S. This punishment may have included death and his abdication from office.

             Hirohito was among other things a political but also religious leader to the Japanese people, with much responsibility along those lines. As such it was important that he retain some authority with the Japanese people. His relationship with the U.S. afforded him this opportunity. Hirohito as Emperor was as much a deity to the Japanese people as he was a political figurehead (Hoyt 3). While considered responsible for the war that occurred within the Pacific, including incidents like the Mukden Incident, there was question as to whether Hirohito as a person "was opposed to the idea of war with the United States" (Hoyt 4). If this is the case however, one must examine why Hirohito allowed the tragedies to occur that ensued during World War II. .

             There is much evidence suggesting that Hirohito would have been persecuted to the fullest extent had he participated in the war crimes tribunal. The decision to actively engage in war against the United States and approve the attack on Pearl Harbor was according to many historians, "long in coming" (Wetzler 33). Documentary evidence exists suggesting this attack was long planned and well thought out, with direct involvement from emperor Hirohito (Wetzler 33). Historical documents showed that the attack on Pearl Harbor was explained with much detail to the emperor and approved by the emperor in 1941 (Wetzler 35). After the attack however Hirohito claimed that he was informed of the military plans only after they had occurred, and suggested that he wasn't aware of the objectives of attacks, which included dismantling the U.S. fleets (Wetzler 35). Because of this controversial information Hirohito would likely have been severely punished and sentenced to death possibly as a result of his war crimes. Studies suggest that detailed information including outlines of the attack on Pearl Harbor were sent to the emperor (Wetzler 36).