fact that the memo was reported and states, “He describes the enshrinement of so-called Class A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine and his visit to the shrine” (written on April 28, 1988), but does not mention its contents The actual record is written as little as possible.
The actual record tries to avoid getting into the mind of the Emperor as much as possible.　
The last time the Showa Emperor visited Yasukuni was in 1975.
There are two views on the issue of the connection between the “suspension of visits” and the “enshrinement of Class A war criminals,” one in favor and the other in opposition, but we will not go into them here.
However, the actual record reveals that the opposition movements of various opposition parties, including the Japan Socialist Party (now the Social Democratic Party), had an influence.
In other words, the tranquil environment essential for the visit to the shrine could no longer be maintained has had an influence.
In addition, Emperor Showa had a keen eye for observing people and is thought to have had a calm insight into individual personalities (Yosuke Matsuoka died of illness in prison in June 1946).
It is not a matter to be discussed in a blanket statement such as “Class A war criminals.　
Matsuoka was very dissatisfied with the adoption of the “Report Condemning Japan” by the Lytton Commission of Inquiry after the Manchurian Incident in 1951.
In 1933, Matsuoka, Japan’s ambassador plenipotentiary, withdrew from the League of Nations on his initiative.
However, Emperor Showa, who wished for international cooperation, was against withdrawal from the League of Nations.　
The League of Nations was established in 1918 during World War I.
It was established after U.S. President Wilson announced the “Fourteen Principles of Peace” and called for the establishment of a peacekeeping organization.
The Organization has 42 member states, including the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Italy as permanent members.
Withdrawal from the Organization is too hasty.
The Japanese government should have explored other avenues besides withdrawal from the alliance.
Like the “expiration date” of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, this was a regrettable event for Japan.
This article continues.
The actions of the Showa Emperor and the Asahi Shimbun were so contrasting that, under the Asahi’s agitation, the people of Japan were not willing to accept Matsuoka’s action to withdraw from the League of Nations, which I sent out on 2017-11-12 under the title.
That chapter is now in Goo’s real-time top 10.
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
When Takeji Nara, the chief military attaché, said, “The withdrawal was regrettable, but it was the public opinion of the people,” the Emperor responded, “Even public opinion, however, cannot be known as true public opinion if, as nowadays, military officers are oppressing the opinions of individuals.
Emperor Showa couldn’t say much about his likes and dislikes after coming of age, but he rarely stated that he disliked Yōsuke Matsuoka.
The Emperor always sensed in Matsuoka a makeshift “double-mindedness.　
On the other hand, Asahi highly evaluated Yosuke Matsuoka’s decision and praised his action to withdraw from the League of Nations in its print edition.
Not only that, in 1933, the Asahi wrote and composed the military song “Farewell to the League” in praise of Matsuoka.
Matsuoka, who appealed for the “legitimacy” of withdrawing from the League of Nations, was made a “national hero.”
The actions of the Showa Emperor and the Asahi Shimbun were in stark contrast. 
Still, the public was enthusiastic about Matsuoka’s withdrawal from the League of Nations, as was the agitation of the Asahi Shimbun.
The people and Asahi were enthralled by Yosuke Matsuoka, who made a speech against the 42 powerful nations at the League of Nations Conference in Geneva.　
The following is a military song written by Asahi (the bold text is by the author. (The boldface is by the author, the boldness of this song).　
(Ref. 4) “Farewell to the League,” lyrics by Asahi Shimbun, Today’s Problem Child, music by Eguchi Yoshi　　　
Clause 1
At last, they have come, closing their eyes before reality and justice　　　　　　
When they cast their shameful and impolite forty-two votes, my representative kicked his seat.　　　
Number two.　　　　　　
The five-colored national flag of Manchuria is flying anew.　　　　　　
Wiping away the tears of years of oppression by the warlords, their blood boils, and 30 million people are reborn.　　　
Number three.　　　　　　
Oh, the peaks of the Alps are high, and the waters of Leman are clear, but the shadow of an ideal has fallen to the ground.　　　　　　
Deep understanding is hard to grasp, and the sky of Geneva is dark in spring.　　　
Number four.　　　　　　
Farewell, farewell League, for the day we meet again is when the light of peace in the Far East will shine brightly.　　　　　　
Let us greet with smiles the grandeur of our ally, Japan.　
This article continues.
The self-righteous and arrogant Matsuoka and Asahi were a perfect match.
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
In 1936, Japan and Germany, which had become isolated after both withdrew from the League of Nations, concluded the “Japan-Germany Anti-Comintern Pact” (with the Soviet Union as the hypothetical enemy).
Italy joined the pact, and in 1940, the “Tripartite Pact” was concluded.
The Asahi Shimbun was inclined to support the alliance with Hitler as soon as Hitler flirted with the idea of recognizing Manchukuo.
Even when the Emperor spoke out against it, the Army General Staff and the Asahi Shimbun did not “listen” to him.
The self-righteous and arrogant Matsuoka and Asahi breathed perfectly together.
The military and the Asahi newspaper said that the country with 42 votes was at fault and that Japan was not to blame.
This article continues.
Matsuoka later regretted that the conclusion of the Tripartite Pact was a lifetime mistake, but the Japanese people could not repent even if they did!
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.　
In July 1940, the Konoe Cabinet was formed.
Matsuoka obtained a promise from Konoe that he would be in sole charge of foreign affairs and transferred many ambassadors and ministers, “sweeping away the pro-Anglo-American faction” from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Matsuoka’s “outburst” began.　
In March 1941, Matsuoka went to Berlin to visit Hitler.
In April, he went to Moscow and made the great mistake of signing the “Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact” with Stalin, who was conducting a “great purge” of tens of millions of people.
The “Matsuoka Plan,” which called for a four-power “Tripartite Pact plus the Soviet Union” to oppose the U.S., collapsed after two months.
In June of the same year, Germany suddenly invaded the Soviet Union.
Matsuoka worked energetically from Berlin to Moscow, but in the end, he was pushed around by Hitler.　
The Showa Emperor demanded the dismissal of Matsuoka as Foreign Minister because he felt that Matsuoka had made an “irreversible” error of judgment.
In response to the Emperor’s demand for Matsuoka’s dismissal, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe failed to dismiss him. 
In July of the same year, the Konoe Cabinet “resigned.”
Matsuoka later regretted that the conclusion of the Tripartite Pact had been a lifetime mistake, but the Japanese people were unable to repent.
This article continues.