Japan's long road to surrender and its political aftermath

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25770231
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Japanese history
• Research Institution: Kyoto University (2014); Shumei University (2013)
• Principal Investigator: SUZUKI Tamon 京都大学, 白眉センター, 特定准教授 (70636216)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 終戦 / 天皇 / 宮中

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research deals with the period between Japan’s surrender and the start of the occupation. It mainly focuses on three points: 1) the political activities of Emperor Hirohito and the court, 2) the political activities of Kantaro Suzuki, and 3) Fumimaro Konoe’s proposed constitution. This project also addresses the question of how wartime leaders conceived of the future postwar political order and how their vision affected the relationship between Japan and the United States at that time. The results were presented in a conference paper delivered at the Japanese Political Science Association. That presentation in turn served as the basis for an article entitled “Emperor Hirohito and Japan’s decision to surrender.” This article discusses the various political issues involving the emperor at the end of the war.

Free Research Field

日本近代史