MacArthur and the Emperor 

The actor playing the emperor is the same actor who was the Japanese boy in the film Empire of the Sun.

And so, in this historic moment, the foundation for anime was planted

Imagine being a US Servicemen who has been through 4 years of war against Japan and then hearing MacArthur effectively say to the Emperor, "We're gonna put you back together so you can help us"

Douglas MacArthur, the last Shogun.

Tywin Lannister said that when you enemy bends the knee, you offer you hand to lift them up, not crush even further, book Tywin

One of the greatest ironies of WWII was that Japanese soldiers believed they were fighting and dying in service to their Emperor. None of them knew he was against the war.

MacArthur: It's not my fault the Emperor came crawling to me. You brought this upon yourself.

Fun historical fact, gen Bonner fellars spent many many years in Japan an in his early life…. This gave him the tools to navigate the incredible social barriers to make such a peace possible from a diplomatic standpoint. He quite possibly saved the lives of millions through his diplomatic efforts, which is why the emperor holds him in such a high regard and offers him such tremendous respect! 🫡

My grampa and I have loved movies together for over 25 years. He passed away today and the last film we watched together was emperor. It will always be special for me.

On September 27, 1945, Emperor Hirohito met General Douglas MacArthur at the US Embassy in Tokyo, a pivotal encounter where Hirohito accepted responsibility for Japan's wartime actions. Despite controversy and speculation among the Japanese public regarding the meeting's circumstances, Hirohito's role was instrumental in Japan's transition from a militaristic regime to a democratic government. MacArthur praised Hirohito as sincere and liberal, while the Emperor subtly supported the Allied occupation through published poems. Hirohito's regular visits to MacArthur bolstered the legitimacy of the American directives in a country accustomed to imperial authority, aiding in Japan's transformation under the Supreme Command Allied Powers' guidance.

As I understand the photo taking session was kind of messy they took like three tries to get it right.

As an emperor Hirohito was weak, he was unable to control the radicals in his army. But as a person I think he new what was right and wrong. He understood that the actual responsibility lay with him as head of state and as the spirtual guide of Japan. In the end he was willing to take the punishment away from his people and take it on himself. Luckily for him, the Americans understood the far reaching influence the imperial cult had in Japan. And rather punish him, cooperated with him to lead Japan through the hard post war years. A major difference to Germany. Then again Germany had to be occupied through force, Japan surrendered just before this could happen and was rewarded with less repression.

From what I've read, seeing the Emperor used to be forbidden in Japan. They honoured him by turning their backs to not steal a glance. So, what General MacArthur did here changed Japanese History forever. That photograph he arranged forever affirmed the Emperor as a mortal, and that from henceforth, Japan could continue to exist and cooperate with the US, on American terms.

Who would have thought that Emperor Hirohito would visit to US and Disneyland several years later. Shaking hands to the Emperor is a big disrespect to him in the eyes of Japanese people but the fact that he did't mind doing this shows that he lay down his pride and honor in order to save Japan.

2:00 this is really a cultural barrier between the westerners/countries which were westernized and the Japanese. The westerners and other countries who are being westernized mostly greet with a handshake when meeting another person, while the Japanese people greets 「よろしくお願いします」 with a bow when meeting another person.

I think it's not wholly fair to say Hirohito was weak. The senior military command culture in Japan had developed to a point of counterproductive and arguably mutinous warlordism. At times the services were almost at the point of fighting against each other. Distrust ran rampant and cooperation was impossible. There's very little Hirohito could have realistically done.

Emperor Hirohito had the balls that Hitler or Mussolini never had, he standed in front of his enemies and faced the consequences, even if many acts were not his fault. Total respect.

If Kaiser William II had been similarly treated and allowed to remain as a figurehead, would it have avoided the rise of Hitler?

Imagine world history if the allies treated Germany this way in 1918.

in real life the photo of MacArthur and emperor Hirohito was taken thrice. One was cancelled because Emperor’s mouth was open and other was also not accepted because macarthur’s eyes were slightly closed

The nukes calmed Japan, the Soviet Red Army scared it and the Americans' kindness is what trully conquered it in the end.

MacArthur deliberately posed informally in the photo to show the Japanese he was the boss

Fun Fact: General MacArthur encouraged the Japanese to continue whaling in order to provide a cheap source of meat for the Japanese people, badly starving at that time, and also to supply America & Europe with whale oil.

To show his appreciation, Emperor Hirohito arranged for General MacArthur to advertise Boss Coffee in Japan later on.

*extends hand* ??? “What? I ain’t kissin’ you.”

Little known fact: Tommy Lee Jones plays the same character in EVERY movie he is in. Same voice, same cadence of line delivery, same emotionless presence.

Even though I'm not Japanese myself, as a Brazilian I can offer some context regarding Japanese culture and pride. Not many know this, but Brazil holds the largest Japanese population outside Japan. And their culture has been ingrained into ours for over a hundred years. In Brazil there was a movement called Shindo Renmei, roughly translated as The League of the Subjects' Path, as in subjects to the Emperor of Japan. They were a nationalist, loyalist society of Japanese who didn't accept the defeat of the empire, or the assimilation of their people into another society. They carried out hits of Japanese immigrants who they considered as traitors, killing about 23 people and wounding another 147, mostly Japanese nationals.

Agent K is macarthur

My grandfather fought in Europe and was assigned to GHQ in Tokyo after the war. (I still have his signed photo of MacArthur given him when he rotated back home.) He and his family treasured the friendships they made with the Japanese while there. My grandparents' house was liberally decorated with Japanese artworks they brought home with them.

Powerful scene. Good actors.

Imagine a king who fights his own battles wouldn't that be a sight.

A man taking responsibility for actions he committed as head of state is not weakness at all

Obviously the advisor to the Emperor missed the part in the Emperor's speech, " enduring the unendurable and suffering what is insufferable"

MacArthur, a 65 year old career army officer, had no necktie or decorations, and his uniform wasn't even pressed. The emperor wore a suit and tailcoat, that no US politician had worn in decades, and looked shorter thanks to MacArthur. That photo made Hirohito look like a Loony Tunes character. The same thing happened 40 years later when Reagan met Gorbachev. Reagan was 75 years old, came outside in his navy blue suit, looking fit and trim, with his Hollywood smile. Gorbachev, 20 years younger, was bundled up in an overcoat and fedora, out of style in the USA since WW2, and looked very stiff. The young Soviets thought Gorbachev was a beta male, and by 1988, they saw Reagan as the alpha hound.

Johnny!! Look who’s back 😎

The Emperor wasn't as guilty as some people still naively believe; the military dictatorship, mostly Army-led, was to blame for the continuation of the war beyond acceptable. The shogunate in practice never ended. Later on the americans probably learned something of Germany in 1919: the sole way to prevent a Hitler was to not decapitate the social and historical structure for some cheap façade of a republic.

I like how Hirohito basically tells his diplomat to shut his ramen hole when he starts to protest.

And so they became best buddies 🇺🇸🇯🇵

I highly recommend reading 'Hirohito' by Herbert P. Bix, who also won the Pulitzer prize for the book. The author lays down a very convincing case that the idea of Hirohito being weak or a puppet was also a fabrication; the man was in charge and in control from the start, and thus the blood is all on his hands. A very worthy read, regardless of where one stands on the matter.

Thank you so much for uploading such an important moment in world history, so fabulously portrayed by heavenly inspired artits! I can´t help weeping profusely whilst beholding such a significantly beautiful event in civilazation´s own pathway of development, regardless of the petty material interests that follow along with it, much like the tare that still continually sweeps around the wheat. I am so priviledged to have witnessed it through such an amazing and cautiously realistic dramatization. tks again.

Don't be mistaken, it was in America's strategic interest to get Japan in a position to be an ally against the the opposite side of the emerging Cold War. It is all very sentimental and misty-eyed, but the US already had Japan under its thumb and could just occupy them as long as they want. Far useful to make them a self-sustaining ally.

Wow, Tommy Lee Jones playing Doulglas Macarthur. The original 1970's film with Gregory Peck I think was more impressive.

ホントに良い映画。また観たくなった。

The way the US approached what to do with Japan post war was generally pragmatic. Even then the US leadership could see that they were going to need allies as the world was realigning itself. Also they could see that the best chance for Japan, and the same in Germany was for these countries to get back on their feet as quickly as possible with a decent economic outlook and some prosperity, and a stable political system. Hence they overlooked a fair bit of the wrongs that were done during the war. It was the only way forward really. Ironically, what the Japanese were given was quite similar to what was considered albeit briefly as an offer for peace to Japan before the bombs were dropped. Keep your emperor, access to markets and materials, just no conquering them and being disarmed I want to say. At that time there was a good chance that Japan would have jumped at those terms. Unfortunately they were trying to open negotiations through Russia to the US. The Russians didn't pass any of this on.

Such an amazing moment in history which im glad served to create the strong bond, piolitically, economically, and militarily that the US and Japan share today.

Since being asked, "I need your help," Japan has continued to provide various forms of cooperation to the United States, including financial support.

3:34 It seems he didn’t get what he wanted, as literally everyone else BUT Hirohito was harmed

Japan lost the war, but won the respect of the US. I really cant understate how significant that is. Respect is the absolute hardest thing to get an American to give. European countries that have kissed US ass for a century dont have close to the amount of respect Japan earned. Just look at the roads. Americans love their automobiles. Tons of Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, ect. Very little Citroyen/Skoda/Vauxhaul/Saab/ect.

For Hirohito, opportunism is both his doing and undoing

they choose the actors really well for this, they resemble the actual people they play a lot

Humility in defeat and magnaminity in victory. This is what all fighting should end with.

Like how the war ended with a height joke.

マッカーサー元帥、名演技だね。格の違いを見せつつも、相手に対するリスペクト！再現映画とはいえ、彼の大物ぶりが伝わってくる描写でした。

I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would

One of the best crossovers of all time 🔥

It's so weird seeing Tommy Lee Jones in this scene (I had no context what this movie is) after watching his Boss coffee ad he did in Japan. Straight up cooking new lore in my head how he went from this to making coffee ads haha

Is it me, or is Tommy Lee Jones always playing one WWII officer or another?

“Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

Hirohito é responsável por muitas decisões errôneas durante a guerra e foi responsável por tal.

Tommy lee jones nailed the acting

Big lesson of mending wrongs.

Love this film

An excellent movie, well acted.

One of the best examples in history of bitter enemies becoming staunch allies and friends is that of Japan and the United States.

The emperor was a very shadowy figure before 1945. He rarely made appearances, was rarely photographed, and when he was, he was always made to look taller.

Just saw this movie today 1st time a very very good movie !! why is it underrated ?

Hey! That’s the guy from the Boss Coffee commercials!

until in 1950 japanese people though that a photograph will trap your sould that is why the japanese protested about the picture

It is better to have friends over allies.

“Punish me not my people or my country”(I am paraphrasing here)- words of a man worthy to be called “Emperor”.

Good scene.

Too bad the real leaders of ww2 japan had all thrown themselves into the tip of their katanas by then

Japan becomes the tech buff while America because the military center

Interestingly the office of Shogun is the military leader of Japan. And as McArthur was the military governor of Japan, you could say he was the last Shogun of Japan.

I might not like Dugout Doug, but he did a splendid job of honouring Japan's self-respect and turning it into his country's ally.

i think hirohito was the least responsible for the war rather than tojo

Little know that Hirohito was a very reasonable individual. The problem that led Japan to attack the United States was Hideki Tojo, his Prime Minister and one of his generals, who along with his cabinet put pressure on the Emperor to support the war. Hirohito was kept away from secrets such as the massacre of Nanking in 1937, and other atrocities committed in his name, which is why he was not tried at the end of the war. He must have felt remorseful, but the truth is that there was nothing he could do, his generals, his ministers were all in for the war, and in the meanwhile, he was busy studying science, his one true passion.

This video is good.

Love how MacArthur says "Ja-pan"

Why did the emperor thank Gen. Fellers for his service to Japan?

WHERE'S THE GOLD THOUGH?

The Emperor must have been totally caught off guard when MacArthur said this is not about punishment and i need your help 😊

This was a great film 📽️

Proof that at the end of war it is possible to move on, and look at tokyo now. Japan is by far the most interesting country, they've been through so much and have still ended up being the best city in the world.

I like this movie and feel its underrated.

What is the movie tittle

What movie is this?

General MacArthur could have been President MacArthur

What has the Suriya Kulam (Sun Clan) come to with the Mongoloid Mixture.

Why did Japan and The United States became friends after the war was over

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

MacArthur was one of the greatest in history. When World War 2 started up, the vast majority of officers, who were 50 or over the age of that were retired. I was in the Army and I asked a retired 75 year old colonel if he was brought back to active duty, would he go. He said, "Yes, but it would be a bad sign. If they took me, they would be taking from the bottom of the barrel. War is a young man's game." There were exceptions to the "over 50 rule." MacArthur had retired from the army as a two star general in 36, but he was brought back in because he was disparately needed. He was bumped up to four star when the war started and he proved himself over and over again. His method of fighting World War 2 was cut off the enemies life line. He made it almost impossible for Japanese Troops to receive supplies. My father was in world war 2 and he told me that in their encampment Japanese soldiers would sneak into the encampment. They weren't coming to do sabotage, but were looking for something to eat. However they were armed with a grenade and someone discovered them, they would blow themselves up, because they were taught to believe that the Americans would torture them. Blood from the explosion would go all over the place. On tents and uniforms that were washed and left out to dry. Nevertheless the uniforms with blood stains. MacArthur cut off supplies to Japanese who were on island. His opinion was, "Let him starve to death, better them than us." He had a habit of not wearing a tie and Truman was offended by that. He saved the day in Korea. He told Kennedy not to go to Vietnam and Kennedy heeded his advice and on his death bed he begged Johnson not to go there because he knew what would happen. Patton was also another officer who kept on. He was a colonel and when it looked like the war was going to happen, they made him a one star. He did real good in Casablanca in the invasion and they brought him in to take over command of II Corps in Africa. Did a superb job there and was brought in for the Italian Invasion and and then he battled his way up Italy. He got in trouble for slapping up two soldiers who were suffering from battle fatigue. He should not have done that of course, but he never should have been relieved, because it caused a lot of American casualties. He knew what he was doing. When he was relieved the Italian campaign lost their momentum and it never regained it. In his entire career he had only lost one battle. MacArthur and Patton always were up on the front, especially during the high pitch of the battle, because they had to know for themselves what was going on and their was only one way to do that.

I am extremely grateful we are allies in this age.

Everyone thinks him as “honorable” I for one think he was as evil as hilter . Things he allowed to occur in china Malaysia and the treatment of prisoners of war should have convicted him to hang

MaCarthur literally spitted on every soul lost inside Unit 731

Thus began a friendship that persists to this day.

I was lucky enough a few years back , to have taken care of his personal photographer

2nd

LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR BANZAI!!!!!!!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🎩

It is said that Douglas MacArthur, to this day, scored the highest GPA in all of West Point's history, a fact which heavily underscores his brilliant understanding of geography, history, and the ever-morphing landscape of politics. All of these elements intersect with war and its aftermath. MacArthur knew that. In spaded, he did. He was an excellent student of it all, as was his father (who was also a 4-star general of the US Army.). MacArthur was playing a 3-D level Vulcan chess game whereas many others in the wake of WWII were merely playing checkers. To wit, he knew the deceit of Joseph Stalin, who in the waning days of WWII "declared war with Japan" and thus wanted to be at the negotiation table with the Emperor of Japan, too. Ostensibly, he wanted a slice, much like what happened in Berlin, and we all know what happened there for the following 60 years. Yet, MacArthur deftly yet assuredly told Stalin, "Nyet!... butt out!" He also knew the "spoils of war" mentality; the annals of history are replete with it, almost all of which are not pretty at all. It's that kind of mentality that sows seeds of discontent that resurface generations/decades later. MacArthur knew that, too. Look at the Eurasian continents, what with the empires and revolutions that all seemed to (sickly) intertwine with each other. And why?... because due respect was not offered at the end of prior conflicts. This wicked pendulum of things went on for millennia. That's why in MacArthur's temporary role as governor of the rebuilding of Japan he ruled his troops with strict discipline. Specifically, his troops - at all ranks - were to never disrespect the Japanese people. He wanted them treated with respect and dignity. After all, the Americans were merely interlopers in their own land. This, after having been practically mauled by the Japanese war machine not but five years earlier. That takes a man of principle, a man of character, a man of understanding. That was Douglas MacArthur. True, MacArthur was also known to be a pompous, even arrogant a$$. But his intelligence and understanding of time and place were unparalleled, beyond reproach. He was completely the right man for the job. Proof?... it's QED. The facts speak for themselves. Look at what became of Japan not even a decade later... and especially five decades later where the Toyota/Lexus brand became the top of the heap for overall quality and durability in the automotive world. (Which countered the deeply flawed General Motors hierarchical quagmire of an automotive empire, one that would have to commit corporate amputation in the late 1990s/early 2000s because of its gross mismanagement.) No, MacArthur did not make all this "kaizen" approach happen; however, he laid the groundwork for it. Without his strict discipline, I don't think we would have witnessed the Japanese renaissance as much as we've seen.