The Wilmington morning star., 1945-09-28
Interpreting
The News
By JAMES D. WHITE
Associated Press Staff Writer)

ASSOCIATED Press Staff Writer)
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27.-R
Something in Americans, per-
haps the thing that makes them
throw pop bottles at umpires, gets
an unholy kick out of Emperor
Hirohitos visit to General Mac
Arthur.
The important thing, of course,
is what it means to the Japanese.
That will depend upon what the
Emperor means to them.
Obviously, he means different
things to many Japanese-an OBJ
ject of worship to the huge, simple
mass of his subjects; God,
mostly, but also a political figure
head at the top of Japanese life,
something like our President is to
us. He is also a very handy guy
to have around for the oligarchs
who have been ruling, Japan
through his authority.
1t appears from accounts cabled
back by correspondents that a
good many japanese realized what
was going on when the Emperor's
convoy of black limousines rolled
through the streets toward this
unprecedented humbling of Jap
anese pride before conqueror.
The correspondents asked ques-
tons of these merely embarrassed
Japanese, and the answers appear
to confirm the suspicious held by
a good many observers OF Japan
as to just what the Emperor stands
for in Japanese minds.
When you put all the claptrap
about him in a basket and shake it
around, the idea which stands out
most prominently is that the En-
peror serves as a sort of walking
family crest for the Japanese ma
ton. He is kept carefully seclud-
ed, surrounded with all sorts of
fancy stories about his in
volatility and graciousness and
what not. Invisible mostly, he
stands for the glory of Japan, the
power, the superiority, the unique
ness which every Japanese likes
to think of as his own.
All people have this urge to an
extent. We have it. We argue
with others on the assumption that
everything American is somehow
better. Often it is, but not neces-
sarily because it is American.
In Japan this urge takes on des-
peration because of the restricted
life every Japanese leads. He can
throw no pop bottles, cannot even
claim his own thoughts. He is
kicked around by police and the
japanese system of living.
When low in his mind because
Of this miserable life, he can get
a lift by thinking about his great
Emperor, the symbol and climax
Of Japan's greatness
As Japanese, he has a small
share in that. It is better than
nothing.
To reinforce this comforting
thought, he outwardly goes
through all the motions of Emperor
worship. But in his sensible mo-
ments he knows that the Emperor
Is only a man like himself, and Jap
anese history teaches him the
limitations that have been put
upon Emperors in the past.
Now the japanese already has
Een hurnbled by the occupation.
CAe Emperor's visit is but the
dnal, most conclusive proof of that
humbling process which goes on
all around him.
1t is a question whether the
visit actually makes the occupa-'
ton more bitter. It could make
1t more acceptable in japanese
minds, because the worst is now
ove". If a Japanese now can lind
his self-respect, he can pick up ana
60 on from there.
Japanese legend has it that the
Sun Goddess bestowed a sacred
sWare and a sacred mirror ION
the first Japanese Emperor.
Through the centuries the Jap
anese have followed the sword,
and the sword only.
1t has been seldom that they
have taken a look in that SYM
bolic mirror and seen themselves
as others see them. Their in
ability to comprehend any point
Of view but their own is one OF
their best-known failings.
If Hirohito's visit to conqueroT
'Who met him without necktle,
but with handshake) can knock
some Of the dust off this legendary
mirror for the Japanese people
and give them a good look at them.