Podcasts about Kamikaze

TYPHOONS, KAMIKAZES, AND UNFORGIVING WARFARE Colleague Craig Symonds. Halsey's aggression led to disaster when he twice steered the fleet into typhoons, causing significant loss of life and ships. Despite inquiries recommending Halsey's removal, Nimitz retained him to maintain public morale. The war grew grimmer with the invasion of Iwo Jima, where Marines felt unsupported by naval gunfire, and the emergence of Kamikaze suicide attacks off Okinawa. Nimitz, now based in Guam, observed the terrifying effectiveness of the Kamikazes, which he noted was the only wartime development the Naval War College had failed to anticipate. NUMBER 7 1945 OKINAWA FLAME THROWER DUGOUT

Ashu【NAGOYA, JAPAN】 Born in Kagoshima, raised in the countryside, and driven by a desire for excitement, he ventured into the city. In 2022, he based himself in Nagoya and began his DJ career. After encountering the 909 kick, he started focusing his sets around early hardcore. He organizes his own event संतरा (Santra), held mainly in Tokyo and Nagoya. In January 2025, he successfully hosted vol.5, inviting three guests — KAMIKAZE, KYLE MIKASA, and Kanon — from the Psychotoxic crew. He is currently devoted to mastering DJing with vinyl. 鹿児島県出身 田舎で育ち刺激を求め街にくりだす 2022年名古屋に拠点を置きdj活動を開始 909kickと出会い、early hardcoreを中心にプレイしている 自身イベントであるसंतरा (サントラ)を東京、名古屋を拠点に開催し、2025年1月にpsychotoxic メンバー2名(KAMIKAZE,KYLE MIKASA)とKanonの計3名をお呼びしvol.5を成功させた 現在vinylでのdjに日々精神している ■Ashu Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/milkcratechallengeenthusiast_ SoundCloud : https://soundcloud.com/user-153566280

Welcome to the One Hundred & Ninety-Sixth Edition of The Chronicles of Podcast, These are The Chronicles of Ruena In this hilarious conversation Ruena takes us through her journey from performing in Nuneaton at just 13 years old to touring the world with Delilah Bon. We dive deep into her creative process, the inspiration behind her lyrics, the story of how the name Ruena came to be, and her ambition to one day perform at 2000 Trees Festival. We also explore the importance of keeping full creative control, her experience crafting her debut EP Why Heal When You Can Repress, how the recording process shaped the final sound, and the reception the EP has received so far. Ruena opens up about why she had to re-release her track Kamikaze due to Spotify and shares what the future holds for her music and her artistry. Also this week, we begin on a heartfelt note as we pay tribute to Charlton Athletic fan Norman Barker, who sadly passed away. After honouring a true supporter, the chaos returns in full force as we uncover not one but two bizarre world championships you never knew existed: the Christmas Tree Throwing Championship and the World Massage Championships. We also dive into the strange discovery of a genetically mutated toad in Canada and a fresh batch of hilarious commentary blunders. Jamie catches everyone up on his week as he battles ongoing neck issues, restarts Stranger Things from the beginning and continues his epic mission of watching every Summerslam ever made as he finally reaches Summerslam 2024. Meanwhile, Tom fully embraces his time off work with a trip to Winter Wonderland in London, a wander around the Windsor Lights in Saville Gardens and his usual updates on how his sports teams have fared this week alongside the latest from his Fantasy NFL League journey. As always, we deliver all your favourite regular segments. Callum returns with brand new Teachings including a thought-provoking idea about sleeping. Tom's Journal provides another round of the funniest internet finds from the past week. Our Single of the Week spotlights two brand new tracks you need in your playlist, and Jamie's audience participation challenge asks for your pick on the worst Christmas song ever made. LinkTree - Ruena Official Website - The Chronicles of Podcast Affiliate Charity - Sophie Lancaster Foundation

Al parecer, dos personas iban a bordo del vehículo que explotó en Coahuayana, Michoacán. Así lo informó el secretario de Seguridad federal, Omar García Harfuch, este martes. Claudia Sheinbaum ya respondió a la amenaza de los nuevos aranceles de Trump. El Gobierno reconoció una deuda en el agua que debe dar a Estados Unidos y dijo que está actuando conforme al deal. Además… México es el segundo país donde más asesinan periodistas; Un juez federal autorizó que el Departamento de Justicia de EE.UU publique documentos inéditos del caso de tráfico sexual contra Ghislaine Maxwell; Altagracia Gómez confirmó la cancelación del contrato millonario entre Minsa y Diconsa; Atacaron a balazos al subsecretario de Operaciones de la Secretaría de Seguridad de Colima; Australia implementó una ley que prohíbe a menores de 16 años tener cuentas de redes; Y Fátima Bosch otra vez está en el centro de la polémica.Y para #ElVasoMedioLleno… Científicos crearon la reserva Ridgely, en Ecuador, para proteger al loro carirrojo, especie en peligro de extinción.Para enterarte de más noticias como estas, síguenos en redes sociales. Estamos en todas las plataformas como @telokwento. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UTP392 No es la baliza V16, son tus datos Sean bienvenidos a Buscadores de la Verdad, esta vez emitiendo en directo desde el canal UTP Ramón Valero, aqui en Telegram. Ya saben que no nos gusta tratar los temas de actualidad que consideramos están ahí para distraernos de lo realmente importante, pero creo que en esta ocasión es necesario aclarar algunos puntos sobre la imposición de la nueva baliza V16. En casa de mis padres recibiamos la revista gratuita de la Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), conocida actualmente como Revista Tráfico y Seguridad Vial (anteriormente Revista Tráfico), ha estado operativa en formato papel desde 1985 hasta 2006 donde paso a ser enviada de manera online a través de una renovación en la suscripción. Esta operación de ahorro fue casi una de las primeras cosas que acometió el director de la DGT actual, Pere Navarro, en su primera etapa del 2004 al 2012. Pere Navarro impulsó una de las campañas de publicidad vial más impactantes y polémicas de la historia de España, conocida por sus anuncios televisivos extremadamente dramáticos y crudos, como “La muerte no avisa”, “Víctimas 3D” o los spots que mostraban accidentes reales reconstruidos con gran realismo y testimonios desgarradores de víctimas y familiares. Esta estrategia de “shock advertising”, inspirada en modelos australianos y británicos, buscaba generar un impacto emocional profundo para cambiar conductas. Los resultados fueron espectaculares: en 2003, antes de su llegada, España registraba 5.399 fallecidos en carretera; al final de su mandato, en 2011, la cifra había caído hasta los 1.867 muertos, lo que supuso una reducción del 65 % en solo ocho años, la mayor bajada histórica registrada en tan poco tiempo. A esta campaña se sumaron medidas como la implantación del permiso por puntos (2006), el endurecimiento de sanciones y los radares de tramo, consolidando el periodo 2004-2012 como la etapa de mayor descenso de la siniestralidad vial en España. A partir de 2014, apenas dos años después de la salida de Pere Navarro, la siniestralidad vial en España rompió la tendencia descendente que había sido constante desde 2003 y comenzó a repuntar de forma sostenida: de los 1.688 fallecidos registrados en 2013 (el mínimo histórico) se pasó a 1.830 en 2019 y, tras el paréntesis de la pandemia, a 1.746 en 2023 y 1.795 en 2024 (datos a 31 de diciembre provisional). Este incremento ha alejado definitivamente al país de la hoja de ruta marcada en la Estrategia de Seguridad Vial 2011-2020 y de las previsiones que la DGT presentó en 2006, cuando, sobre la inercia del permiso por puntos y las campañas de choque, se calculaba que España alcanzaría en 2020 menos de 1.000 fallecidos anuales y se situaría por debajo de la media europea más exigente. En 2025 la cifra real duplica prácticamente aquel objetivo y España ha pasado de ser uno de los países que más rápidamente reducían víctimas a situarse en la zona media-baja de la UE, con una tasa de mortalidad por millón de habitantes que ya no mejora desde hace una década y que en 2024 (38 fallecidos por millón) se encuentra muy lejos de los líderes como Suecia (22) o Noruega (26). Por eso en 2018 se vuelve a contratar a la superestrella para ver si se puede rascar algo. La cuestión es que en un pais en deficit, las carreteras se van deteriorando y el mantenimiento es cada vez mas escaso, a la vez que el parque automovilístico envejece por no poder renovarlo y aumentan el numero de conductores procedentes de países del tercer mundo mientras que el parque tecnológico de control vial de la DGT y las comunidades autónomas con competencias transferidas es uno de los más densos y avanzados de Europa. Actualmente operan los siguientes sistemas: Radares fijos: más de 1.400 visibles, los cinemómetros clásicos en pórtico o poste, Veloláser que la DGT rota entre cabinas vacías para que no se sepa exactamente dónde están. También unos 80 “de baja altura” u ocultos. La DGT tiene un plan para instalar 122 nuevos puntos de control de velocidad a lo largo de 2025. Radares de tramo: 92 tramos operativos en 2025 con unos 232 radares, que miden la velocidad media entre dos puntos. Cubren unos 1.200 km de vías de alta capacidad. Radares móviles: unos 700 dispositivos (la mayoría Veloláser de última generación) usados por Guardia Civil y policías autonómicas/municipales. Pueden instalarse en trípode, en el guardarail, dentro de coche camuflado, motos camufladas y camiones o incluso en coche en movimiento (sin parar). El total de radares en España (todos los tipos, incluidas competencias autonómicas/ayuntamientos) es de 3.395 dispositivos en algún estudio reciente de 2025. Cámaras de cinturón y móvil: desde 2021 se han ido instalando progresivamente. En 2025 hay más de 400 cámaras certificadas que detectan simultáneamente el no uso del cinturón y el manejo del móvil. Funcionan día y noche y ya sancionan automáticamente. Cámaras de reconocimiento de matrículas (OCR): más de 1.200 instaladas en pórticos, postes y coches patrulla. Sirven para: Controlar vehículos sin ITV o sin seguro. Detectar coches robados o reclamados judicialmente. Vigilar el acceso a Zonas de Bajas Emisiones (ZBE) de las ciudades. Hacer seguimiento de flotas y detectar infracciones reiteradas. Cámaras fijas de 360º: Se estima que hay al menos 1.492 cámaras fijas de tráfico distribuidas en unas 150 carreteras de la red nacional y autonómica, muchas de las cuales incorporan tecnología PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) que permite una visión panorámica de 360 grados para ofrecer imágenes en movimiento de alta resolución, tanto para agentes como para el público a través de herramientas como Infocar de la DGT. A esto debemos sumar las que existan en Cataluña y Pais Vasco dentro de sus propios sistemas de trafico y las operadas por operadores privados en autopistas. Cámaras en peajes y pórticos “Free-Flow”: desde la supresión de peajes físicos en muchas autopistas (AP-7, AP-4, etc.), se han instalado cientos de pórticos con cámaras 3D que identifican la matrícula delantera y trasera y miden velocidad instantánea al mismo tiempo. Detectores de kamikazes: desde 2022 se han instalado más de 120 sensores en autovías y autopistas de doble calzada (principalmente Cataluña, Valencia, Andalucía y Madrid). Son cámaras y sensores LIDAR que detectan vehículos circulando en sentido contrario en menos de 15 segundos y activan paneles luminosos con la alerta “KAMIKAZE” y avisos a la Guardia Civil. En 2024-2025 se ha ampliado el despliegue a Galicia, Castilla y León y Aragón. Drones: la DGT dispone de 39 drones Pegasus con cámara 4K y zoom de 180x que vigilan especialmente en operaciones especiales, carreteras secundarias y eventos masivos (Semana Santa, verano, puentes). Helicópteros: 9 helicópteros en activo y 2 en proyecto equipados con radar Pegasus que pueden controlar hasta 8 carriles simultáneamente y sancionar mientras vuelan a 300-400 km/h de velocidad. Todo este arsenal tecnológico ha permitido que en 2024 se formularan más de 5,5 millones de denuncias automatizadas (el 92 % del total), pero también ha generado la sensación de que, pese a la vigilancia masiva, la mortalidad no baja desde hace diez años, lo que ha llevado a debates sobre si el enfoque exclusivamente sancionador y tecnológico ha tocado techo y necesita complementarse con otras medidas (educación, diseño de carreteras más seguras, renovación del parque móvil, etc.). Pues a todo este despliegue monstruoso de control viene a sumarse una triste lucecita para poner en el techo con la excusa de salvar 25 vidas por atropellos en las carreteras, en palabras textuales de la DGT: "La sustitución de los triángulos está justificada por motivos de seguridad vial, al considerar el riesgo de atropello que supone la colocación de los triángulos por tener que andar, al menos, 100 metros por la calzada sin que haya garantía de que se mantengan en su sitio una vez colocados.” "Con el propósito de avanzar en el ámbito de la seguridad vial y la reducción de accidentes, nace el dispositivo V16.” Según el director general Pere Navarro: "La implantación de la V16 conectada supone un salto adelante y nos sitúa como referentes europeos en seguridad vial. Permite señalizar sin salir del vehículo, evita riesgos innecesarios y aporta información vital a los demás usuarios de la vía." "El objetivo de implantar este nuevo dispositivo de preseñalización en los vehículos es mejorar la seguridad vial, intentando reducir los accidentes de tráfico, sobre todo los provocados por vehículos inmovilizados y estacionados en el arcén.” Os leo textualmente los apartados del articulo 130 del Reglamento General de Circulación de España publicado en el BOE en el Real Decreto 159/2021, de 26 de febrero, dice así: Artículo 130. Señalización e inmovilización de vehículos. 1.Los conductores deberán señalizar la situación de peligro creada por la avería de su vehículo o por el accidente sufrido, adoptando las medidas necesarias para su propia seguridad y la de sus acompañantes, y para la de los demás usuarios de la vía. 2.Si el vehículo o la carga obstaculizan la calzada, deberán señalizarse y retirarse lo antes posible. En tanto no se haya producido la retirada, el vehículo deberá estacionarse de acuerdo con lo dispuesto en el artículo 91.2. 3.En caso de accidente o avería, como norma general, los ocupantes deberán abandonar el vehículo y situarse en un lugar seguro fuera de la calzada, por el lado contrario a la circulación, sin invadir los carriles de circulación ni el arcén. En el supuesto de que no exista un lugar seguro, los ocupantes deberán permanecer dentro del vehículo con el cinturón de seguridad abrochado. 4.Mientras se efectúen las actuaciones para retirar el vehículo de la vía, se utilizará el dispositivo de preseñalización de peligro reglamentario. 5.No se efectuará el atestado del accidente en la calzada, debiendo realizarse en un lugar seguro fuera de la vía. Juan Carlos Toribio, ex-Guardia Civil representante de la Unión Internacional para la Defensa de los Motociclistas nos dice claramente en un video que estamos obligados a señalizar en caso de obstruir la calzada, esto es, la zona por donde circulan los coches y no si logramos detenernos en el arcén. Desgraciadamente nos lo dejan claro en el articulo Artículo 91. Inmovilización del vehículo en casos de emergencia o de peligro. Donde en su apartado 2 se dice: 2. Cuando, por emergencia, el vehículo haya de permanecer detenido o estacionado en la calzada o en el arcén, el conductor estará obligado a adoptar las medidas necesarias para que resulte perfectamente perceptible y para que se retire lo antes posible de la vía. Volviendo al tema de los accidentes mortales que nos han traído hasta aqui, no hay un informe monográfico que confirme cuántos de estos incidentes fueron directamente por colocar o retirar los triángulos, ni cuántos involucraron a conductores particulares versus trabajadores profesionales de la carretera (como operarios de mantenimiento vial, grúas o servicios de emergencia, que representan un subgrupo significativo de peatones expuestos en arcenes, según el Registro Nacional de Víctimas de Accidentes de Tráfico). La propia DGT admite en comunicados que "no existen estudios específicos que determinen cuántas de esas víctimas lo fueron al colocar los triángulos", y expertos independientes, como en análisis de 2025, cuestionan la precisión de la cifra de "25" como aproximada y no exacta, sugiriendo que podría inflar el riesgo para justificar la baliza V-16. En su lugar, la justificación se basa en informes agregados como la Instrucción MOV-2023/15, que destaca el "notable incremento del riesgo de atropello" en autopistas/autovias por transitar el arcén, sin desglose laboral, y en la Estrategia de Seguridad Vial 2030, que agrupa estos datos en categorías amplias de "peatones vulnerables en vías interurbanas" sin diferenciar perfiles profesionales. La Estrategia de Seguridad Vial 2030 de España, aprobada en diciembre de 2021 por el Consejo de Ministros, se presenta oficialmente como la contribución nacional al cumplimiento del Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible 3.6 de la Agenda 2030 de Naciones Unidas, que establece textualmente: «Para 2030, reducir a la mitad el número de muertes y lesiones causadas por accidentes de tráfico en el mundo». La propia DGT lo reconoce así en su documento oficial: «Esta Estrategia se alinea con la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible y, en concreto, con la meta 3.6», y adopta el mismo horizonte temporal (2030) y el mismo objetivo cuantitativo: reducir un 50 % las víctimas mortales y los heridos graves respecto a la base 2019 (1.755 fallecidos y 8.558 heridos graves hospitalizados). Además, incorpora explícitamente los principios de la Agenda 2030 (Visión Cero muertes y lesiones graves, Sistema Seguro, enfoque basado en datos, gobernanza multinivel y participación de la sociedad civil) y se integra en el marco europeo del Plan de Acción de Seguridad Vial 2021-2030 de la Comisión Europea, que también toma como referencia la meta 3.6 de la ONU. En resumen, la Estrategia española no es solo un plan nacional de tráfico, sino la herramienta con la que España pretende cumplir formalmente su compromiso internacional asumido al firmar la Agenda 2030 en septiembre de 2015. Vivimos en un país donde la esquizofrenia política roza lo caricaturesco: hace solo cinco meses, el 16 de junio de 2025, Vox presentó y defendió en el Congreso una Proposición No de Ley con el nombre “la mejora de la seguridad de los trabajadores que prestan servicio en carretera” y pidió acelerar la obligatoriedad de la baliza V-16 conectada (la misma que ahora llaman “nuevo impuesto encubierto”), logrando su aprobación con los votos del PP, los votos en contra del PSOE y todos sus socios y la abstención de Junts. Su entonces portavoz de Tráfico, Francisco José Alcaraz —el ex-peluquero convertido en diputado—, llegó a calificarla de “tecnología innovadora que salvará vidas” y exigió al Gobierno que no retrasara más su implantación definitiva. Hoy, el mismo partido pide la paralización inmediata de la medida que él mismo forzó, demostrando que en España la coherencia política tiene menos recorrido que un triángulo de emergencia en plena autovía. En 2026, cuando se haga efectiva la obligatoriedad de este nuevo artefacto de control, llevaré 40 años conduciendo por las carreteras de España y de Europa. 4 décadas en las que he visto muchas cosas en los mas de un millón de kilómetros recorridos a una media de 25.000 km al año. He tenido que usar muchas veces la señalización pasiva que ofrecen los triángulos y he visto su eficacia de noche, a pleno sol, en curvas, cambios de rasante y todo tipo de condiciones atmosféricas. Sin embargo Pere Navarro no habrá conducido ni un solo kilometro ya que nunca ha tenido carnet de conducir y siempre ha tenido chofer particular, como político estrella que ha sido. Las condiciones meteorológicas o la cobertura impedirán en un montón de ocasiones que este flan Dhul con luces sirva para algo. Hay muchas carreteras en España, incluidos trozos de autovías, donde no hay cobertura y por tanto no funcionara la geolocalización. Y este cacharro como bien dice AlainCreaciones no es a prueba de agua. La carcasa de plástico es de una calidad muy baja con pestañas de acople, sin tornillos lo que hace que la baliza tenga una protección mínima exigida por el BOE de IP54 aunque existan algunas con IP66 que ya garantizan protección contra polvo y lluvia intensa. En situación de lluvia las de menor IP tendrán fallo electrónico garantizado. Por no hablar de la durabilidad de las pilas que según el pliego de características técnicas de los dispositivos de preseñalización V-16 establecidas por la Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) en su normativa de homologación (Instrucción MOV-2023/15 y requisitos de certificación UNE-EN 12352), la duración mínima exigida a los fabricantes para la pila o batería es de 18 meses de vida útil en reposo, independientemente de si se trata de pilas alcalinas no recargables o baterías de litio recargables. Esta especificación garantiza que el dispositivo permanezca operativo sin uso durante al menos ese periodo desde su fabricación o última carga completa, complementada con una autonomía mínima de 30 minutos de funcionamiento continuo una vez activado para emitir luz intermitente de alta intensidad. El fabricante entre otros muchos datos recibe el estado de nuestras baterías en la baliza, me pregunto para que, lo que levanta las sospechas de que el software pueda hacer otras cosas a parte de simplemente marcar el punto del accidente. Una vez agotadas, la V16 es como dice Rose Saint Olaf (ManzanaDori) un flan Dhul en el techo del coche. Eso en el mejor de los casos, porque una batería de litio dejada al sol en pleno verano en España puede terminar en tragedia, así que mejor a pilas entrecomillas “de toda la vida” que lo máximo que harán será sulfatarse y estropear la electrónica. Os puedo asegurar que en mis 40 años al volante he necesitado indicar mi avería en la carretera durante bastantes horas en alguna ocasión. Los triángulos, como he dicho anteriormente otorgan una seguridad mediante elementos pasivos, reflectantes, que no necesitan de una fuente de energia externa para funcionar y se ven desde bastante mas distancia que este flan Dhul a pilas. Entonces, si la DGT no ha demostrado con datos desglosados y públicos que esos 25 atropellos anuales se deban realmente a la colocación de triángulos (y no a otros factores como reparaciones, cambios de rueda o trabajadores en la vía), si la baliza V16 conectada no mejora la visibilidad respecto a las versiones no conectadas ya permitidas desde 2021 algunas como las V2 con sirenas giratorias enchufadas al encendedor del vehículo, y si su principal ventaja (la geolocalización) solo será obligatoria a partir de 2026 y aún no está plenamente operativa en todos los navegadores y paneles… ¿por qué se impone de forma tan drástica y urgente una medida que obliga a 30 millones de conductores a gastar entre 25 y 60 € en un dispositivo nuevo, que genera rechazo masivo por la sensación de impuesto encubierto, que se ha comunicado de forma confusa y tardía, y ha sido alimentada por bulos (chip de seguimiento, multas automáticas, negocio de empresas afines, etc.) que la propia DGT no ha desmentido con la claridad y antelación necesarias? La pregunta no es si la V16 es útil o no; es por qué se ha convertido en símbolo de una gestión autoritaria, poco transparente y desconectada de la realidad de la ciudadanía. Y aqui es donde debemos sospechar que la DGT simplemente está trabajando para otras entidades supranacionales que son las que verdaderamente están detrás de la implementación de la Agenda 2030 como he comentado antes. Eso sí, gracias a esta tecnologia la DGT obtendría algún beneficio oculto a simple vista. Vamos a analizar los datos que nos permiten asegurar sin ningún genero de dudas lo que se esconde aqui. Es verdad que algunas balizas V-16 conectadas (no todas) incluyen o recomiendan la instalación de una aplicación móvil específica del fabricante para acceder a funcionalidades adicionales, como la confirmación de recepción de alertas por la DGT, el aviso automático a contactos de emergencia vía WhatsApp, la gestión de flotas o la verificación del estado del dispositivo. En estos casos, la app sí puede solicitar datos personales del usuario (nombre, email, teléfono) y del vehículo (matrícula, tipo, bastidor o datos del seguro) para vincular la baliza a un perfil concreto y personalizar el servicio, lo que facilita la integración con plataformas como DGT 3.0 o apps de aseguradoras. Ejemplos incluyen la app SOS Alert de FlashLED/Telefónica Tech, que pide estos datos para "toda la información de tu vehículo en la APP", o apps de marcas como SOOS o LEDONE, donde se registra la matrícula para asociar la geolocalización en emergencias. Sin embargo, esto no es un requisito obligatorio de la DGT ni para la homologación ni para el uso básico de la baliza: la normativa (Instrucción MOV-2023/15) establece que el dispositivo funciona de forma autónoma con su chip GPS y SIM integrada, transmitiendo solo la ubicación anónima (sin matrícula ni identidad) a la plataforma DGT 3.0 al activarse, sin necesidad de apps, registros previos o cesión de datos a la Administración. La Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD) lo confirma explícitamente: "Para mandar la ubicación del vehículo incidentado no es necesario instalar ninguna aplicación", y "la baliza no transmite ningún tipo de datos personales ni relacionados con el vehículo" más allá del identificador técnico anónimo de cada baliza. La DGT advierte que las apps de fabricantes son opcionales y que el comprador "no tiene por qué facilitar ningún tipo de dato", ya que el proceso es completamente anónimo. O sea, la baliza tiene una ID única que la identifica, lo cual podría permitir anexar datos a esa ID, algo asi como el numero PNR que cada uno de nosotros tenemos asignados aunque ni siquiera seamos conscientes de ello. El reciente ciberataque a la Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), detectado el 31 de mayo de 2024, ha expuesto los datos personales y vehiculares de más de 34 millones de conductores españoles, incluyendo DNIs, direcciones, matrículas y detalles de seguros, que ahora circulan en el dark web para su venta. Este incidente pone de manifiesto la creciente vulnerabilidad de los sistemas públicos ante amenazas cibernéticas, y genera preocupación sobre cómo estos datos podrían cruzarse con otros registros estatales para un seguimiento más exhaustivo de la movilidad ciudadana. Por ejemplo, al entrar en vigor la obligatoriedad de las balizas V16 –dispositivos que transmiten la ID única y la geolocalización en caso de avería–, surge la posibilidad de que se integren con la información filtrada de la DGT, permitiendo un mapeo detallado de trayectos vehiculares en tiempo real. A esto se suma que el Estado ya nos tiene en listas a través del Registro de Nombres de Pasajeros (PNR), implementado tras el 11S, que recopila datos de todos los vuelos de entrada, salida o escala en España, viajes en tren de largo recorrido y pernoctación en hoteles para fines de seguridad, abarcando identidades, itinerarios y preferencias de viaje. Podrán encontrar más información en los enlaces que se publicaran junto a la descripción de este podcast en Ivoox. Pero, sigamos. Según la Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), en su página oficial sobre los Dispositivos de preseñalización V16, se debe llevar la baliza de la siguiente manera para evitar multas: "Debemos llevarla en la guantera de nuestro vehículo". Esto implica que, a partir del 1 de enero de 2026, cuando sea obligatoria, todo conductor estará sancionado con 80 euros (infracción leve) si no dispone de ella homologada y lista para usar en su interior, accesible y con batería o pila en buen estado (mínimo 18 meses de vida útil en reposo). Respecto a "activada", la DGT aclara textualmente que "en el momento en que tengamos que señalizar que nuestro vehículo está inmovilizado en carretera, lo único que debemos hacer es encender la baliza y colocarla en el exterior del mismo. Por eso es tan importante que la guardes a mano y que la lleves siempre cargada, ya sea con baterías o con pilas, en función del modelo de la baliza que hayas adquirido”. Bien. La baliza solo dispone de un único botón, se trata de un pulsador que activa inmediatamente las luces led y la geolocalización de la baliza a los 100 segundos de la pulsación. Con otra pulsación la apagamos y supuestamente deja de enviar nuestra geolocalización. Pero esto se ha demostrado falso ya que se le han realizado pruebas donde se ve que el router eSIM que monta emite datos estando apagada pero con las pilas puestas. Se ha elegido este tipo de transmisión de datos ya que hace que sea imposible evitar su funcionamiento extrayendo la tarjeta SIM que esta integrada en dicho modulo electrónico. Los desmontajes de las balizas han arrojado que solo disponen de un controlador de software, una antena GPS y este router de comunicación. Dicha comunicación es full duplex y permite la salida y entrada de datos asi como existe en la placa base de la baliza un sistema de introducción y extracción de datos manual y actualización del firmware. Todo el software está encriptado dentro del chip controlador y hasta donde yo se todavía ningún hacker ha podido desvelar exactamente que hace dicho software, pero debemos sospechar que podría hacer algo más que comunicar anónimamente nuestra geolocalización tras pulsar el botón. Leemos un articulo en bandaancha punto eu titulado “El dominio al que las balizas V-16 envían datos no pertenece a la DGT, sino a un misterioso usuario particular”. “Los más de 30 millones de balizas V-16 que tendrán que adquirir los propietarios de vehículos para cumplir con la normativa que entra en vigor el 1 de enero, no están programadas para llamar directamente a los sistemas de la DGT cuando se activan para señalizar la detención de un vehículo. La Resolución de la DGT publicada en noviembre de 2021 en el BOE que define el funcionamiento técnico de las balizas1, establece 2 protocolos, Protocolo A y B. El llamado protocolo A contiene el conjunto de campos que se exige a los fabricantes que remitan sus balizas. Entre los campos encontramos un identificador único de la baliza, el IMEI del módem que conecta con la red móvil, nivel de batería y por supuesto, las coordenadas geográficas que permiten a la DGT conocer la posición sobre el mapa del vehículo. Pero esta información no llega a los servidores de la DGT. La norma obliga a los fabricantes a mantener un servicio en la nube encargado de procesar todas las peticiones que llegan de las balizas de su marca como tráfico UDP sobre IP. El servidor es accesible mediante un APN privado integrado en la eSIM de la baliza, que no tiene acceso a internet. Este punto crítico para el funcionamiento de todas las balizas de un fabricante deberá mantenerse en funcionamiento durante los 12 años en los que se garantiza el servicio de conectividad. La caída del servicio de un fabricante, bien por problemas técnicos o por el cierre de la empresa, algo que podría ocurrir más fácilmente con las marcas creadas ad-hoc para aprovechar el boom de la venta de balizas, dejaría fuera de juego a las miles de balizas de la marca. Es por ello que el pliego técnico del concurso en el que se adjudicó la creación de la DGT 3.0 a un grupo de empresas lideradas por Vodafone, contemplaba la posibilidad de habilitar sistemas de respaldo para los fabricantes. Los servidores del fabricante de la baliza son los encargados de, en un segundo paso, reenviar los datos de un incidente en curso a los servidores de la DGT. Lo hacen aplicando el protocolo B, que a día de hoy contiene un conjunto reducido de los datos originalmente enviados por la baliza a su fabricante. Cambiar los campos del protocolo A es prácticamente inviable, puesto que requeriría actualizar manualmente el firmware de las balizas. Mucho más sencillo resulta para la DGT vía publicación de nueva Resolución en el BOE modificar el protocolo B, ampliando si lo desea sus campos con los que ya reciben los fabricantes. El dominio de entrada a la DGT 3.0 está a nombre de un particular. La DGT invita a los fabricantes de dispositivos y desarrolladores de apps a conectarse a su nube DGT 3.0 publicando en su web2 los repositorios en Github que contienen los detalles para acceder al servicio. En el caso de las V-16, la nube de los fabricantes debe enviar los eventos de las balizas activas en formato json a una URL en concreto: https://pre.cmobility30.es/v16/ Aunque el subdominio pre probablemente indica que se trata de la versión del servicio habilitada para hacer pruebas antes de su paso a producción, el dominio cmobility30.es figura en la documentación de todas las APIs de la DGT 3.0, siendo por tanto un elemento crítico para el funcionamiento de la plataforma DGT 3.0. Sin embargo, la DGT no tiene la titularidad de este dominio. Al consultar el whois de cmobility30.es en los registro de Red.es no aparece como propietario la DGT ni otro organismo gubernamental. Tampoco la UTE (Unión Temporal de Empresas) designada para operar la DGT 3.0, si no que su titular es un misterioso usuario particular.” O sea, toda la arquitectura de registro de datos de un pais entero pasa por un servidor alojado en un dominio de internet a nombre de un tal Ivan Vega. Imagino que seria bastante fácil de tumbar en un ataque por hackers. Hemos visto varias cosas interesantes, esta decisión proviene de ámbitos superiores incluso a Europa por lo que va a ser muy difícil tumbarlo judicialmente y se busca algo mas que simplemente señalizar el punto donde se ha producido el accidente cosa que normalmente hace el propio accidentado con su movil, ya que la baliza no indica el punto al 112 por ejemplo, cosa que si debemos hacer nosotros. La baliza parece más bien un caballo de Troya para irnos acostumbrando a ser geolocalizados en el coche de forma constante en un futuro. Cosa que ya ocurre desde que empezamos a utilizar los teléfonos inteligentes, asi de tontos somos en realidad. La mejor forma de impedir su implementación es no comprar dichas balizas y arriesgarnos a ser multados con esos 80 euros. En mi experiencia en la carretera jamas se me pidió por parte de la Guardia Civil el que les mostrara los triángulos y se que muchos de ellos no ven con buenos ojos el haber pasado de unas medidas de prevención pasivas a una luz que necesita energia externa y que en muchos casos dejara de funcionar en apenas unos minutos. Visto que dichas balizas no tienen botón de apagado, ni tarjeta SIM que extraer para que no envíe datos, y que se nos exige llevar las pilas puestas recomiendo el aislarlas electromagnéticamente para impedir que puedan comunicar nuestra posición GPS mientras no la necesitemos para señalizar un accidente. Hay dos formas, o comprando una funda jaula de Faraday que nos costara lo mismo que una baliza o envolverla en tres o cuatro capas de papel de aluminio, también servirían esas bolsas que se utilizan en el supermercado para transportar comida en frio. Otra medida que los volvería locos es que intercambiaramos nuestras balizas con otros conductores ya que oficialmente nos dicen que los datos son anónimos aunque cada baliza cuente con un numero ID de identificación único. De momento no está claro si encender una baliza fuera de una vía donde circulen vehículos es un delito así que la saturación de las redes provocando eventos de encendido en masa también seria una buena forma de protesta. Conociendo los datos que ese protocolo B transmite en ultima instancia a la DGT no podemos asegurar que el fin ultimo sea conocer nuestra posición y velocidad en la carretera en la actualidad. Pero como he dicho, es muy probable que en un futuro, se utilicen dichos datos para empezar a implementar mas radares y controles en las zonas donde se incumplan los limites de velocidad, todo apunta a ello. Los datos son el oro en la actualidad, y más si son gratis. El actual director general de la DGT, Pere Navarro Olivella, fue alcalde de Terrassa entre 2000 y 2007 y ex líder del PSC del 2011 al 2014. Y por supuesto, como todo “buen político” fue “investigado" por un presunto delito de tráfico de influencias dentro del llamado caso Mercurio. La juez Beatriz Faura, del Juzgado de Instrucción número 2 de Sabadell, lo citó a declarar el 24 de febrero de 2016 sobre la ayuda que presto a un empresario amigo, Nicola Pedrazzoli, a obtener una concesión de un canal de TDT. El caso Mercurio ha tenido ramificaciones amplias, con imputaciones por cohecho, prevaricación y blanqueo aunque Pere Navarro ha quedado al margen de todo. En 2011, Pere Navarro, recién reincorporado como director general de Tráfico tras un breve paréntesis político, decidió trasladar su despacho y toda su unidad del edificio de la DGT en José Abascal 44 al número 28 de la misma calle, exactamente al mismo inmueble que él mismo había abandonado en 2007 para irse al 44. El argumento oficial fue “estar más cerca del secretario general del organismo” y mejorar la coordinación, una justificación que resultó ridícula para muchos: los dos edificios están a apenas 200 metros de distancia y ya estaban conectados internamente. El traslado fue percibido como un capricho personal sin ninguna utilidad real, especialmente en pleno pico de la crisis económica, con España sometida a recortes sociales y un desempleo del 21 %. El coste de esta operación rozó el millón de euros (según la información publicada por La Razón y nunca desmentida oficialmente): reformas integrales del despacho, mobiliario de lujo, nuevos archivadores, traslado de todo el personal del Observatorio Nacional de Seguridad Vial y acondicionamiento completo de la planta. En un momento en que el Gobierno exigía sacrificios a los ciudadanos y se recortaban prestaciones básicas, gastar cerca de un millón de euros en cambiar de edificio dentro de la misma calle para “estar más cómodo” se convirtió en uno de los símbolos más claros del despilfarro de ciertos altos cargos socialistas y alimentó durante años la imagen de Navarro como gestor poco sensible a la situación del país. Pero no vamos a terminar hundidos en el pesimismo, os voy a dar una buena noticia para variar. Y es que Aena, el operador estatal que lleva nuestros aeropuertos, ha tenido que desactivar el embarque biométrico tras recibir una sanción millonaria. Leemos en un noticia: “La Agencia Española de Protección de Datos, AEPD, ha condenado al operador aeroportuario Aena a una multa de 10 millones de euros y ha ordenado el cierre inmediato de todas las puertas biométricas de embarque. La razón de esta sanción estriba en que Aena no realizó una evaluación obligatoria de impacto en la protección de datos antes de introducir la tecnología que permite el reconocimiento de los pasajeros por su aspecto físico. Tras las quejas de los viajeros, la AEPD inició una investigación, que la ha llevado a condenar a Aena por no haber realizado la comprobación de los efectos que el reconocimiento biométrico puede tener en la protección da datos.” Desgraciadamente dicha agencia ha dado el visto bueno este mismo 20 de noviembre a las balizas V16 siempre y cuando, y leo textualmente: “estos dispositivos están destinados exclusivamente a la visibilización del vehículo accidentado y el envío de la ubicación de un incidente al activarse, prohibiendo expresamente que incorporen funcionalidades adicionales.” O sea, según ellos al más mínimo indicio de que hacen algo más dicha agencia las quitara de en medio. Sin embargo no han dicho ni mu sobre que el dominio por donde circularán los datos de millones de españoles este en manos de un tipo llamado Ivan Vega. Preparemonos para lo peor pero esperemos lo mejor. Os invito a que no compréis dicha lucecita y que desobedezcáis en masa una medida dictatorial como esta. De momento el señor Pere Navarro ya ha dicho que nos dará un periodo de gracia. En 2020, mientras todos mirábamos hipnotizados la tele y aplaudíamos a las ocho, el Gobierno lanzó en la sombra el mayor experimento de rastreo masivo jamás visto en España: un proyecto secreto del INE, la DGT y las grandes telecos (Movistar, Vodafone, Orange) para geolocalizar en tiempo real los 47 millones de móviles del país con una precisión de pocos metros. Sin pedir permiso a nadie, activaron la extracción masiva de datos de antenas y señales GPS anonimizadas… o eso nos contaron. Cada desplazamiento, cada salida al supermercado, cada viaje al pueblo quedó registrado y cruzado con bases de datos demográficas para crear mapas de colores que mostraban exactamente quién obedecía el confinamiento y quién no. Oficialmente era “para estudiar la movilidad durante la pandemia”; en realidad fue el ensayo general perfecto del sistema que hoy usa la DGT 3.0: la misma infraestructura que mañana recibirá la señal de tu baliza V16 conectada cuando te averíes… y que, casualmente, ya sabe perfectamente por dónde te mueves cada día sin que tú hayas hecho nada. El conejo ya estaba dentro del sombrero hace cinco años; ahora solo falta que enciendas la lucecita para que sepan exactamente dónde estás parado. Coincidencia, claro. ………………………………………………………………………………………. Conductor del programa UTP Ramón Valero @tecn_preocupado Canal en Telegram @UnTecnicoPreocupado Un técnico Preocupado un FP2 IVOOX UTP http://cutt.ly/dzhhGrf BLOG http://cutt.ly/dzhh2LX Ayúdame desde mi Crowfunding aquí https://cutt.ly/W0DsPVq …. Participantes ………………………………………………………………………………………. Enlaces citados en el podcast: AYUDA A TRAVÉS DE LA COMPRA DE MIS LIBROS https://tecnicopreocupado.com/2024/11/16/ayuda-a-traves-de-la-compra-de-mis-libros/ Baliza de Angel Gaitan proviene directamente de los guardiaciviles https://x.com/gisbert_ruben/status/1994144991539822895 La baliza envía datos pero no directamente a la DGT https://x.com/bricotienda/status/1993604138664345755 La super iluminación de una pila https://x.com/Anonymous_TA/status/1993197306276200712 He DESMONTADO la BALIZA V16 ¿Qué oculta realmente? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb1zhS9M0ks&t=878s La V16 no es a prueba de Agua https://x.com/AlainCreaciones/status/1992536649189015876 El dominio al que las balizas V-16 envían datos no pertenece a la DGT, sino a un misterioso usuario particular https://bandaancha.eu/articulos/dominio-balizas-v-16-envian-datos-no-11583 Baliza V16 impulsada por VOX https://x.com/Davidmartin341/status/1992750051869814952 VOX exige la paralización inmediata de la imposición de la baliza V16 que esconde un nuevo impuesto contra los españoles https://gaceta.es/espana/vox-exige-la-paralizacion-inmediata-de-la-imposicion-de-la-baliza-v16-que-esconde-un-nuevo-impuesto-contra-los-espanoles-20251126-1305/ ¿Dónde envían datos las balizas V16? ¡No es a la DGT! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx1tVTHLM48&t=3s Datos movilidad durante el COVID https://www.ine.es/covid/covid_movilidad.htm Las carreteras españolas ya tienen 3.395 radares, el mayor aumento desde 2021 https://www.coches.net/noticias/numero-radares-carreteras-espana ESTO ES RIDÍCULO: ¡No compres tu baliza V16 sin ver esto! "LA DGT incumple la ley constantemente" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17KZ6WLGPmQ LO QUE NO DEBERIAS SABER SOBRE EL PNR https://tecnicopreocupado.com/2019/03/14/lo-que-no-deberias-saber-sobre-el-pnr/ Qué datos suyos tienen los hackers de la DGT tras la filtración de 34,5 millones de usuarios https://es.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/06/01/que-datos-tuyos-tienen-los-hackers-de-la-dgt-tras-la-filtracion-de-345-millones-de-usuario Aena desactiva el embarque biométrico tras recibir una sanción millonaria https://www.tourinews.es/resumen-de-prensa/notas-de-prensa-destinos-turismo/aena-desactiva-embarque-biometrico-recibir-sancion-millonaria_4489851_102.html Nota informativa sobre la baliza V16 conectada, el dispositivo que deberán llevar los vehículos desde enero de 2026 https://www.aepd.es/prensa-y-comunicacion/notas-de-prensa/nota-informativa-sobre-baliza-v16-conectada ………………………………………………………………………………………. Música utilizada en este podcast: Tema inicial Heros Epílogo Sr.J - Transhumanismo https://youtu.be/VZhk7Wlh8ks?si=GRweMvokOtSwy57y

Que llevó al Japón a emplear Kamikazes en la guerra? cual es la génesis del espíritu de Kamikaze y que fueron las unidades especiales de ataque? Antonio Salmerón nos lo cuenta en este programa tan especial como los hombres que participaron en estas unidades. Del Bushido hasta el Yasukuni, una cultura guerrera para la colectividad y por el Emperador. Antonio Salmerón Labrado es autor de libro TOKKOTAI. UNIDAD DE ATAQUE ESPECIAL donde estudia y amplifica todo lo escrito hasta el momento Musica intro: Fallen Soldier,licencia gratuita, de Biz Baz Estudio Licencia Creative Commons Fuentes: Propias del autor Audios y música: Música relacionada y fragmentos de noticiario. Fragmentos de Tora tora tora y Pearl Harbor. Canción Kamikaze de Tierra Santa Productora: Vega Gónzalez Director /Colaborador: Sergio Murata Nuestras listas China en guerra https://go.ivoox.com/bk/11072909 Guerra de Ucrania (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10954944 337 Días en Baler, los últimos de Filipinas (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10896373 Checoslovaquia el arsenal de Hitler (Miniserie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10989586 Episodios de Guadalcanal ( Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10996267 Sudan las guerras del Mahdi (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10991351 Con Rommel en el Desierto (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10991349 Chechenia las guerras del lobo (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10989674 Cine e Historia (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10991110 Guerra Biológica ( Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10989690 Guerra francoprusiana de 1870-1871 (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10987884 Guerra de Secesión norteamericana 1861-1865 (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10958205 David contra Goliat, Fusiles anticarro (Miniserie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10958221 Beutepanzer, blindados capturados y usados por Alemania (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10956491 Japón bajo las bombas (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10914802 Erich Topp, el Diablo Rojo (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10935056 Motos en la Segunda Guerra Mundial (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10896149 Propaganda en la Segunda Guerra Mundial (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10886167 Memorias de nuestros veteranos (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10723177 Vietnam, episodios de una guerra (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10753747 Hombres K, los comandos de la Kriegsmarine (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10715879 Mercur 1941, la batalla de Creta (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10497539 Guerra de Ifni Sahara (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/9990031 Armas de Autarquía ( Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/9990017 La Guerra del 98 (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/5029543 Italia en la Segunda Guerra Mundial (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/6190737 Mujeres en Tiempo de Guerra (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/7826153 Blindados españoles (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/7824815 Ejércitos y Soldados (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/7825841 Batallas y conflictos (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/7825969 Armas de infantería (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/7824907 Espero que os guste y os animo a suscribiros, dar likes, y compartir en redes sociales y a seguirnos por facebook y/o twitter. Recordad que esta disponible la opción de Suscriptor Fan , donde podréis acceder a programas en exclusiva. Podéis opinar a través de ivoox, en twitter @Niebladeguerra1 y ver el material adicional a través de facebook https://www.facebook.com/sergio.murata.77 o por mail a niebladeguerraprograma@hotmail.com Telegram Si quieres acceder a él sigue este enlace https://t.me/niebladeguerra Además tenemos un grupo de conversación, donde otros compañeros, podcaster ,colaboradores y yo, tratamos temas diversos de historia, algún pequeño juego y lo que sea, siempre que sea serio y sin ofensas ni bobadas. Si te interesa entrar , a través del canal de Niebla de Guerra en Telegram, podrás acceder al grupo. También podrás a través de este enlace (O eso creo ) https://t.me/joinchat/Jw1FyBNQPOZtEKjgkh8vXg NUEVO CANAL DE YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaUjlWkD8GPoq7HnuQGzxfw/featured?view_as=subscriber BLOGS AMIGOS https://www.davidlopezcabia.es/ con el escritor de novela bélica David López Cabia https://www.eurasia1945.com/ Del escritor e historiador, Rubén Villamor Algunos podcast amigos LA BIBLIOTECA DE LA HISTORIA https://www.ivoox.com/biblioteca-de-la-historia_sq_f1566125_1 https://blog.sandglasspatrol.com/ blo Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

O Japão voltou a acender todos os alertas da economia mundial. Com a curva de juros disparando, dívida pública recorde e risco real de reversão dos fluxos globais de capital, o país pode desencadear turbulências nos mercados — inclusive no câmbio e no Bitcoin, como vimos nos últimos dias. Neste vídeo, analisamos os novos sinais de estresse fiscal, o possível aperto do Banco do Japão e por que qualquer movimento japonês repercute imediatamente no mundo inteiro. Um panorama completo do elo mais frágil — e mais perigoso — da macro global.

Hello everyone, a big thanks to all of you who joined the patreon and voted for this to be the next episode, you all are awesome. This is a part 2 about Hirohito's responsibility during the wars of 1931-1945, so if you have not heard part 1, perhaps go do so, or maybe you just don't care about 1931-1940 and just want to hear about the 1941-1945 period, hell by all means enjoy.   So last time we kind of left it on a bit of a dramatic cliff hanger. I spoke about Emperor Hirohito's involvement in what was called at the time the “China Incident”. It was not an official declared war until December of 1941. We left off in 1940, Hirohito was struggling with a situation of juggling two things: 1) how the hell to finally end the China War 2) how to do it without receiving horrible ramifications from the international world. On July 22nd of 1940, Konoe was back and formed a second cabinet. Notably General Hideki Tojo went from vice to army Minister during this time. If you guys ever want a podcast on Hideki Tojo, let me know, he is one rather bizarre figure that's for sure. Konoe tackled his job by holding an imperial HQ government liaison conference. For 90 minutes everyone worked on a new national policy designed to exploit the international situation, IE: Germany bulldozing europe.  The result was a document on national policy dated July 27th. It shifted focus to the “southern area” IE: southeast asia and the Pacific if the China war did not end quickly. Its basis was to exploit the foreign nations that had their hands full in europe, France, Britain and the Netherlands. It called for an invasion of French Indochina to establish bases to launch assaults against the Dutch East Indies for natural resources if diplomatic means failed. It acknowledged if the Dutch East Indies were seized through military means, Japan would also seek to fight Britain, but not the US, instead Japan would prepare for a possible war with the Americans. To all of this Hirohito approved. The army also kept pressuring its desire to ally with Germany. Throughout 1939-1940 Hirohito rejected this idea, not because of any ideological differences, it was because of Germans anti aggression pact with the USSR. If Japan were to ally to Germany, Hirohito wanted it to be mutually to fight the USSR. The Navy likewise opposed allying to Germany because they believed it would force Britain and the US to increase their aid to Chiang Kai-shek.   However the Blitzkrieg changed everything. Everyone was shocked at how well Germany was doing. Prince Chichibu repeatedly argued with Hirohito to change his mind over the alliance idea. Then suddenly the Navy changed their mind and began favoring an alliance. This changed came about in June of 1940 when the France fell. The Navy changed their mind based on a few factors, a major component was the belief if Germany and the USSR were allied, than at least Japan would not have to worry about the USSR and could focus on the pacific. Both the IJA and the IJN believed Hitler would soon take Britain and thus there was a huge desire to join the new international order on the winning side. A third factor was a new clause in negotiations with Germany and Japan, that if they allied Japan would not automatically be drawn into a war with Britain against her will. Some in the navy also believed perhaps Germany could help their diplomatic situation with the Americans. So the army and navy were now both demanding an alliance with Germany, it was all up to hirohito.    At an imperial briefing on June 19th of 1940, Hirohito asked chief of staff Prince Kan'in and the Army Minister Hata “At a time when peace will soon come in the European situation, will there be a deployment of troops to the Netherlands Indies and French Indochina?” Such as question revealed Hirohito's perception at the time that Germany was on the verge of victory and that he was gradually considering the deployment of troops in French Indochina and the Dutch East Indies as neither parent nation were in a position to defend their holdings. In regards to the China war, the Japanese sought to end leaks of materials getting into China from places like Hong Kong. Hirohito received reports indicated Britain would not accept closing the movement of materials into China via Hong Kong. The military acknowledged it would probably be required to invade Hong Kong and thus declare war on Britain. Upon hearing of this Hirohito remarked “Should that happen, I am sure America will use the method of an embargo, don't you agree?” To this his lord of the privy seal, Kido reassured him stating “the nation must be fully resolved to resist to proceed cautiously and not to be dragged into events precipitated by the overseas agencies”. Konoe's second cabinet resolved to end the China war, construct a new order in greater east asia and to complete war preparations as a national defense state. On July 27th at a liaison conference a document was adopted, affirming a course of advancing to the south and to ally with Germany. Japan would incorporate the Dutch East Indies, British Malaya and other resource rich areas of Southeast Asia into its new order while simultaneously bolstering its relationship with the Axis states. After hearing and reading everything, Hirohito sanctioned it all. Thus Hirohito had sanctioned the preliminary actions that would set Japan into a collision course with the US.   In September Japan began sending troops into northern French Indochina after concluding its Tripartite alliance with Germany and Italy. Now Hirohito was briefed beforehand by Army Minister Tojo and other chiefs of staff about securing bases in northern French indochina. Hirohito agreed to this under the belief acquiring such bases would stop more leaked materials going into China and thus contribute to the fall of Chongqing. But Hirohito also sanctioned it under the full knowledge it was preparing the Nanshin-ron advance and that carried a risk of going to war with Britain and by proxy the US. Naturally he wanted to thwart any war breaking out with the US by it seems his officials had convinced him they could manage most of their plans without aggravating the US.   On July 29th with the German offensive aimed at finishing off Britain, Hirohito summoned his chiefs and vice chiefs of staff to the imperial HQ. He began to question the prospects of war with the US. Prince Fushimi replied “[u]nless we complete our domestic preparations, particularly the preparation of our material resources, I do not think we should lightly start war even if there is a good opportunity to do so.” Hirohito then asked if  “the Army were planning to occupy points in India, Australia, and New Zealand.” But overall Hirohito seemed to be the most concerned about the US, Germany and the USSR. “Could Japan, obtain a victory in a naval battle with the United States as we once did in the Battle of the Japan Sea? . . . I heard that the United States will ban exports of oil and scrap iron [to Japan]. We can probably obtain oil from other sources, but don't you think we will have a problem with scrap iron?” In regards to the USSR “If a Japan-Soviet nonaggression treaty is made and we advance to the south, the navy will become the main actor. Has the army given thought to reducing the size of its forces in that case? . . . How do you assess the future national power of Germany? . . . Both Germany and the Soviet Union are untrustworthy countries. Don't you think there will be a problem if one of them betrays us and takes advantage of our exhaustion fighting the United States?I]t seems as though you people are thinking of implementing this plan by force because there is a good opportunity at this moment for resolving the southern problem even though some dangers are involved. . . . What does a good opportunity mean? [To this question Sawada replied: “For example, if a German landing in England commences.”] In that case wouldn't the United States move to aid Britain? . . . Well, I've heard enough. I take it, in short, that you people are trying to resolve the southern problem by availing yourselves of today's good opportunities.”   You can tell Hirohito understood the very real threat of an Anglo-American alliance and was very cautious. It seemed to Hirohito, that his officials were trying to take the limelight off the abysmal situation in China but emphasizing a southern advance. Well Americans response to the Japanese movement into northern French indochina was to see it as a direct threat. Something I have not paid much attention to was Hirohito's decision making being the direct result of trying to mediate between competing entities, ie: the IJA and IJN. At this point in time the IJA and IJN top officials had the power to simply stop governmental functions from occurring altogether whenever they were displeased with a decision. As you can imagine the IJA and IJN were also competing for resources and political power. Thus Hirohito spent a lot of time and effort trying to formulate decisions that at a minimum kept the governance going.    In the end Hirohito sanctioned Imperial HQ army order number 458, ordering the area army to begin the entry into French Indochina. Thus once again Hirohito sanctioned aggression aboard. America began what it called a “moral embargo” on aircraft parts, scrap iron and aviation gasoline. This was one of many gradual steps America took to incrementally sanction Japan, while aiding China to keep it bogged down. Japan's direct response was joining the Axis with a clause “to assist one another with all political, economic and military means if attacked by a power at present not involved in the European War or in the Sino-Japanese conflict”. This clause was designed specifically to check Britain and the US. Hirohito knew this was a turning point carrying the possibility of war with the US. Later he would blame some officials and even his brothers Chichibu and Takamatsu, but not his own actions sanctioning the Axis pact.    Speaking of his brothers, at this time Chichibu got severely ill with tuberculosis and as a result retired from active public life, now Prince Takamatsu stood as next regent. Thus Takamatsu would begin reading reports and advise Hirohito. Takamatsu like Chichibu approved the Tripartite Pact and found his brother Hirohito's performance lacking. Meanwhile Britain responded to the Tripartite pact by opening up the Burma road and America made a loan to Chiang Kai-shek.   The Soviets came to Japan for a neutrality pact and sweetened the deal by offering Soviet coal and oil concessions in North Sakhalin. Hirohito ratified the treaty on April 25th of 1941. 5 weeks later on June 5th, the Japanese ambassador to Berlin, General Oshima Hiroshi reported to Hirohito and the high command that Hitler was about to invade the Soviets. The Army high command sprang into action drafting plans to open a war with the Soviets while simultaneously advancing south into French Indochina. But many in the military also sought to wait until the time was ripe, and a rift emerged. Operation barbarossa commenced and on June 23rd the IJN high command gave their opinion that Japan should seize all military bases and airfields in southern French Indochina even at the risk of war with Britain and America. Can you say boy that escalated quickly?   There was obvious temptation to invade Siberia towards Lake Baikal, but at the same time the western powers were tightening sanctions on Japan, she needed resources. At this point Japan had been stuck in China for 4 years and 5 months, the army had expanded from 17 divisions totalling 250,000 men in july of 1937 to 51 divisions at 2.1 million men in December 8th of 1941. On July 2nd, 10 tens into Operation barbarossa, Konoe summoned an imperial conference to debate actions going forward. The consensus was that southern French Indochina needed to be taken and that it probably would not provoke the US going to war with Japan. Hirohito sanctioned it and on July 30th made a major operational intervention by advising General Sugiyama to build up forces in Manchukuo to prevent the Soviet Far Eastern Army.   Japan negotiated with Vichy France to allow Japanese troops to occupy southern parts of French Indochina. What was to be originally just 40,000 IJA forces turned into 185,000 and in response America increased sanctions and began preparing the Philippines for war. Roosevelt froze Japanese assets in the US on July 26th and by August the 1st a total embargo of oil and gasoline exports to Japan. Konoe's cabinet, the military high command, pretty much everyone was shocked by how harsh the economic sanctions were. Emperor Hirohito told Sugiyama to halt mobilizing forces in Manchukuo and the army basically dropped all plans of attacking the USSR. A month after the US oil embargo suddenly the army had changed its mind to go all in on the southern advance. Britain likewise began sanctions against Japan and both Britain and the US managed to convince the Dutch to follow suit by refusing to sell oil to Japan. The Dutch even took it a step further and followed Americans lead in freezing Japanese assets.    Konoe was in full panic mode, be believed his ambassador to washington was a moron and sought to go in person to speak to Roosevelt. At 11:40am on August 4th Konoe spoke to Hirohito about the plan, but Washington kept making up excuses prolonging any meeting from taking place. Meanwhile Washington was building up its navy, and the IJN were stressing, in the words of Admiral Takagai “As time passes and this situation continues, our empire will either be totally defeated or forced to fight a hopeless war. Therefore we should pursue war and diplomacy together. If there is no prospect of securing our final line of national survival by diplomatic negotiations, we must be resolved to fight.” Hirohito understood the predicament full well, that each day Japan was wasting its oil reserves, if they were to strike it had to be quickly.    On september 3rd at a liaison conference it was decided Japan was to prepare for a war against the US, UK and Netherlands while simultaneously pursuing diplomacy. If diplomacy failed by early October the decision for war would be made. Konoe presented everything to Hirohito on September 5th and requested an imperial conference on the matter. The most important decision of his life was about to be made.    Now take a second to feel the moment. Germany's invasion of the USSR was in its 6th week and not producing a decisive victory; Britain was still in the fight and the Japanese ambassador to London reported back Britain would allow Japan to maintain its great power status and exert influence in asia if they stayed out of the European War and “re-examined their current policy”. An olive branch. Hirohito had options is what I am arguing. He could stale things, he could mobilize units into Manchukuo to simply threaten the Soviet border, he could simply stay out of new wars, even it the China war would get worse, but try to profit from the situation in Europe. He could stop the southern advance, lose the chance to seize the resource in southeast asia, but perhaps the US, UK and Netherlands would lift some sanctions.   After speaking back and forth with Konoe while scolding Sugiyama here is a bit of their conversation:    Emperor: In the event we must finally open hostilities, will our operations have a probability of victory?  Sugiyama: Yes, they will.  Emperor: At the time of the China Incident, the army told me that we could achieve peace immediately after dealing them one blow with three divisions. Sugiyama, you were army minister at that time. . . .  Sugiyama: China is a vast area with many ways in and many ways out, and we met unexpectedly big difficulties. . . . [ellipses in original]  Emperor: Didn't I caution you each time about those matters? Sugiyama, are you lying to me? Nagano: If Your Majesty will grant me permission, I would like to make a statement.  Emperor: Go ahead.  Nagano: There is no 100 percent probability of victory for the troops stationed there. . . . Sun Tzu says that in war between states of similar strength, it is very difficult to calculate victory. Assume, however, there is a sick person and we leave him alone; he will definitely die. But if the doctor's diagnosis offers a seventy percent chance of survival, provided the patient is operated on, then don't you think one must try surgery? And if, after the surgery, the patient dies, one must say that was meant to be. This indeed is the situation we face today. . . . If we waste time, let the days pass, and are forced to fight after it it is too late to fight, then we won't be able to do a thing about it.  Emperor: All right, I understand. [He answered in a better mood.]  Konoe: Shall I make changes in tomorrow's agenda? How would you like me to go about it? Emperor: There is no need to change anything.   There is no need to change anything. Konoe grabbed Hirohito for a private audience afterwards and tried to get Hirohito to revise the outline, but Hirohito ignored this. Hirohito at that point could have stopped or at least slowed down the countdown to all out war. Hirohito instead did not want to displease the pro-war factions in his military, perhaps he saw them as a threat to his authority. Hirohito was not at all pleased with the policy plan. When he was shown in on september 5th, he looked extremely irritated and blew up on Sugiyama and the army high command as a whole. 20 minutes before the Imperial conference on September 6th, Hirohito spoke with his lord of the privy Kido and told him he was going to raise some questions at the meeting. Kido told him that it would be best to leave the questions at the very end, basically he was advising to allow for things to go through. Thus Hirohito sat through the meeting and sanction the preparations for war. Here is a conversation between Hirohito and the Chiefs of the general staff:   Emperor: You may go ahead and mobilize. But if the Konoe-Roosevelt talks go well, you'll stop, won't you?  Chief of the General Staff: Indeed, your majesty, we will.  Emperor: I will ask you one more time: Is there any possibility that the north [that is, the Soviet Union] may move against us while we are engaged in the south [emphasis added]?  Chief of the General Staff: I cannot say that will absolutely not occur. However, because of the season it is inconceivable that large forces will be able to attack us   Meanwhile Konoe's deadline to reach a diplomatic resolution with the US was fast approaching. On October 13th Hirohito told Kido “In the present situation there seems to be little hope for the Japan–U.S. negotiations. If hostilities erupt this time, I think I may have to issue a declaration of war.” The next day Konoe held his last cabinet meeting and Army minister Tojo took the lionshare of talking:   For the past six months, ever since April, the foreign minister has made painstaking efforts to adjust relations [with the United States.] Although I respect him for that, we remain deadlocked. . . . Our decision was “to start the war . . . if by early October we cannot thoroughly achieve our demands through negotiations.” Today is the fourteenth. . . . We are mobilizing hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Others are being moved from China and Manchuria, and we have requisitioned two million tons of ships, causing difficulties for many people. As I speak ships are en route to their destinations. I would not mind stopping them, and indeed would have to stop them, if there was a way for a diplomatic breakthrough. . . . The heart of the matter is the [imposition on us of] withdrawal [from Indochina and China]. ...If we yield to America's demands, it will destroy the fruits of the China Incident. Manchukuo will be endangered and our control of Korea undermined   And so Konoe resigned two days later, but before he did his last official action was to recommend Prince Higashikuni to succeed him, in fact he got Tojo to do the same. Prince Higashikuni was deemed capable of controlling both the Army and Navy. And what did Hirohito say to this? He said no, and appointed Hideki Tojo. Why? As going back to the beginning of this series, to protect the Kokutai. He did not want a member of the royal family to hold the seat as Prime Minister during a time when war might be declared, a war that Japan might lose, which would toss the responsibility onto the imperial house. It was a threat to the Kokutai. Hirohito chose Tojo because Tojo was 100% loyal subject to the emperor. Tojo was the perfect fall guy if one ever existed.    Between November 8-15th, Hirohito received a full rundown of the Pearl Harbor surprise attack plan and sanctioned it. The deadline to reach a diplomatic solution with the US was set for midnight December 1st.    Hirohito ever since the Mukden Incident had expressed fear that not taking warlike actions, not pumping up the kokutai or not suppressing dissent would jeopardize the imperial system of government and damage the imperial institution itself. For Hirohito domestic conflicts were more dangerous than external ones, because they carried the risk of eroding the monarchy. As the time approached for his finally decision on declaring war, Hirohito requested a last round of discussion. The carriers enroute to Pearl harbor departed on november 27th, while on December 1st, 19 leaders, the entire Tojo cabinet and Emperor met. Tojo pulled a rather cheeky maneuver, he reported the response from America, the famous Hull note by stating “the United States . . . has demanded that we withdraw troops from all of China [emphasis added],” but in fact, Hull had used only the word “China.” Hara asked “I would like to know,whether Manchukuo is included in the term ‘China'? Did our two ambassadors confirm this point?” Togo's reply to this was “However . . . the American proposal [early in the negotiations on] April 16 stated that they would recognize the state of Manchukuo, so Manchukuo would not be part of China. . . . On the other hand . . . there has been a change in their position . . . they look upon Chungking as the one and only legitimate regime, and . . . they want to destroy the Nanking regime, [so] they may retract what they have said previously” A nonsensical gibberish answer, intentionally done to make everyone think America did in fact include Manchukuo, thus forcing everyone to see the demands as impossible to comply with. Togo finished the meeting : “Once His Majesty decides to commence hostilities, we will all strive to meet our obligations to him, bring the government and the military ever closer together, resolve that the nation united will go on to victory, make an all-out effort to achieve our war aims, and set his majesty's mind at ease. I now adjourn the meeting.” Hirohito simply nodded. Sugiyama remarked that the emperor did not show the slightest sign of anxiety, in fact he looked like he was in a good mood.   Hirohito's naval aid Jo Eiichiro wrote minutes on the first day of the pacific war, recording the emperors actions. 4 A.M. (Japan time): Japan issued a final ultimatum to the United States. 3:30 A.M.: the Hawaiian surprise attack was successful. 5:30 A.M.: Singapore bombed. Great results. Air attacks on Davao, Guam, Wake. 7:10 A.M.: All the above was reported to the emperor. The American gunboat Wake was captured on the Shanghai front. The British gunboat Petrel was sunk. From 7:15 to 7:30 the chief of the Navy General Staff reported on the war situation. At 7:30 the prime minister informally reported to the emperor on the imperial rescript declaring war. (Cabinet meeting from 7 A.M.). At 7:35 the chief of the Army General Staff reported on the war situation. At 10:45 the emperor attended an emergency meeting of the privy council. At 11:00 A.M. the imperial rescript declaring war was promulgated. 11:40 A.M. Hirohito conferred with Kido for about twenty minutes.] At 2:00 P.M. the emperor summoned the army and navy ministers and bestowed an imperial rescript on them. The army minister, representing both services, replied to the emperor. [At 3:05 P.M. the emperor had a second meeting with Kido, lasting for about twenty minutes.] At 4:30 P.M. the chiefs of staff formally reported on the draft of the Tripartite (Germany-Italy-Japan) Military Pact. At 8:30 P.M. the chief of the Navy General Staff reported on the achievements of the Hawaii air attack. . . . Throughout the day the emperor wore his naval uniform and seemed to be in a splendid mood.   Hirohito believed Germany would win, thus if with their help he believed Japan could thwart off the US until a negotiated peace. Having made his choice, Hirohito devoted himself to presiding over and guiding the war to victory at all costs. He was a extremely cautious person, every single campaign he looked for what could go wrong, made worse case scenario predictions and was very suspicious of reports from his high officials. He was notably very harsh and critical on said high commanders. Although he did not visit the war theaters as did other commanders in chief, he exercised and controlled influence on theater operations, both in the planning and execution whenever he chose to do so. As was the same case with the China war before it, he issued the highest military orders of the Imperial HQ, performed audited conferences and led to decisions transmitted in his name. He received generals and admirals to the imperial palace who gave full reports of the battlefront. He visited bases, battleships, various army and naval headquarters. He inspected military schools, you know the full shebang.    After 26 months of war, the naval air force had lost 26,006 aircraft, nearly a third of its total power, thousands of veteran pilots were dead. Hundreds of thousands of tons of warship was sunk, the merchant and transport fleet was crippled. Late 1943 saw the Americans turning the initiative of the war, Japan was on the defensive. Guadalcanal had been the major turning point. During the staled battle for the philippines, Hirohito pressed upon Army chief of staff Sugiyama to increase troop strength to knock out Bataan. The problem persisted, on February 9th and 26th Hirohito pressed Sugiyama again about getting more troops to take Bataan.   Hirohito was confronted with the prisoner of war issue after the doolittle raid. When the pilots were caught, Togo initially opposed executions, but many in the IJA sought all 8 men executed. Hirohito chose to intervene and commuted the execution of 5 out of the 8. Why just 5, no one knows to this day, but its theorized it was to demonstrate his benevolence while simultaneously giving a bit of what the army wanted.    The CBI theater took the lionshare of his attention in 1942, he continuously pressed up Sugiyama when a final blow would be delivered against Chongqing. When the Midway disaster occurred, Hirohito was given a full report of what happened, but he chose to hid the extent of the loss from the IJA. In fact in response to the Guadalcanal campaign he was heard once asking “I wonder if this is not the start of the AmericanBritish counteroffensive?” He urged his commanders to increase offensive activities and to toss all weapons possible at the enemy, because Japan needed more time to secure its reserves of vital oil, rubber and iron. When he heard the first report of the Ichiki detachment being wiped out, he simply stated “I am sure it [Guadalcanal] can be held.” With numerous reports pouring in about the men dying from tropical disease and starvation, Hirohito kept demanding greater efforts from them. Hirohito continuously applied pressure on his naval and land commanders to recapture the island. On September 15th, November 5th and November 11th he called for more IJA troops and aircraft to be allocated to it. Sugiyama was nervous about sending more IJA pilots as they were inexperienced in transoceanic combat and he sought to reinforce the north china army to hit Chongqing. Hirohito demanded it a second time and Sugiyama replied the IJA had deployed its air power instead to New Guinea and Rabaul. Hirohito continuously hammered the issue despite the high level commanders disagreeing with it. By late november it was clear guadalcanal was a lost cause.    At an imperial HQ conference on December 31st of 1942, the chiefs of staff reported they would cancel the attempts to recapture guadalcanal. Hirohito sanctioned it but stated “It is unacceptable to just give up on capturing Guadalcanal. We must launch an offensive elsewhere.” Hirohito forced the issue and it was decided the new strategic points would be in the solomons north of New Georgia and the Stanley range on New Guinea. Hirohito in fact threatened not to authorize the withdrawal of men from Guadalcanal until such a plan was made. Hirohito would go on to oppose the withdrawal from the Munda airfield on New Georgia since it contradicted the new defensive line. As the defensive perimeter in the central and northern solomons was crumbling, Hirohito continued to demand the navy fight decisive battles to regain the initiative so ships could begin transports supplies to the countless soldiers trapped on islands without them. When Hirohito heard of the navy's failure to reinforce Lae on March 3rd he stated  “Then why didn't you change plans immediately and land at Madan? This is a failure, but it can teach us a good lesson and become a source of future success. Do this for me so I can have peace of mind for awhile.” “Do this for me” would become his signature message.    In August of 1943 as the fall of the solomons progressed, Hirohito lambasted “Isn't there someplace where we can strike the United States? . . . When and where on earth are you [people] ever going to put up a good fight? And when are you ever going to fight a decisive battle?Well, this time, after suffering all these defeats, why don't you study how not to let the Americans keep saying ‘We won! We won!'[emphasis added]”” Hirohito berated his chiefs of staff and in the face of mounting defeats he remained undismayed, rigidly self disciplined and aggressive as ever. When he received a report on September 21st of 1943 that the allies were heading for Finschhafen he replied “Being ready to defend isn't enough. We have to do the attacking.”   When the Americans destroyed the main naval anchorage at Truk forcing the navy to evacuate it, leaving behind numerous tanks, the dream of fighting one great decisive naval battle in the central pacific was over.    On February 21st of 1944, Hirohito took the unprecedented action to force Sugiyama to resign so Tojo could assume his position, alongside that of army minister and prime minister. He did this to end dissent. Hirohito and Tojo oversaw the haymaker attempts in 1944, like operation Ichi-go and the Imphal campaign fall into ruins. It looked like the Philippines, Taiwan, Okinawa, the Bonin islands and eventually the home islands would be invaded. When Saipan fell, the home islands had at last come into range of the dreaded B-29 Super flying fortresses. Hirohito had warned Tojo “If we ever lose Saipan, repeated air attacks on Tokyo will follow. No matter what it takes, we have to hold there.” For two days his chiefs of staff explained the dire situation on Saipan was hopeless, but Hirohito ignored their advice and ordered Admiral Shimada to recapture it, the first department of the navy general staff immediately poured themselves into the problem. Day and night they worked, until a draft plan was created on June 21st, 3 days later the combined fleet gave opposition. Tojo and Shimada formally reported to Hirohito the recapture plan needed to be canceled. Hirohito refused to accept the loss of Saipan and ordered his chief aide General Hasunuma to convene in his presence the board of field marshals and fleet admirals. They all met on the 25th, upon which they all unanimously stated the reports indicating Saipan was a lost cause were valid, Hirohito simply told them to put it in writing and he left the room.    Hirohito finally decided to withdraw his support of Tojo, allowing Tojo's numerous enemies to take down his cabinet on July 18th 1944. But Hirohito was undaunted in determination to steal victory from the allies. Imperial HQ on October 18th ordered a decisive naval battle and the battle of Leyte Gulf was it. After the war Hirohito would go on the record stating “Contrary to the views of the Army and Navy General Staffs, I agreed to the showdown battle of Leyte thinking that if we attacked at Leyte and America flinched, then we would probably be able to find room to negotiate.” This statement shows the facts as they were, Hirohito and his chiefs of staff forced the field commander, General Tomoyuki Yamashita to engage the American invasion force in a place Yamashita did not want to fight nor prepared adequate defenses. It was a horrible loss.   The Kamikaze attacks increased as Japan's desperation wore on. On new years day of 1945 Hirohito inspected the special last meal rations given to departing kamikaze units. Iwo Jima fell. Okinawa remained, and Hirohito lashed out “Is it because we failed to sink enemy transports that we've let the enemy get ashore? Isn't there any way to defend Okinawa from the landing enemy forces?”  On the second day of Okinawa's invasion Hirohito ordered a counter landing by the 32nd army and urged the navy to counterattack in every way possible. It was a horrible failure, it cost the lives of up to 120,000 Japanese combatants, 170,000 noncombatants. The Americans lost 12,500 killed and 33,000 wounded. An absolute bloodbath.    Konoe re-entered the stage writing to Hirohito pleading with him to order a surrender because from his perspective “The Soviet Union is Japan's biggest threat. Defeat was inevitable, but more to be feared than defeat was the destruction of the Kokutai. Sue quickly for peace, before a Communist revolution occurred that would make preservation of the kokutai impossible”. Hirohito was taken aback by this, as he shared his military's hope that the Soviets would help Japan reach a peace settlement. So he rejected the advice of Konoe. Hirohito remarked “If we hold out long enough in this war, we may be able to win, but what worries me is whether the nation will be able to endure it until then.” Then Japan's intelligence units reported the Soviets were going to break the neutrality pact and join the war once the Germans were done. Meanwhile Tokyo was turned to rubble on March 9th 1945 by 334 B-29's dropping firebombs, 40% of the capital was destroyed, up to 100,000 were dead. Hirohito remained undaunted. 60 Japanese cities were leveled by firebomb campaigns. Europe's war finished. Then the battle for Okinawa was lost, suddenly Hirohito began looking for ways to end the war.   On June 22nd Hirohito personally informed the supreme war leadership council his desire to see diplomatic maneuvers to end the war. A special envoy was sent to Moscow, while Hirohito publicly issued an imperial rescript ordering the nation “to smash the inordinate ambitions of the enemy nations and achieve the goals of the war”. B-29's began dropping leaflets with joint declarations issued by the US, UK and China requesting the citizens of Japan demand their government surrender. Prefectural governors, police chiefs and officers began submitting home ministry reports on the rapid deterioration of the nations spirit.   Germany signed the unconditional surrender documents on May 7th and 8th of 1945, Japan was alone. Newly installed President Truman declared on May 8th, Japan's surrender would not mean the extermination or enslavement of the Japanese people, but the unconditional surrender principles remained unaltered. The Japanese meanwhile were awaiting word from the Soviets. The Americans unleashed their first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6th of 1945 killing up to 140,000 people. Then on August 8th the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and began an invasion of Manchuria. On August 9th the second atomic bomb hit Nagasaki killing around 40,000 people.   Thus began the surrender clock as I like to say. After the first atomic bomb, Hirohito said and did nothing about the surrender terms. Hirohito then authorized Togo to notify the world on August 10th that Japan would accept the allied terms of surrender with one condition “that the said declaration does not comprise any demand which prejudices the prerogatives of His Majesty as a Sovereign Ruler.” The next day, Secretary of State Byrnes replied by alluding to the subordination of the emperors authority to the supreme commander of the allied powers. It was ambiguous as hell. The Japanese leaders erupted into arguments, and on August 14th, Hirohito went before a microphone and recorded his capitulation announcement which aired on August 15th to all in Japan, they surrendered. Why did it take so long?   The peace talks between the Japanese and Soviets went on through June, July and early August. Japan offered the Soviets limited territorial concessions and they refused to accept the envoy on July 22nd because the Japanese were being too ambiguous in their terms. There was continuous back and forth between the intelligence of Moscow and Japan trying to figure out the stance of the other, but then Stalin heard about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, he was shocked and ordered an invasion of Manchuria in response. In the meantime the Japanese were tossing all sorts of concessions at Moscow, they stated they would allow Japanese to be used as forced laborers in Siberia, a form of reparation as it were, that they would demobilize the military and so on. The response was the invasion of Manchuria.    Hirohito knew prior to the bombing of Hiroshima that the cabinet was divided on accepting the Potsdam terms. Hirohito also knew he and he alone could unify governmental affairs and military command. Why then did he wait until the evening of August 9th to surrender?   The reality of the matter is its complicated, numerous variables at play, but let me try to pick at it. The people of japan under the firebomb campaigns were becoming hostile towards the military, the government and many began to criticize the emperor. Hirohito was given reports from the Home Ministry from governors and police chiefs all over Japan revealing people were speaking of the emperor as an incompetent leader who was responsible for worsening the war situation. Does that sound like a threat to the Kokutai? People were starving en masse, the atomic bomb is flashy, but what really was killing the Japanese, it was starvation. The home islands were blockaded and the sea approaches mined as pertaining to the optimally named “operation starvation”. Hirohito knew full well how bad his people were suffering but he did not surrender for so long.   After Hiroshima was bombed, Hirohito delayed for 2 days before telling Kido at 10am on August 9th “quickly control the situation, the Soviet Union has declared war and today began hostilities against us”. Now here is a piece of Hirohito's surrender proclamation to the citizens of Japan    “Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers... The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable ”.   Hirohito wanted to obfuscate the issue of accountability, to prevent expressions of strife and anger and to strengthen domestic unity around himself, to protect and raise the kokutai. Did you know there was a rescript of this proclamation that was made to the entire IJA and IJN? Yes Emperor Hirohito gave out two different proclamations for surrender, here is what the armed forces heard.   “ Now that the Soviet Union has entered the war against us, to continue . . . under the present conditions at home and abroad would only recklessly incur even more damage to ourselves and result in endangering the very foundation of the empire's existence. Therefore, even though enormous fighting spirit still exists in the Imperial Navy and Army, I am going to make peace with the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union, as well as with Chungking, in order to maintain our glorious national polity”.   The proclamation does not speak of the atomic weapons, but emphasizes the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. Hirohito was presented as a benevolent sage and an apolitical ruler that had ended the war. Hirohito sought to justify the surrender upon the bombs to the public, but did he believe so, did his armed forces believe so? People debate to this day why the surrender occurred, I love the fact there are two message offered because both are true. Hirohito's decision to surrender was based on numerous variables, the atomic bombs, the invasion of Manchuria by the soviets, but above all else, what really was important to the man, the emperor, the god? The kokutai. The Soviets were more of a threat to the kokutai, thus Hirohito jumped into the arms of the Americans. The language between the Americans and Japanese in the communications for unconditional surrender were ambiguous, but Hirohito and the high commanders knew there was zero chance of the kokutai surviving if the Soviets invaded Japan, perhaps the Americans would allow it to continue, which is just what they ended up doing. The entire purpose of this series would to emphasize how Hirohito definitely had a active role in the war of 1931-1945, he had numerous occasions where he could put the hammer down to stop the situation from escalating. But in the end when his back was against the wall, he did what he did to cling on to the Kokutai.   I shall leave you with this. On August 12th, as Hirohito came to inform the imperial family of his decision to surrender, Prince Asaka asked him whether the war would continue if the Kokutai could not be preserved, what do you think he said? “Of Course”. 

Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! Pearl Harbor, 7 de diciembre fue la primera operación en la que participaron los minisubmarinos del tipo Tipo A Kō-hyōteki, Misión? penetrar en el puerto y causar el mayor daño posible. Pero no fue la única misión y tampoco los únicos modelos, hubo mejores naves y mejores armas al servicio de la armada del emperador. En este especial os contamos los tipos y las acciones de estas sofisticadas armas, muy lejos del espíritu Kamikaze pero muy cerca por los riesgos asumidos por los tripulantes Musica intro: Fallen Soldier,licencia gratuita, de Biz Baz Estudio Licencia Creative Commons Fuentes: https://web.archive.org/web/20110226131016/http://naa.gov.au/about-us/publications/fact-sheets/fs192.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20110224150758/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/japan/japtp-ss/mdg-a-2.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20110426040025/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-fornv/japan/japtp-ss/mdg-a.htm Audios y música: Música relacionada y fragmentos de noticiario. Fragmentos de Tora tora tora y Pearl Harbor Productora: Vega Gónzalez Director /Colaborador: Sergio Murata Nuestras listas China en guerra https://go.ivoox.com/bk/11072909 Guerra de Ucrania (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10954944 337 Días en Baler, los últimos de Filipinas (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10896373 Checoslovaquia el arsenal de Hitler (Miniserie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10989586 Episodios de Guadalcanal ( Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10996267 Sudan las guerras del Mahdi (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10991351 Con Rommel en el Desierto (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10991349 Chechenia las guerras del lobo (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10989674 Cine e Historia (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10991110 Guerra Biológica ( Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10989690 Guerra francoprusiana de 1870-1871 (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10987884 Guerra de Secesión norteamericana 1861-1865 (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10958205 David contra Goliat, Fusiles anticarro (Miniserie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10958221 Beutepanzer, blindados capturados y usados por Alemania (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10956491 Japón bajo las bombas (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10914802 Erich Topp, el Diablo Rojo (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10935056 Motos en la Segunda Guerra Mundial (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10896149 Propaganda en la Segunda Guerra Mundial (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10886167 Memorias de nuestros veteranos (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10723177 Vietnam, episodios de una guerra (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10753747 Hombres K, los comandos de la Kriegsmarine (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10715879 Mercur 1941, la batalla de Creta (Serie) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/10497539 Guerra de Ifni Sahara (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/9990031 Armas de Autarquía ( Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/9990017 La Guerra del 98 (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/5029543 Italia en la Segunda Guerra Mundial (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/6190737 Mujeres en Tiempo de Guerra (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/7826153 Blindados españoles (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/7824815 Ejércitos y Soldados (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/7825841 Batallas y conflictos (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/7825969 Armas de infantería (Episodios) https://go.ivoox.com/bk/7824907 Espero que os guste y os animo a suscribiros, dar likes, y compartir en redes sociales y a seguirnos por facebook y/o twitter. Recordad que esta disponible la opción de Suscriptor Fan , donde podréis acceder a programas en exclusiva. Podéis opinar a través de ivoox, en twitter @Niebladeguerra1 y ver el material adicional a través de facebook https://www.facebook.com/sergio.murata.77 o por mail a niebladeguerraprograma@hotmail.com Telegram Si quieres acceder a él sigue este enlace https://t.me/niebladeguerra Además tenemos un grupo de conversación, donde otros compañeros, podcaster ,colaboradores y yo, tratamos temas diversos de historia, algún pequeño juego y lo que sea, siempre que sea serio y sin ofensas ni bobadas. Si te interesa entrar , a través del canal de Niebla de Guerra en Telegram, podrás acceder al grupo. También podrás a través de este enlace (O eso creo ) https://t.me/joinchat/Jw1FyBNQPOZtEKjgkh8vXg NUEVO CANAL DE YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaUjlWkD8GPoq7HnuQGzxfw/featured?view_as=subscriber BLOGS AMIGOS https://www.davidlopezcabia.es/ con el escritor de novela bélica David López Cabia https://www.eurasia1945.com/ Del escritor e historiador, Rubén Villamor Algunos podcast amigos LA BIBLIOTECA DE LA HISTORIA https://www.ivoox.com/biblioteca-de-la-historia_sq_f1566125_1 https://blog.sandglasspatrol.com/ blo Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Kamikaze oder der göttliche Wind: mit diesem Begriff verbindet man die japanischen Selbstmordpiloten aus dem Zweiten Weltkrieg. Heute vor 751 Jahren kam es nahe der heutigen Stadt Fukuoka zu einem Ereignis, das den Ursprung des Begriffs markiert.

On today's episode, I talk to musician Marc Hollander. Born in Geneva, Switzerland right after WWII, Marc was raised in Brussels and started the band Aksak Maboul in 1977 when producer Marc Moulin commissioned him to write and record an album for his label Kamikaze. Aksak Maboul was one of the handful of bands that was part of the exclusive Rock In Opposition movement, and they produced two brilliant albums before going on hiatus in the early 1980s. In 1980, Marc founded Crammed Discs, which over the last 45 years has been one of the most interesting and eclectic independent labels in the world, releasing music from bands and musicians like Tuxedomoon, John Lurie, Fred Frith, Konono Nº1 and many, many more. In 2014, Marc ended the long Aksak Maboul hiatus by releasing the "lost" third album from the early '80s, and since then has made two further albums. Their latest, Before Aksak Maboul (documents & experiments 1969-1977), a collection that traces Marc's musical evolution from his first band at 19, Here and Now, up through the formation of Aksak Maboul, is out now, and it's a blast! This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow me on Twitter. Check out my free philosophy Substack where I write essays every couple months here and my old casiopop band's lost album here! And the comedy podcast I do with my wife Naomi Couples Therapy can be found here! Theme song by the fantastic Savoir Adore! Second theme by the brilliant Mike Pace! Closing theme by the delightful Gregory Brothers! Podcast art by the inimitable Beano Gee!  

The Mongols attempted to invade Japan on 5th November, 1274. Despite having a fleet of 900 ships, they failed - in part due to a ‘kamikaze' typhoon that whooshed their boats back to Korea. Then they tried again - and failed again. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how a gunpowder-armed Army was defeated by the Samurai; reveal the brutal (yet unambiguous) response the Japanese gave to the Chinese diplomats who attempted to talk things through; and unearth the surprising connection between Kublai Khan and Lionel Blair… Further Reading: • ‘Kublai Khan - Biography, Death & Achievements' (HISTORY, 2009): https://www.history.com/topics/china/kublai-khan • Japan's Kamikaze Winds, the Stuff of Legend, May Have Been Real (National Geographic, 2014): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/141104-kamikaze-kublai-khan-winds-typhoon-japan-invasion • ‘Mongol Invasion of Japan: Maps, Animation and Timelines' (Past To Future, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpguP8emkYc This episode first aired in 2021 Love the show? Support us!  Join 

Scott Hennen, battling a cold and a "challenged voice", hosts a packed Monday show. The conversation begins with a quick recap of the Vikings' victory and a rant on the poorly managed public bus system (MAT) website. Dean Wysocki provides a mild weather forecast before the show dives into the persistent government shutdown, with Scott and a contributor analyzing the Democrats' "Kamikaze" political tactics and their fears of "Mom Donnie" and the radical left. Congressman Julie Fedorchak joins to fact-check the Democrat's claims about Obamacare premiums and SNAP benefits. The episode features two major interviews: Pat Query discusses the opening of the All American Trail in Fargo, a new entry-level recreational single-track path. Later, Kyle "Bubba" Schweigert, former UND Head Coach, offers inspirational thoughts on leadership, focusing on the virtues of excellence, courage, and humility. The segment on "Park It for a Purpose" highlights the Fix-It-Forward Ministry, which provides transportation for those in need, and Scott's challenge to raise funds by not driving his vehicle. Standout Moments: Time Topic 2:20 Rant about the complicated MAT bus system website in Fargo/Moorhead 5:48 Pat Query discusses the opening of the All American Trail in Fargo 11:39 Michael Wood announces his run for Clay County GOP against Senator Rob Kupec, criticizing his constant "picking away at the Second Amendment" 19:15 Dean Wysocki's mild weather forecast: 50s all week until the weekend clipper system arrives 22:30 Discussion on the Democrat-led government shutdown, the role of "Mom Donnie," and the political firing squad 27:32 Tom Emmer's press conference on the shutdown, highlighting pain inflicted on Americans 35:28 Jeremy from Fix-It-Forward Ministry on the "Park It for a Purpose" fundraiser and providing transportation for single moms 41:20 Discussion of a contingency plan to impound unspent agency funds (Larry Kudlow's idea) to resolve the shutdown 45:10 Kyle "Bubba" Schweigert on leadership virtues: excellence, courage, and humility 50:18 Bubba Schweigert on transformational vs. transactional leadership in coaching 54:02 Congressman Julie Fedorchak fact-checks Democrat claims on skyrocketing Obamacare premiums and SNAP benefits

We went through the transcript so you don’t have to. CBS News posted the entire, unedited transcript of President Trump’s first interview with “60 Minutes” since that $16 million dollar settlement. Norah O’Donnell deftly navigates some of the awkwardness as she got in everything from China to the Shutdown, to a possible war with Venezuela, immigration, nuclear testing, and political retribution. Oh, and he got in some shots against Biden, Obama, and Schumer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We went through the transcript so you don’t have to. CBS News posted the entire, unedited transcript of President Trump’s first interview with “60 Minutes” since that $16 million dollar settlement. Norah O’Donnell deftly navigates some of the awkwardness as she got in everything from China to the Shutdown, to a possible war with Venezuela, immigration, nuclear testing, and political retribution. Oh, and he got in some shots against Biden, Obama, and Schumer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We went through the transcript so you don’t have to. CBS News posted the entire, unedited transcript of President Trump’s first interview with “60 Minutes” since that $16 million dollar settlement. Norah O’Donnell deftly navigates some of the awkwardness as she got in everything from China to the Shutdown, to a possible war with Venezuela, immigration, nuclear testing, and political retribution. Oh, and he got in some shots against Biden, Obama, and Schumer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We went through the transcript so you don’t have to. CBS News posted the entire, unedited transcript of President Trump’s first interview with “60 Minutes” since that $16 million dollar settlement. Norah O’Donnell deftly navigates some of the awkwardness as she got in everything from China to the Shutdown, to a possible war with Venezuela, immigration, nuclear testing, and political retribution. Oh, and he got in some shots against Biden, Obama, and Schumer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tiempos Modernos con La Sonrisa de Julia, Nina Raku, Parquesvr, Amante Laffon, Calequi y las Panteras, Repion, Carlos Gris, Nadadora, Kamikaze y Piti y me voy. Larga vida a la música.

Tiempos Modernos con La Sonrisa de Julia, Nina Raku, Parquesvr, Amante Laffon, Calequi y las Panteras, Repion, Carlos Gris, Nadadora, Kamikaze y Piti y me voy. Larga vida a la música.

¡Vótame en los Premios iVoox 2025! Hoy traemos un programa muy especial, porque vendrá a hablarnos de pilotos kamikazes el compañero Antonio Salmerón "Von Hammer", en la presentación de su libro "Tokkōtai". Junto a Darío Pozo "Dardo" y Emilio García "Falke" Más episodios: ivoox.com/podcast-motor-al-aire_sq_f1117313_1.html Contacto: motoryalairepodcast@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/motoryalaire Twitter: @motoryalaire

Christianity being eliminated in Nigeria. Major websites hacked overnight. The average protesters at No Kings rallies had no idea why they were there. Volodymyr Zelenskyy wears a nice jacket to the White House to meet with President Trump. More airstrikes on suspected drug boats near Venezuela. Former U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) has his sentence commuted by President Trump. The shutdown continues … oh well! Why congressional district maps need to be changed. The Israel-Hamas peace deal is so fragile right now. Will Hamas honor the peace deal? How close are we to "Britainistan" being an official thing? Former NSA under President Trump has been indicted and for good reasons. Are certain conversations in a public space not allowed now? Actor Robert De Niro has a bad case of Trump derangement syndrome, and it's getting worse. Secretary Robert Kennedy seen flying coach on a commercial flight. 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED! 00:58 Christian Genocide in Nigeria 02:50 Amazon Web Services Hacked? 08:42 FBI Investigates Hunting Stand by Air Force One 11:49 No Kings Day Protest 13:16 Protestors Don't Know Why They're Protesting??? 18:28 Why are You Protesting Trump? 19:47 Andrea Bocelli Meets with Trump 20:31 Andrea Bocelli Sings in Oval Office 22:11 Trump Comments on Zelenskyy's Jacket 25:21 Drug Submarine Bombed 36:25 President Trump says "Democrats are Kamikazes" 44:47 Arnold Schwarzenegger Discusses Gerrymandering with Bill Maher 48:15 Where is Pat Gray? 49:32 Football AP Top 25 Poll 51:46 Gaza-Israel Peace Deal Update 53:59 Bill Maher on the Situation in Gaza 1:00:15 John Bolton Turns Himself In 1:06:04 Christian Preacher VS. Muslim? 1:13:10 Another Trucker Problem? 1:20:36 Robert De Niro has TDS 1:25:25 RFK Jr. Flies Coach 1:30:48 RFK Jr. tells Trump that he's "Doing God's Work" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Floundering Democrat Leaders Call For “New Civil War & Shooting ICE Agents” After No Kings Protest Falls On Its Face, Trump Warns Dems Are “Kamikazes” Holding America Hostage With Government Shutdown! Plus, Half Of US Internet Down!

7. Kamikazes, Typhoons, and the Unstoppable Halsey AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Admiral Halsey recklessly navigated his fleet through two major typhoons (December 1944 and June 1945), causing severe losses including three ships sunk and 800 lives lost in the first storm. Despite recommendations for dismissal, Nimitz refused to fire Halsey, using calculated risk that removing the popular, iconic commander would negatively impact American morale. Nimitz moved his headquarters to Guam to be closer to the fighting. At Iwo Jima, Marine commanders argued the Navy provided inadequate preparatory gunfire, though the Japanese tactic of fighting to the death was the primary cause of casualties. During the Okinawa campaign, the Japanese introduced the terrifying Kamikaze tactic—the one element Nimitz noted the Naval War College had not anticipated. The Kamikazes inflicted horrific losses, but ultimately failed to force negotiations. 8. Blockade vs. Invasion: Ending the Pacific War and Post-War Command AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Nimitz and King opposed the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands (Operation Downfall), arguing that a strict naval blockade, executed primarily by submarines, combined with bombing, would force surrender. They calculated that an invasion would cost hundreds of thousands of American lives and millions of Japanese lives, given the culture of fighting to the death. Nimitz was informed about the secret development of a special weapon (the atomic bomb) in March 1945 to ensure targets were reserved. After the war ended, Nimitz was the logical candidate for Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), though he faced opposition from the aviation community (Towers). He accepted a two-year term as CNO. Admiral Spruance declined high command, instead choosing to become President of the Naval War College to teach future officers the lessons learned in the Pacific War.

Five-time Wrangler Bullfights World Champ Rob Smets fought bulls at six NFRs and nine PBR World Finals in his legendary career.Send us a textSend your thoughts and feedback to nospinfeedback@gmail.com or text 817-668-2395

 Please hear this famous song by ABBA after the divorce of one couple. And the looser loses it all?When I was 10 years old I started skiing and saw the great teachers skiing straight down a very steep mountain with the legs closed … I admired them and wanted to become the same…With 21, we skied quite well and my twin brother had the fancy idea to ski down the most dangerous piste, - Langkofel Scharte… I said you are insane,… I don't so so…Tricky as he was, he said I don't care I do it in any case… The next day he said, there is a beautiful other piste and we with our friends, all medical students, agreed… And it was so dammed steep, it was the second most dangerous piste,- Podair Scharte…,It was so steep, I scared and then I abused my twin-brother…How to come down… ?I tried it slowly and then I decided it is too dangerous … I went straight down with high speed and with all of my techniques, it was doable… Then I waited for a half-hour for my friends and brother.5 years later, I joined the University Bremen Skiing and I was even better skiing than the ski instructors…Nothing was too difficult… But I got severe knee problems with my Kamikaze skiing …  And the winner takes it all?   All wanted me as a Ski instructor, I took the beginners and the most advanced.I taught my skiing, first learn to fall, second get rid of your fear…Other groups saw me instructing and I got 3 offers to teach the whole wintertime,I became the darling of the girls… All that I wanted and the nights were exciting… But I had to go to the orthopedic doctor, luckily I found one of the best, - from Werder Bremen the orthopedic doctor…The diagnoses were devastating, Skiing and Mountain climbing was over…The winner takes it all?That I smile without to have to win (Konstantin Wecker).And then I started with meditation… The looser takes its all!It is just so over stupid to ski like a mad man to go “in the flow” (meditation state for athletes), to be totally relaxed without any thoughts… If you have one thought when you ski with the high speed you will fall … And this I have done a lot… 2 times my skies broke but never my bones. If you learn to relax with meditation or dancing, you can go beyond the “flow state” in a bliss and love state and this is far better and even for a long time without needing any equipment! You can have it right now… And the girls love to be together with a guy who is meditating… Just go to a meditation or dance courses …80% are women and are even very attractive!Skiing is just stupid…My Video: Episode 9 The winner takes it all https://youtu.be/QTTmnzc8f0cMy Audio: https://divinesuccess.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/Podcast1/Episode-9-The-winner-takes-it-all.mp3

In this episode of The Carl Jackson Show, Carl dives into the intricacies of Trump's impactful speech at the UN General Assembly. He discusses the bold stances taken on climate change, illegal immigration, and the role of NATO allies. Carl also touches on the media landscape, highlighting the return of Jimmy Kimmel and the ongoing challenges of political censorship on platforms like YouTube. Tune in for a dose of objective truth in a world of confusion and lies. #UNSpeech #PoliticalCensorship #CarlJacksonShow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradio Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshow Parler: https://parler.com/carljacksonshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarljacksonshow http://www.TheCarlJacksonShow.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Carl Jackson Show, Carl dives into the intricacies of Trump's impactful speech at the UN General Assembly. He discusses the bold stances taken on climate change, illegal immigration, and the role of NATO allies. Carl also touches on the media landscape, highlighting the return of Jimmy Kimmel and the ongoing challenges of political censorship on platforms like YouTube. Tune in for a dose of objective truth in a world of confusion and lies. #UNSpeech #PoliticalCensorship #CarlJacksonShow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradio Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshow Parler: https://parler.com/carljacksonshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarljacksonshow http://www.TheCarlJacksonShow.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kamikaze drones, or loitering munitions, have been everywhere in recent conflicts, from the Russia-Ukraine war to battles in the Middle East. They're cheap, deadly, and changing how militaries think about strikes and defence. In this episode, host Dev Goswami sits down with defence journalist Sandeep Unnithan to trace the idea back to its WWII origins and ask why India, despite having a buzzing drone startup scene, still doesn't have its own kamikaze drones. The two break down: - What kamikaze meant in WWII and how the idea evolved into unmanned drones. - How these drones are being used in Ukraine and what lessons India should take. - Why India relied on Israeli Harop drones in Operation Sindoor. - Procurement and development blind spots that explain India's slow adoption. - Why India urgently needs to build and maintain a credible kamikaze drone force. Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound Mix by Suraj Singh

Hello Youtube Members, Patreons and Pacific War week by week listeners. Yes this was intended to be an exclusive episode to join the 29 others over on my Youtube Membership and Patreon, but since we are drawing to the end of the Pacific War week by week series, I felt compelled to make some special episodes to answer some of the bigger questions. Why did Japan, or better said, why did Emperor Hirohito decide to finally surrender? It seems obvious on the face of it, but there is actually a lot more to it than bombs or Soviet invasions. I guess you can call this episode a teaser or a shameless plug for going over to my Youtube Membership or Patreon. There's honestly a lot of interesting subjects such as ‘why was the japanese army so brutal”, “Hirohito's war time responsibility”, “the 4 part Kanji Ishiwara series”. Thus if you liked this one please show some love and check out my other stuff on my Youtube Membership or over at www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel.   Stating all of that lets just jump right into it.   We first need to start off briefly looking at Emperor Hirohito.    Upon taking the throne, Emperor Hirohito in 1926 Hirohito inherited a financial crisis and a military that was increasingly seizing control of governmental policies. From the beginning, despite what many of you older audience members may have been told, Hirohito intensely followed all military decisions. Hirohito chose when to act and when not to. When the Kwantung Army assassinated Zhang Zuolin, he indulged their insubordination. This emboldened them to invade Manchuria in 1931, whereupon Hirohito was furious and demanded they be reigned in. Attempts were made, but they were heavily undermined by radicals. Hirohito could have put his foot down, but he chose not to. On September 22nd, at 4:20pm Hirohito said to the IJA Chief of General staff, Kanaya Hanzo “although this time it couldn't be helped, the army had to be more careful in the future”. Thus Hirohito again acquiesced to the military, despite wanting them to stop or at least localize the conflict. The military had disregarded his wishes, they should have been severely punished. Why did Hirohito not take a firmer stance?    Again for older audience members you may have heard, “hirohito was a hostage at the whim of his own military”. This narrative made it seem he was some sort of hostage emperor, but this is not the case at all. In fact Hirohito was instrumental in many military decisions from 1931-1945. The reason this, I will call it “myth” , went on was because after Japan's surrender, the US basically rewrote the Japanese constitution and covered up the Emperor's involvement in all the nasty stuff, to maintain control over Japan. Yeah it sounds a bit conspiracy esque, but I assure you it was indeed the case. This narrative held firm all the way until Hirohito's death, when finally meeting notes and personal accounts from those close to him came out, illuminating a lot. Though to this day, many records are still red -tapped.   The reason Hirohito did not stamp his foot down has to do with the Kokutai.    The Kokutai   So before I carry on, I have to explain what exactly is the Kokutai.    The Kokutai, loosely translated as "national essence," refers to the qualities that distinguish the Japanese identity. However, this concept is remarkably vague and poorly defined; even Japanese historians acknowledge this ambiguity. In contrast to Kokutai is seitai, or "form of government." While the Kokutai embodies the eternal and immutable aspects of Japanese polity—rooted in history, traditions, and customs centered around the Emperor—Japan's seitai has evolved significantly throughout its extensive history. For instance, shoguns governed for over 700 years until 1868, when the Meiji Restoration reinstated direct imperial rule.   Nevertheless, Emperor Meiji's direct authority came to an end with the adoption of the Meiji Constitution in 1889, which established a constitutional monarchy, introducing significant complexities into the governance system.   Article 4 of the constitution declares: “The Emperor is the head of the Empire, combining in Himself the rights of sovereignty, uniting the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, although subject to the consent of the Imperial Diet.” Under this framework, the Emperor alone possessed the power to appoint or dismiss ministers of state, declare war, negotiate peace, conclude treaties, direct national administration, and command the army and navy.   A glaring flaw in this arrangement is the inherent ambiguity of the Meiji Constitution. While it established a democratic parliament, it simultaneously afforded the Emperor absolute authority to usurp it. The document failed to clearly define the relationships between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and its language was intentionally vague. Most critically, the military—the army and navy—were not directly accountable to the civilian government.    So with the kokutai, the Emperor is a divine figure who embodies the state's sovereignty. It was not necessarily the Emperor's job to surrender on behalf of the official government of Japan, but he most certainly could do so, given the Japanese people still remained faithful to the kokutai.    Now Hirohito did not live an ordinary life. According to the imperial custom, Japanese royals were raised apart from their parents, at the age of 3 he was placed in the care of the Kwamura family who vowed to raise him to be unselfish, persevering in the face of difficulties, respectful of the views of others and immune to fear. One thing that was absolutely indoctrinated into him was to defend the kokutai. It became his top mission as a monarch, it was the only mission in many ways. At the very core of how he saw the world and how he acted, it was always to protect the kokutai.    So when the Japanese military began these insubordinate acts, Hirohito's primary concern was to the kokutai, ie: anything that threatened his imperial authority and the imperial institution itself. Although the military usurped his authority, the operations had been successful. Hirohito was not at all opposed to seeing his empire expand. He understood the value of manchuria, he was fully onboard with the military plans to eventually seize control over it, but these radicals were accelerating things to quickly for everyone's liking. He turned a blind eye, dished light punishments and carried on. However the local conflict escalated. It traveled to Shanghai by 1932 and here Hirohito took action. He understood Shanghai was full of western powers. Nations like Britain and America could place economic sanctions on Japan if things were allowed to get out of hand here. So he ordered General Yoshinori Shirakawa to bring the Shanghai expedition to a close.    During this period, two factions emerged within the Japanese military: the Kodoha, or “Imperial Way,” and the Toseiha, or “Control” faction. The Kodoha was founded by General Sadao Araki and his protégé, Jinzaburo Masaki. Their primary objective was a Shōwa Restoration aimed at purging Japan of corrupt politicians and businessmen, especially those associated with the zaibatsu. Composed mainly of young army officers, the Kodoha espoused a romanticized and radical interpretation of Bushido, idealizing pre-industrial Japan, which Araki believed had been tainted by Western influences. To achieve their goals, they resorted to assassinations and planned a coup d'état.   In response, the Toseiha faction was formed, initially led by Lt. General Tetsuzan Nagata and later by Hideki Tojo. Like the Kodoha, the Toseiha sought a Shōwa Restoration but adopted a more moderate and conservative approach. They recognized the importance of preserving traditional values while integrating Western ideals, advocating for a balanced perspective. The Toseiha promoted pragmatic military strategies to navigate the complexities of modern warfare. Although they acknowledged the existence of corrupt politicians and zaibatsu, they preferred to work within the existing political system, anticipating that future total wars would necessitate a strengthened industrial and military capacity. Their ranks primarily included promising graduates from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Academy, Army Staff College, and select naval members. The most significant distinction between the two factions was that the Toseiha explicitly rejected the use of a coup d'état in pursuit of their goals.   Between 1932-1936 radical officers, mostly of the Kodoha faction assassinated politicians and military leaders trying to usher in a showa restoration. You might be led to believe this was in the interest of Hirohito, you would be mistaken. Hirohito did not want a military dictatorship at the whim of the cult of the emperor. Ironic to say, given how WW2 turns out mind you. This really would have been a hostage situation. Hirohito wanted to maintain the exact ambiguous situation that was Showa Era Japan pre 1945. He saw this as the most ideal structure to defend the kokutai, because blame could not be placed solely upon his shoulders. He always maintained a get out of jail free card one could say.    The February 26 incident of 1936, was the climax of the Kodoha faction. They performed a mutiny trying to usher in a SHowa restoration. They assumed when their messenger came to the emperor he would join them and take direct rule. Instead Hirohito was furious. His first thought was the mutineers were trying to enlist his brother Chichibu to overthrow him. He dragged his brother who was a fraternizer amongst the kodoha members mind you, into a meeting, demanding he never associate with them again nor attempt to challenge him. Then Hirohito furious demanded the mutineers be dealt with. At one point he even threatened to lead the imperial guards to put them down. The coup failed, the kodoha faction was destroyed. Ironically the toseiha faction were the ones to do it and thus they became the defacto ruling clique.    The military, especially the kwantung army did not stop with their insubordination.    On July 8th of 1937 the Kwangtung army performed the Marco Polo Bridge incident, ushering in the second sino-japanese war. This was one of many false flag operations they had pulled off over the years. Upon being told about this Hirohito's first response was whether the USSR would invade Manchukuo over the matter. This is what he said to Prime Minister Konoe and army minister Sugiyama “What will you do if the Soviets attack us from the rear?” he asked the prince. Kan'in answered, “I believe the army will rise to the occasion.” The emperor repeated his question: “That's no more than army dogma. What will you actually do in the unlikely event that Soviet [forces] attack?” The prince said only, “We will have no choice.” His Majesty seemed very dissatisfied. Hirohito furious demanded to know what contingency plans existed and his advisors told him before he gave his red seal of approval to invade northern china.   Henceforth he micromanaged a lot of the military decisions going forward and he oversaw the forming and dissolving of numerous cabinets and positions when things went his way or did not in the military and political scene.  Emperor Hirohito was presented with several opportunities to cause cease-fires or peace settlements during the war years. One of the best possible moments to end it all came during the attack on Nanking when Chiang Kai-sheks military were in disarray. On July 11 of 1938, the commander of the 19th division fought a border clash with the USSR known to us in the west as the battle of Lake Khasan. It was a costly defeat for Japan and in the diary of Harada Kumao he noted Hirohito scolded Army minister Itagaki “Hereafter not a single soldier is to be moved without my permission.” When it looked like the USSR would not press for a counter attack across the border, Hirohito gave the order for offensives in China to recommence, again an example of him deciding when to lay down the hammer.   By 1939 the US began threatening sanctions for what Japan was doing in China. Hirohito complained to his chief aide de camp Hata Shunroku on August 5th “It could be a great blow to scrap metal and oil”. Hirohito was livid and scolded many of his top officials and forced the appointment of General Abe to prime minister and demanded of him “to cooperate with the US and Britain and preserve internal order”.   Fast forward a bit, with war raging in Europe Hirohito, on June 19th of 1940 Hirohito asked if chief of staff Prince Kan'in and Army Minister Hata “At a time when peace will soon come in the European situation, will there be a deployment of troops to the Netherlands Indies and French Indochina?” This question highlighted Hirohito's belief at that time that Germany was close to achieving victory, which led him to gradually consider deploying troops to French Indochina and the Dutch East Indies since neither of those parent nations was in a position to protect their territories and vital resources. Regarding the war in China, the Japanese aimed to stop the flow of materials entering China from places like Hong Kong. Hirohito received reports indicating that Britain would not agree to block the shipment of materials into China via Hong Kong. The military recognized that an invasion of Hong Kong might be necessary, which would mean declaring war on Britain. When this was communicated to him, Hirohito responded, “If that occurs, I'm sure America will enforce an embargo, don't you think?” In response, Kido, the lord of the privy seal, reassured him by stating, “The nation must be fully prepared to resist, proceeding with caution and avoiding being drawn into events instigated by foreign interests.”   Hirohito went through countless meetings, but eventually signed order number 458 authorizing the invasion of French Indochina, knowing full well the consequences. The US,UK and Netherlands began embargoes of oil, rubber and iron. In the words of Admiral Takagai “As time passes and this situation continues, our empire will either be totally defeated or forced to fight a hopeless war. Therefore we should pursue war and diplomacy together. If there is no prospect of securing our final line of national survival by diplomatic negotiations, we must be resolved to fight.” Hirohito understood the predicament full well, that each day Japan was wasting its oil reserves, if they were to strike it had to be quickly.   On October 13th Hirohito told his closest advisor Koichi Kido “In the present situation there seems to be little hope for the Japan–U.S. negotiations. If hostilities erupt this time, I think I may have to issue a declaration of war.”   The reason I am bringing up all this stuff is to solidify, Hirohito had agency, he was micromanaging and forming decisions. After the war broke out with the west, Hirohito did have the ability to stamp his foot down. Of course there could have been wild repercussions, his military could have usurped him with Chichibu, it was definitely possible. But you need to keep this mind set, as far as why Hirohito acts or doesn't, its always to protect the Kokutai. Thus one of the levers for peace, solely rested on Hirohito's perception if the kokutai could be retained or not.    From the outset of the Pacific War, Hirohito believed Germany was going to defeat the USSR. In line with his military leaders, they all believed Japan had to seize everything they could in the asia-pacific and thwart off the US until a negotiated peace could be met. Hirohito committed himself to overseeing the war, determined to achieve victory at any cost. He was a very cautious leader, he meticulously analyzed each campaign, anticipating potential setbacks and crafting worst-case scenario predictions. He maintained a skeptical view of the reports from his senior officials and was often harshly critical of high commanders.   While he did not frequently visit the front lines like other commanders in chief, Hirohito wielded significant influence over theater operations, shaping both planning and execution whenever he deemed necessary. Similar to his approach during the war in China, he issued the highest military orders from the Imperial Headquarters, conducted audited conferences, and made decisions communicated under his name. He regularly welcomed generals and admirals to the imperial palace for detailed briefings on the battlefront and visited various military bases, battleships, and army and naval headquarters. His inspections encompassed military schools and other significant military institutions, adding to his comprehensive involvement in the war effort.   Now the war went extremely well for Japan until the battle of Midway. This was as major setback, but Japan retained the initiative. Then the Guadalcanal campaign saw Japan lose the initiative to the Americans. Upon receiving the initial report of the Ichiki detachment's destruction, Hirohito remarked, “I am sure it [Guadalcanal] can be held.” Despite the numerous reports detailing the devastating effects of tropical diseases and starvation on his troops, he persistently demanded greater efforts from them. Hirohito exerted continuous pressure on his naval and land commanders to retake the island. On September 15th, November 5th, and November 11th, he requested additional Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) troops and aircraft to be allocated to the cause.   General Sugiyama expressed concerns about dispatching more IJA pilots due to their inexperience in transoceanic combat, preferring to reinforce the North China Army for an attack on Chongqing instead. Hirohito pressed the issue again, but Sugiyama responded that the IJA had diverted its air resources to New Guinea and Rabaul. Undeterred by the objections from senior commanders, Hirohito persisted in his demands. By late November, it became evident that Guadalcanal was a lost cause.   At an Imperial Headquarters conference on December 31st, 1942, the chiefs of staff proposed canceling the attempts to recapture Guadalcanal. Hirohito sanctioned this decision but stated, “It is unacceptable to just give up on capturing Guadalcanal. We must launch an offensive elsewhere.” He insisted on this point, leading to the selection of new strategic targets in the Solomons, north of New Georgia, and in the Stanley Range on New Guinea. Hirohito even threatened to withhold authorization for withdrawing troops from Guadalcanal until a new plan was established. He later opposed the withdrawal from Munda Airfield, as it contradicted the newly defined defensive line.   As the defensive perimeter in the central and northern Solomons began to crumble, Hirohito continued to insist that the navy engage in decisive battles to regain the initiative, allowing for the transport of supplies to the many soldiers trapped on various islands. When he learned of the navy's failure to reinforce Lae on March 3rd, he asked, “Then why didn't you change plans immediately and land at Madan? This is a failure, but it can teach us a good lesson and become a source of future success. Do this for me so I can have peace of mind for a while.” The phrase “Do this for me” would come to be his signature rallying cry.   After Guadal canal, it was loss after loss for Japan. By February of 1944, Hirohito forced Sugiyama to resign so Hideki Tojo could take his position as chief of the general staff, note Tojo was prime minister and army minister at this point. Hirohito worked alongside Tojo to plan some last ditch efforts to change the war situation. The most significant one was Operation Ichi-Go. As much damage as they did to China with that, Chiang Kai-Shek's government survived. Hirohito watched as island by island fell to the Americans. When the Americans were poised to take Saipan he warned Tojo “If we ever lose Saipan, repeated air attacks on Tokyo will follow. No matter what it takes, we have to hold there.” Saipan fell, so Hirohito stopped supporting Tojo and allowed his rivals to take down his cabinet by june 18th of 1944.    Hirohito remained resolute in his determination to wrest victory from the Allies. On October 18th, the Imperial Headquarters ordered a decisive naval engagement, leading to the Battle of Leyte Gulf. After the war, Hirohito publicly stated, "Contrary to the views of the Army and Navy General Staffs, I consented to the showdown battle at Leyte, believing that if we launched an attack and America hesitated, we might find an opportunity to negotiate." Leyte Gulf didnt work. The military began the kamikaze program. On new years day of 1945 Hirohito inspected the special last meal rations given to departing kamikaze units. Iwo Jima fell. Okinawa remained, and Hirohito lashed out “Is it because we failed to sink enemy transports that we've let the enemy get ashore? Isn't there any way to defend Okinawa from the landing enemy forces?” On the second day of Okinawa's invasion Hirohito ordered a counter landing by the 32nd army and urged the navy to counterattack in every way possible. It was a horrible failure, it cost the lives of up to 120,000 Japanese combatants, 170,000 noncombatants. The Americans lost 12,500 killed and 33,000 wounded. An absolute bloodbath.    The Surrender time   Now we come to the time period where Japan seriously began looking for ways to surrender. In Europe Germany was heading to its defeat and Japan knew this. As for Japan, their army in Burma had been annihilated. Their forces in China were faring better after Operation Ichi-go, having opened up a land corridor along the main railway from Beiping to Wuhan and from throughout Guangdong but still stuck in a deadlock stalemate, facing a guerrilla war that was costing them 64% of their military expenditures. They deeply feared once the Soviets finished up with Germany, they would undoubtedly turn east against Manchuria. With the Soviets attacking from the north, the US would attack from the south, perhaps landing in Shanghai and the home islands. The Kamikaze tactics were proving formidable, but not nearly enough. By 1945, 43% of the IJA were now stationed in Japan, Korea and Formosa, bracing for the final stand. Former prime minister Reijiro Wakatsuki came out of retirement in may of 1945, having heard Germany collapsed, to urge Hirohito and the Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki to open negotiations with the US as soon as possible. However he also said “the enemy must first be made to see the disadvantages of continuing the war”. To this Hirohito's chief counselor Makino Nobuaki said that “the ultimate priority is to develop an advantageous war situation.” Advisor admiral Kesiuke Okada said Japan should wait for “a moment favorable for us,” then make peace. Advisors Kiichiro Hiranuma and Koki Hirota advised the emperor to fight on until the end.   Now I want to bring in a key player to the surrender decision, that of Prince Konoe. Konoe was very close to Hirohito and understood the emperors mentality, especially how he viewed things in relation to the kokutai.    The senior statesman Prince Konoe had been consulting with Hirohito for over 18 months at this point trying to convey the message that if the war continued it would threaten the kokutai. Many months prior, he confided in the emperor's brother, Prince Takamatsu, that the army was suffering from “a cancer” in the form of the Toseiha faction. However, he noted that “Kido and others” did not share his perspective, while “his Majesty is relatively unconcerned with ideological issues.” For the past four years, he continued, the emperor had been advised and still believed that “the true extremists are the Kodoha faction.” In reality, the greater threat to the kokutai arose from the Toseiha faction. Konoe further asserted that if the war escalated, they would attempt to alter the kokutai.   Konoe speculated that whether the threat originated from communists within the nation, primarily referring to left-wing radicals in the Toseiha faction, or from the “Anglo-American enemy,” both would seek to preserve the emperor while pushing towards the country's communization.In his written report to the emperor on February 14, which Kido listened to attentively, Konoe elaborated on his conspiracy theory. He asserted that the Soviet Union regarded Japan as its primary threat in East Asia. The Soviets had allied with the Chinese Communists, the largest and most formidable Communist party in Asia, and were collaborating with the United States and Britain to drive Japan out of China. He warned that they would enter the war when the opportunity arose.   Defeat, he cautioned the emperor, was inevitable if the conflict persisted. However, he emphasized that a far greater fear was the potential destruction of the kokutai. The ongoing war was eroding the domestic status quo, unleashing forces that threatened Japan and its imperial institution from within as much as from external adversaries. The real danger lay in the emperor's and Kido's trust in the generals of the Toseiha faction, who were unintentionally facilitating the communization of Japan. Konoe implored for a swift peace settlement before a Communist revolution emerged, making the preservation of the kokutai impossible. Hirohito agreed with Konoe but stated “ To end the war would be “very difficult unless we make one more military gain.” Konoe allegedly replied, “Is that possible? It must happen soon. If we have to wait much longer, . . . [a mere battle victory] will mean nothing.” Hirohito replied “If we hold out long enough in this war, we may be able to win, but what worries me is whether the nation will be able to endure it until then.”   On February 15th of 1945, Hirohito's intelligence warned the Soviet Union would likely abrogate its Neutrality Pact with Japan. Even Tojo conceded there was a 50/50 chance the USSR would invade Manchuria. In March, the US began B-29 incendiary bombing raids over Tokyo, turning 40% of the capital into ash. On March 18th, Hirohito with some aides drove around the capital to witness the devastation. The civilians looked exhausted and bewildered to Hirohito. Factory production was collapsing, absenteeism was rising, instances of lese majeste were running rampant. For the next 5 months imperial family members and senior statesmen all began speaking to Hirohito about the “crises of the kokutai”. The threat Konoe had warned about for months was becoming the main talking point. It seemed like the Japanese people within the countryside and urban areas remained steadfast in the resolve to obey their leaders, work and sacrifice for their nation, but for how long would they feel so?    It was only after the battle for Okinawa was lost and 60 Japanese cities had been leveled by American incendiary bombs that Hirohito openly indicated he wanted to negotiate a surrender.   Kido's diary reveals the first clear indication that the emperor might be urged to consider an early peace on June 8, 1945, when Kido drafted his “Draft Plan for Controlling the Crisis Situation.” This marked a pivotal moment. It followed the unintentional bombing of the Imperial Palace, the complete loss of hope for saving Okinawa, and coincided with the day the Supreme War Leadership Council adopted the “Basic Policy for the Future Direction of the War.” With the fighting in Europe concluded, Japan found itself entirely isolated. Kido's plan, although vague, proposed seeking the Soviet Union's assistance as an intermediary to help Japan gain leverage in negotiations with its adversaries. By drafting this plan, Kido signaled the end of his long alliance with the military hard-liners. Hirohito's acceptance of it indicated his readiness for an early peace.   Hirohito was moved to an underground bunker in the mountains of Matsushiro in Nagano prefecture where upon those around him noted he fell into a deep depression. On June 22nd  Hirohito informed the Supreme War Leadership Council he wanted them to open diplomatic maneuvers to end the war. In early July Soviet Ambassador Jacob Malik broke off inconclusive talks with Hirota. Hirohito stepped in immediately and ordered a new special envoy be sent to Moscow. However Hirohito nor the Suzuki government had concrete plans on how to mediate a surrender through the Soviets. The only things they did prioritize was a guarantee of the emperors political position and retainment of the imperial system, ie the kokutai. This was taken into consideration rather than ending the war as quickly as possible to save the lives of millions.    From April 8, 1945, until Japan's capitulation, the Suzuki government's chief war policy was “Ketsugo,” an advanced iteration of the “Shosango” (Victory Number 3) plan for defending the homeland. The hallmark of this strategy was a heavy reliance on suicide tactics, including deploying a massive number of kamikaze “special attack” planes, human torpedoes launched from submarines, dynamite-stuffed “crash boats” powered by truck engines, human rocket bombs carried by aircraft, and suicide assaults by specially trained ground units.   While preparations for Operation Ketsu progressed, the Imperial Diet convened on June 9 to pass a Wartime Emergency Measures Law, along with five additional measures aimed at mobilizing the entire nation for this final battle. On the same day, the emperor, who had yet to initiate efforts to end the war, issued another imperial rescript in conjunction with the Diet's convocation, instructing the nation to “smash the inordinate ambitions of the enemy nations” and “achieve the goals of the war.” Concurrently, the controlled press launched a daily die-for-the-emperor campaign to foster gratitude for the imperial benevolence and, from around mid-July onward, initiated a campaign to “protect the kokutai.”   The Americans countered with their own propaganda aimed at breaking Japan's will to fight. B-29 bombers dropped millions of leaflets written in Japanese, announcing the next scheduled targets for bombing raids and urging surrender, while using the emperor to challenge the militarists. Leaflets bearing the chrysanthemum crest criticized the “military cliques” for “forcing the entire nation to commit suicide” and called on “everyone” to “exercise their constitutional right to make direct appeals [for peace] to the Emperor.” They asserted that “even the powerful military cliques cannot stop the mighty march for peace of the Emperor and the people.” One notable batch of seven million leaflets conveyed the terms of the “joint declaration” issued by the United States, Great Britain, and China. “Today we come not to bomb you,” they stated. “We are dropping this leaflet to inform you of the response from the United States government to your government's request for conditions of surrender.... Whether the war stops immediately depends on your government. You will understand how to end the war if you read these two official notifications.”   Amid pressures from imperial edicts to continue preparations for a final battle and focus solely on victory, the Japanese people were also subjected to an intense American psychological warfare campaign in addition to aerial bombardment. During late July and August, prefectural governors, police chiefs, and officers of the “special higher police” submitted reports to the Home Ministry detailing the rapidly deteriorating national morale.    Now on the other side, Roosevelt made it known back in January of 1943 at the Casablanca conference, the allies would only accept unconditional surrender. By 1945, the allies understood the predicament this left Japan with. On May 8th of 1945, Truman added “Japan's surrender would not mean the extermination or enslavement of the Japanese people” trying to indicate a non vindictive spirit. However the Kokutai question always remained ambiguous. State Department Joseph Grew, the former ambassador to Japan, began arguing to Truman they needed to make public a clear definition of the terms to persuade Japan to surrender. As he argued to Truman: Emperor Hirohito was seen as the key figure in Japan's surrender, likened to a "queen bee in a hive... surrounded by the attentions of the hive." Throughout the war, he was characterized in various ways—as a “puppet” of the militarists, a constitutional monarch, and a pacifist. Grew had immense faith in the influence exerted by what he referred to as the “moderates” surrounding the Japanese throne.    However many of Grew's colleagues argued the future existence of the monarchy was intolerable as it was akin to fascism. Many wanted to punish the emperor. Truman was in a tug of war. The Potsdam declaration issued on July 26th of 1945 came in the form of a ultimatum aiming to quicken japans surrender. Truman clarified the terms for the unconditional surrender at the end of its terms: "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction." Zero mention of the emperor. Grew had argued to add “this may include a constitutional monarchy under the present dynasty.” But it was deleted from the article. The status of the emperor was not guaranteed, the kokutai was thus up in the air.    The next day, the Suzuki cabinet rejected the terms. The Japanese leadership and Hirohito were still banking and awaiting Soviet replies to their terms.    Lets talk about the Soviet talks now   Back on July 12th ambassador Naotake Satō sent this message to the Soviets: “His Majesty the Emperor, mindful of the fact that the present war daily brings greater evil and sacrifice upon the peoples of all the belligerent powers, desires from his heart that it may be quickly terminated. But so long as England and the United States insist upon unconditional surrender, the Japanese Empire has no alternative but to fight on with all its strength for the honor and existence of the Motherland”.  However the Soviets had made commitments to their allies, promising in fact to invade Japan to aid them.    As for the Soviets their primary objective was to ensure unrestricted access to the Pacific Ocean. The year-round ice-free areas of the Soviet Pacific coastline, particularly Vladivostok, could be blockaded by air and sea from Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Islands. Securing these territories to guarantee free access to the Soya Strait was their main goal. Secondary objectives included acquiring leases for the Chinese Eastern Railway, the Southern Manchuria Railway, as well as gaining control over Dairen and Port Arthur.   To achieve these aims, Stalin and Molotov prolonged negotiations with the Japanese, creating a false sense of hope for a Soviet-mediated peace. Simultaneously, in their discussions with the United States and Britain, the Soviets insisted on strict adherence to the Cairo Declaration, which had been reaffirmed at the Yalta Conference. This declaration stipulated that the Allies would not accept a separate or conditional peace with Japan; thus, the Japanese would need to surrender unconditionally to all the Allies. The Soviets aimed to prolong the war by opposing any efforts to dilute this requirement. This approach would provide the Soviets with the necessary time to complete the transfer of their troops from the Western Front to the Far East and to conquer Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, northern Korea, South Sakhalin, the Kuriles, and potentially Hokkaidō, starting with an assault on Rumoi. AUGUST 1945   Thus we come to at last the critical point, August of 1945.    The Americans prepared for the deployment of atomic bombs and for an invasion of southern Kyushu, known as Operation Olympic, scheduled to commence on November 1. At 8:15 A.M. on August 6, a single B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay dropped little boy, devastating much of the undefended city of Hiroshima, instantly killing an estimated 100,000 to 140,000 people and leading to the deaths of possibly another 100,000 over the next five years. At the epicenter of the explosion, “a light appeared 3,000 times brighter than the sun,” creating a fireball that emitted thermal radiation capable of “instantly scorching humans, trees, and houses.” As the air heated and rushed upward, cold air surged in to ignite a firestorm. Hours later, a whirlwind escalated the flames to their peak until more than eight square miles were virtually reduced to cinders. Subsequently, black, muddy rain filled with radioactive fallout began to fall. Two days later, using Japan's rejection of the Potsdam Declaration as a pretext, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. Then on August 9, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, resulting in the immediate deaths of approximately 35,000 to 40,000 people and injuring more than 60,000.   Meanwhile, in Tokyo, during the critical period between the Potsdam Declaration and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Emperor Hirohito remained silent about accepting the Potsdam terms. However, on July 25 and 31, he explicitly conveyed to Kido that the imperial regalia must be defended at all costs. The three sacred objects—a mirror, a curved jewel, and a sword—symbolized the legitimacy of his rule through the northern court and were integral to his identity as the divine sovereign. Hirohito's focus was on protecting these symbols of office, as he insisted on having them brought to the palace. This fixation on maintaining his symbols occurred during a pivotal moment when the pressing issue was whether to accept immediate capitulation. Reflecting on this, he was unprepared to seize the opportunity to end the war himself.   Prime Minister Suzuki, following his initial rejection of the Potsdam ultimatum, also saw no need for further action. His Cabinet Advisory Council, which included the president of Asano Cement, the founder of the Nissan consortium, the vice president of the Bank of Japan, and other representatives from the nation's leading business interests that had profited significantly from the war, convened on the morning of August 3. They recommended accepting the Potsdam terms, arguing that the United States would permit Japan to retain its non-military industries and continue participating in world trade.    Here are some reactions to the two bombs and invasion of Manchuria.    Yonai Mitsumasa said to admiral Takagi Sokichi, on August 12, that “I think the term is perhaps inappropriate, but the atomic bombs and the Soviet entry into the war are, in a sense, gifts from the gods [tenyu, also “heaven-sent blessings”]. This way we don't have to say that we quit the war because of domestic circumstances. I've long been advocating control of our crisis, but neither from fear of an enemy attack nor because of the atomic bombs and the Soviet entry into the war. The main reason is my anxiety over the domestic situation. So, it is rather fortunate that we can now control matters without revealing the domestic situation”.    Konoe's characterized the Soviet involvement in the war as “a godsend for controlling the army,”. Kido viewed of both the atomic bombings and the Soviet entry into the conflict as “useful” elements for ensuring a smooth transition. A nascent power struggle was unfolding, rendering the potential death toll—whether one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand—immaterial to those involved, as long as their desired outcome was achieved: an end to the war that would leave the monarchy intact and capable of managing the discontent that defeat would inevitably provoke. Throughout the final acts of this wartime drama, the Japanese “moderates” found it easier to capitulate to external pressures than to take decisive action on their own to conclude the war.   Another illuminating looks at Japan's elite's perspective on surrender terms was the document titled “Essentials of Peace Negotiations” (wahei kosho no yoryo). Drafted by Konoe and his adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Sakai Koji, after Konoe had reluctantly accepted a mission to Moscow, this document, stipulated the preservation of the emperor system, along with most of the imperial prerogatives, as the absolute minimum condition for peace. It defined the “original” or “essential homeland” as including the southern half of the Kurile Islands but showed a willingness to concede all overseas territories to the enemy, including Okinawa and the American-occupied Bonin Islands, as well as the southern half of Sakhalin. The “Essentials” also accepted complete disarmament for an unspecified period, thereby compromising on the issues of demobilizing and disarming the armed forces. More significantly, an “explanation” attached to the “Essentials” emphasized that “the main aim is to secure the imperial line and maintain the political role of the emperor.”    Why Japan surrendered   We come to it atleast after a long podcast. Why did Japan ultimately surrender?   The twin psychological shocks of the first atomic bomb and the Soviet entry into the war, combined with Kido's and the emperor's concern over escalating public criticism of the throne and its occupant, fueled an almost paranoid fear that, sooner or later, the populace would react violently against their leaders if the war persisted much longer. These factors ultimately led Hirohito to accept, in principle, the terms of the Potsdam Declaration.   At the first meeting of the six member constituents of the Supreme War Leadership Council, held from 10:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on August 9, Army Minister Anami Korechika, Chiefs of Staff Umezu Yoshijiro, representing the army, and Yonai, representing the navy, along with Tōgō, from the Foreign Ministry, were expected to discuss the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. Instead, the conversation revolved around whether to attempt a conditional surrender—specifically, should they insist on one condition, the preservation of the kokutai, or four?   After Suzuki addressed the assembly regarding the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the Soviet attack, Yonai, as recounted by Navy Chief of Staff Toyoda, was the first to speak, framing the issue in terms of four conditions. “Let's start to talk, Do we accept the Potsdam Declaration with no conditions? If not, and we wish to insist on attaching hopes and conditions, we may do so this way. First, preservation of the kokutai; then for the rest, the main items in the Potsdam Declaration: treatment of war criminals, method of disarmament, and the matter of sending in an army of occupation.” Thus, the participants identified what they perceived to be the ambiguous points within the Potsdam Declaration and used them as the foundation for their discussions.   The army insisted on four conditions: First, the preservation of the kokutai, which they considered distinct from the Potsdam Declaration itself. The other conditions proposed were, second, that the Imperial Headquarters assume responsibility for disarmament and demobilization; third, a prohibition on occupation; and fourth, the delegation of the punishment of war criminals to the Japanese government. The army equated the kokutai with the emperor's right of supreme command. Their self-serving desire for autonomous war crimes trials was based on the belief that the Allies would use such trials to politically indict the military. Consequently, army leaders aimed to preempt the activities of any international tribunal by conducting their own trials—similar to the approach taken by the uninvaded and unrepentant Germans after World War I.   Supporting the military's views during cabinet meetings that day were three civilian members of the Suzuki cabinet: Justice Minister Matsuzaka Hiromasa, Home Minister Yasui Toji, and Minister of Health Okada Tadahiko. At the imperial conference that night, which extended into the early hours of the tenth, Foreign Minister Tōgō's interpretation of the “preservation of the kokutai” referred solely to the safeguarding of the Imperial House or dynasty, rather than the continuation of Hirohito's reign.   Hiranuma, another advocate for the single condition, interpreted the kokutai as the “emperor's sovereign right to rule the state [not] deriving from national law. Even if the entire nation is sacrificed to the war, we must preserve both the kokutai and the security of the imperial house.” This discrepancy illustrated that there was no completely unified understanding of what the kokutai entailed; the debate over one condition versus four represented conflicting visions for the future of the Japanese state and masked the competition for political power that was already unfolding.   It remains doubtful whether the emperor and Kido initially sided with Tōgō against the four conditions proposed by the senior military leaders. A more likely inference is that both men retained sympathies for the hardliners, both military and civilian, who preferred to continue the futile war rather than surrender immediately and unconditionally. This may explain why, on August 9, Konoe had Hosokawa Morisada approach Navy General Headquarters to urge the emperor's brother, Prince Takamatsu, to pressure Hirohito (through Kido) to accept the Potsdam terms. Later that afternoon, Konoe enlisted the help of diplomat Shigemitsu Mamoru to persuade Kido to reconsider his stance on the four conditions. Ultimately, at the urging of Takamatsu and Shigemitsu, Kido did shift to support Tōgō's position.   At the end of the war, as at its beginning and throughout every stage of its progression, Emperor Hirohito played a highly active role in supporting the actions carried out in his name. From the very beginning of the Asia-Pacific war, the emperor played a significant role in the unfolding events around him. Prior to the Battle of Okinawa, he consistently advocated for a decisive victory. Afterward, he acknowledged the necessity of pursuing an early peace, although he did not favor an immediate cessation of hostilities. Instead, he wavered, steering Japan toward ongoing warfare rather than direct negotiations with the Allies. When the final crisis fully unfolded, the only option left was unconditional surrender. Even then, he continued to procrastinate until the atomic bomb was dropped and the Soviets launched their attack. The wartime emperor ideology that once sustained morale made it exceedingly difficult for Japan's leaders to accept the act of surrender. Aware of their objective defeat, yet indifferent to the suffering the war inflicted on their own people—as well as on the populations of Asia, the Pacific, and the West whose lives they had disrupted—the emperor and his military leaders sought a means to lose without appearing to lose. They aimed to mitigate domestic criticism following surrender while preserving their power structure.   Blinded by their fixation on the fate of the imperial house and committed to an overly optimistic diplomacy toward the Soviet Union, Japan's leaders missed several opportunities to end their lost war. Would Japan's leaders have surrendered more promptly if the Truman administration had “clarified” the status of the emperor before the cataclysmic double shocks of the atomic bomb and the Soviet entry into the war? Probably not. However, it is likely they would have surrendered to prevent the kokutai from being destroyed from within. The evidence suggests that the first atomic bomb and the Soviet declaration of war led Hirohito, Kido, and other members of the court to believe that continuing the war would inevitably result in that destruction. They recognized that the populace was war-weary and despondent, with rising hostility toward the military and the government, accompanied by increasing criticism of the emperor himself. More specifically, Kido and Hirohito were privy to Home Ministry reports, which contained information from governors and police chiefs nationwide. These reports indicated that citizens were beginning to label the emperor as an incompetent leader responsible for the deteriorating war situation.   This is the third variable, never spoken about. Many first look at the atomic bombs. Bigger brain people turn to the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria. But hardly anyone reads about how the collapse of Japan's social fabric, scared the shit out of the Emperor and his closest advisors. You can't have a kokutai, without a populace that worshiped you.    When the emperor expressed in February, “What worries me is whether the nation [could] endure” long enough to achieve victory, he was not merely voicing concern for the suffering of his subjects; rather, he feared that such suffering could lead to social upheaval—in short, revolution. At that time, he referred to the ordinary, war-related hardships of food shortages, air raids, devastated cities, destruction of homes, and the omnipresent grief from the loss of loved ones. The atomic bomb escalated death, pain, and suffering to unimaginably higher levels, intensifying the threat from within. After the bombings of Japan and two atomic bombs, Hirohito was in a dark way, given a golden get out of jail free card. Hirohito could now save his suffering people from further anguish by surrendering, allowing him to deflect responsibility for leading them into misery while adopting an air of benevolence and care. Indeed, Hirohito did care—though not primarily for the Japanese people, but rather for the survival of his own imperial house and throne.   After the bombing of Hiroshima, Hirohito delayed for a full two days before instructing Kido, shortly before 10 A.M. on August 9, to “quickly control the situation” because “the Soviet [Union]” had declared war. Kido immediately communicated with Prime Minister Suzuki, who began arrangements for an Imperial Conference scheduled for later that night. Following the seidan of August 10, Chief Cabinet Secretary Sakomizu took charge of drafting the “Imperial Rescript Ending the War” based on Hirohito's directives. Assisted by two scholars of the Chinese classics, Kawada Mizuho and Yasuoka Masahiro, Sakomizu worked tirelessly for over three days before submitting a version of the rescript to the Suzuki cabinet. After six hours of contentious discussion on the night of August 14, the cabinet modified and approved the document. Hirohito promptly signed it, and Shimomura and Kido persuaded him to record a suitably opaque final version for broadcast to the nation.   On the night of August 14, the Suzuki government notified the United States and other Allied nations that it had accepted both the Potsdam Declaration and the Byrnes letter of August 11. Accelerating the emperor's actions during this climactic moment of the unconditional surrender drama was the American psychological warfare campaign. When a leaflet dropped from B-29 bombers came into Kido's possession on the night of August 13 or the morning of the fourteenth, he conferred with the emperor and explained the gravity of the situation. The latest enemy leaflets were informing the Japanese people of the government's notification of surrender under one condition, along with the full text of Byrnes's response. If this continued, it would undermine the imperial government's reliance on secrecy to obscure the true nature of the lost war and the reasons for the prolonged surrender delay.   Given Kido's and the emperor's concerns about rising signs of defeatism, including criticism of the throne, immediate action was necessary to prevent the populace from acting on their own initiative. Thus, the second seidan was convened. At noon on August 15, the Japanese people gathered around their radio receivers and heard, for the first time, the high-pitched voice of their emperor telling them:    “After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure. We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration. To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors and which lies close to Our heart. Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement. But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone—the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people—the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest. Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers... The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable”.   Clearly Hirohito sought to justify his decision to surrender by citing the dropping of the atomic bombs. He wanted to become the saviour of the Japanese people. Hirohito wanted to obfuscate the issue of accountability, to prevent expressions of strife and anger and to strengthen domestic unity around himself, to protect and raise the kokutai.  Interestingly, the surrender declaration to the civilian population was not the same one sent to the military. On August 17th Hirohito issued a second “rescript to soldiers and sailors” throughout the asia-pacific.   “ Now that the Soviet Union has entered the war against us, to continue . . . under the present conditions at home and abroad would only recklessly incur even more damage to ourselves and result in endangering the very foundation of the empire's existence. Therefore, even though enormous fighting spirit still exists in the Imperial Navy and Army, I am going to make peace with the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union, as well as with Chungking, in order to maintain our glorious national polity”.   The lesser-known August 17 rescript to the army and navy specified Soviet participation as the sole reason for surrender, while maintaining the kokutai as the primary aim. Dissembling until the end—and even beyond—it was noted that the emperor presented two different justifications for his delayed surrender. Both statements were likely true.   Months later Hirohito's said this about his decision to surrender “The main motive behind my decision at that time was that if we . . . did not act, the Japanese race would perish and I would be unable to protect my loyal subjects [sekishi—literally, “children”]. Second, Kido agreed with me on the matter of defending the kokutai. If the enemy landed near Ise Bay, both Ise and Atsuta Shrines would immediately come under their control. There would be no time to transfer the sacred treasures [regalia] of the imperial family and no hope of protecting them. Under these circumstances, protection of the kokutai would be difficult. For these reasons, I thought at the time that I must make peace even at the sacrifice of myself.”    There exists this sort of childish argument today whether it was the atomic bombs or the Soviet Invasion that caused Japan to surrender. However, this overlooks as I think I've explained in 9000 words jeez, the influence of the kokutai. Defending the kokutai was Hirohito's number one priority. The Soviets threatened it. Communism threatened it. What Japan perceived to be “democracy” threatened it. American victory threatened it. And the destruction of Japan's social fabric threatened it. I love this one piece of history, that I have only come across in one book, that being the main one I am using here.   On August 12th, Hirohito came to the imperial family to tell them he had made the decision to surrender. His uncle Prince Yasuhiko Asaka asked him whether the war would be continued if the kokutai could not be preserved. Hirohito replied “of course”.

Chaque matin dans son édito, Vincent Trémolet de Villers revient sur l'actualité politique du jour. Ce lundi, il s'intéresse à l'après François Bayrou à Matignon. Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

For the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory over Japan, ChinaTalk interviewed Ian Toll about his Pacific War trilogy, which masterfully brings America's bloodiest war — and the world's only nuclear war — to life. Ian's detailed scholarship creates a multisensory historical experience, from the metallic tang of radiation after the bombs were dropped to the stench of Pacific battlefields. Ian's forthcoming book, The Freshwater War, will explore the naval campaign the US fought against Britain on the Great Lakes between 1812 and 1815. Today our conversation covers…. How Ian innovates when writing historical narratives, Whether Allied victory was predetermined after the US entered the war, Why the Kamikaze were born out of resource scarcity, and whether Japanese military tactics were suicidal as well, How foreign wars temporarily stabilized Japan's revolutionary domestic politics, How American military leadership played the media and politics to become national heroes, Lessons from 1945 for a potential Taiwan invasion. Cohosting is Chris Miller, author of Chip War. Thanks to the US-Japan Foundation for sponsoring this podcast. Outro music: The Mills Brothers - Till Then (YouTube link) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory over Japan, ChinaTalk interviewed Ian Toll about his Pacific War trilogy, which masterfully brings America's bloodiest war — and the world's only nuclear war — to life. Ian's detailed scholarship creates a multisensory historical experience, from the metallic tang of radiation after the bombs were dropped to the stench of Pacific battlefields. Ian's forthcoming book, The Freshwater War, will explore the naval campaign the US fought against Britain on the Great Lakes between 1812 and 1815. Today our conversation covers…. How Ian innovates when writing historical narratives, Whether Allied victory was predetermined after the US entered the war, Why the Kamikaze were born out of resource scarcity, and whether Japanese military tactics were suicidal as well, How foreign wars temporarily stabilized Japan's revolutionary domestic politics, How American military leadership played the media and politics to become national heroes, Lessons from 1945 for a potential Taiwan invasion. Cohosting is Chris Miller, author of Chip War. Thanks to the US-Japan Foundation for sponsoring this podcast. Outro music: The Mills Brothers - Till Then (YouTube link) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ecoutez RTL Matin avec Thomas Sotto du 28 août 2025.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Hoy escuchamos: Periferia: Guerra interna, Malas caras, Desapareciendo, Rincones de nadie, Parar el tiempo, Mi alternativa, La ciudad.Kamikazes: Caso aparte, Se va a caer, Mi tormenta, Lejos de aquí, Agravantes, Con todo, Lobos.Escuchar audio

Pour débuter l'émission de ce mardi 26 août 2025, les GG : Barbara Lefebvre, professeure d'histoire-géographie, Emmanuel de Villiers, chef d'entreprise, et Jérôme Marty, médecin généraliste, débattent du sujet du jour : "Bayrou se soumet au vote de confiance : courageux ou kamikaze ?".

En este capítulo de Vestigios de la Historia, hablamos de "Kamikaze, el viento divino que salvó a Japón". Hoy nos adentramos en una de las leyendas más poderosas del imaginario japonés, una historia donde el destino de una nación pendía de un hilo, y fue la naturaleza —o quizás los dioses— quienes intervinieron. En el siglo XIII, frente a la amenaza inminente del imperio mongol, los japoneses no solo resistieron con espada y honor, sino que fueron testigos de un fenómeno que marcaría su identidad: un tifón devastador que destruyó la flota enemiga.Esta narración entrelaza lo histórico con lo mítico, donde la fe y el espíritu del pueblo se fusionan con fuerzas inexplicables. Exploramos así temas como la providencia, la resiliencia y la eterna lucha por la supervivencia cultural. Una vez más, Vestigios de la Historia nos recuerda que, incluso en medio del caos y la invasión, hay momentos en que la historia se dobla ante lo inesperado, dejando tras de sí un legado de misterio, gratitud y propósito.

Wohlan, Margarete; Müller, Helmut www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Aus den Archiven

Last night, Russia sent another barrage of 300 kamikaze drones into Ukraine, a campaign they have ramped up by a factor of ten over the past 12 months. But, how do these drones work, and why are they favoured by both sides in the conflict?Joining Séan to discuss is David Hambling, Journalist and Author of 'Swarm Troopers: How small drones will conquer the world'...

Navy veteran and historian Guy Nasuti joins me in this episode to talk about the Kamikazes in the Pacific during World War II.LinksOn the Verge of Breaking Down Completely: Surviving the Kamikaze off Okinawa, 1945 by Guy Nasutihttps://www.history.navy.mil/research/publications/publications-by-subject/on-the-verge-of-breaking-down-completely.htmlMother of Tanks website (http://www.motheroftanks.com/podcast/)Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/c/motheroftanks)

Secrets, lies and spies are on the agenda for this week and your co-pilots are here to make sense of the madness.Allison is horrified by the secrecy surrounding the Ministry of Defence data leak, which has been estimated at a potential cost of £7bn to the UK tax payer, without any oversight or accountability of where people will be settled around the Country.Meanwhile Liam focuses on the news inflation has increased and the warning that the Labour tax increases are curtailing growth, which could lead to the dreaded term ‘stagflation'.Stowing away this week is MD of REIDsteel, Simon Boyd, who lays out his case for Ed Miliband's net zero policies being ‘dangerous'.Read Allison: ‘Starmer is sacrificing our troops on the altar of human rights law' https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/15/starmer-sacrificing-british-troops-on-altar-of-human-rights/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Liam: ‘Reeves needs to take a leaf out of Gordon Brown's book‘ ​​https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/13/reeves-needs-take-a-leaf-out-gordon-brown-book/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Au menu de la troisième heure des GG du lundi 14 juillet 2025 : Budget, opération kamikaze pour Bayrou ? avec Barbara Lefebvre, professeure d'histoire-géographie, Abel Boyi, éducateur et président de l'association "Tous uniques tous unis", et Charles Consigny, avocat.

  Today, I am joined by The Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: second cucumber flush, sheep hijinks, running things alone and more. Featured Event: Canning 101: Water Bath & Pressure Canning – July 26, 10am–2pm https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com... Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast, InvestableWealth.com Home alone Still haven't harvested the tea mints!  Cucumber wave 2 this week Tomatoes are a bit slower than other years but we've also had a bunch of cloud cover 2 pet bunnies 3 new ducks - HAVENT FOUND THE pond yet Sheep escape Adjusting the house rock wall to keep unwanted weeds away Basecamp roof 2 minute meatloaf Generater at the pasture - and weedeater help for neighbors Meetup July 27 Potato chard recipe - start by overlooking potatoes for potato salad Kamikaze mouse - also all my mousers are gone Wheelbarrows still suck Make it a great week!   GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!   Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Dick Smothers Jr., son of, who else, comedian & musician Dick Smothers, one half of the comedy team, The Smothers Brothers. On this episode, we explore some pretty intense stuff as we get into what it was like growing up with a famous father and a famous uncle whose comedy was a touchstone for comedians of the 1960s. And while Dick Smother's was perhaps one of the best straight men in comedy, the story Dick Smothers Jr. tells us story is anything but rosey. We learn about the attention his dad craved and the strained relationship they have to this day. Moreover, we talk about heavy metal and Dick Jr's 80s band Kamikaze, his fascination with Alister Crowley as well as black magic and his one-time career choice to become an adult actor. Yes, this episode delves into another kind of celebrity, pornography. One we haven't spoken about this before or acter this episode first aired but we delve into it extensively here. We discuss why Dick Jr. chose to become a porn star, why Dick Jr. didn't change his name because…well….he already had the best name in blue movies and what it was like talking to the press knowing his famous name would draw attention. And therein lies the rub. Pun intended. This episode is a frank and serious discussion and we learn a lot about why Dick Jr. chose that career path, his relationship with his father, the challenges of being in ‘the industry' and much more. Puritans beware! So if black magic, pornography and heavy metal were on your Bingo card for this episode of the podcast, you are in luck! Because this is another episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast where everyone has a story. This one is likely one you have never heard before. Take a listen. Yo-Yo Man fans, hang onto your hats!

What mistakes were made during the fight for Okinawa in 1945? How did the campaign finally end? How many service personnel and civilians from both sides died at Okinawa? Join James Holland, Al Murray, and John McManus for Part 4 of this series as they explore the brutal land and sea fighting on both sides at Okinawa, and the experiences that shaped the fateful decision to drop the atomic bombs. SERIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS EARLY & AD FREE - SIGN UP AT patreon.com/wehaveways A Goalhanger Production Produced by James Regan Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Join our ‘Independent Company' with an introductory offer to watch exclusive livestreams, get presale ticket events, and our weekly newsletter - packed with book and model discounts. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

head to chubbiesshorts.com For a very limited time, shop Chubbies' biggest sale of the year for $45 shorts and up to 65% off select gear. use our exclusive code DELCO for 20% off For a limited time only, our listeners not only get a 7-day free trial, but they also get 50% off their first month when they use code FATBIRD at checkout. Just download the Hall of Fame app on iOS or Android, enter code FATBIRD NEW MERCH ALERT - https://dadmeat.com Join us at Patreon.com/dadmeatpodcast for part 2 of this episode. Want a custom Dad Meat episode? Order one and tell us exactly who and what you want us to talk about and it's done. It's a great gift for birthdays, holidays, or just as a treat to yourself. Episodes available in 15, 30, and 60 minute lengths. Grab one now at OnPercs.com/store. See Tim do stand up live: https://linktr.ee/timbutterly See Mike do stand up live: https://linktr.ee/MikeRainey82 Check out Tim's YouTube channel at youtube.com/@TimButterly for live streams and his killer new project, Field Trippin', which you can also support at Patreon.com/TimButterly Check out Mike's new interview podcast, Get In Some Head: https://www.youtube.com/@UCvPEUAhvoM3Kw3doNZQkyJg Go to Patreon.com/lilstinkers for the best murder/Impractical Jokers-themed podcast out there MORE SHANER- https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@WorldWarFunComedy⁩  https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@TheEndPod⁩  MORE JIM- https://www.youtube.com/@twointhestinkpodcast 

How was the the Yamato the mightiest warship in history? What did the Americans do to prevent Imperial Japanese forces from getting to Okinawa in April 1945? In what ways were Kamikaze attacks doomed to fail? Join James Holland and Al Murray for Part 2 of this series as they explore the brutal land and sea fighting on both sides at Okinawa, and the experiences that shaped the fateful decision to drop the atomic bombs. THE ENTIRE SERIES IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS EARLY & AD FREE - SIGN UP AT patreon.com/wehaveways A Goalhanger Production Produced by James Regan Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Social: @WeHaveWaysPod Email: wehavewayspodcast@gmail.com Join our ‘Independent Company' with an introductory offer to watch exclusive livestreams, get presale ticket events, and our weekly newsletter - packed with book and model discounts. Membership Club: patreon.com/wehaveways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Direction le Salon du Bourget pour vous présenter ces nouveaux drones kamikazes, des drones de fabrication française qui y sont exposés. Ils pourraient très bientôt être utilisés sur des terrains de guerre.Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Over the past years, countless American journalists have embedded with Zelensky's military. On the Russian side, there's only one: Patrick Lancaster. (00:00) Introduction (01:15) The War Started Much Earlier Than You Think (05:07) The Ukrainian Attacks on the Hometown of Lancaster's Wife (19:47) Kamikaze Attack Drones (27:52) How Many People Have Died in this War? (37:59) Russia's Attempt to House Victims of War Paid partnerships with: Identity Guard: Get a 30-day free trial and over 60% off when you sign up at https://IdentityGuard.com/Tucker Cozy Earth: https://CozyEarth.com/Tucker code TUCKER Policygenius: Head to at https://Policygenius.com/Tucker to see how much you could save PreBorn: To donate please dial pound two-fifty and say keyword "BABY" or visit https://preborn.com/TUCKER Subscribe to Patrick Lancaster's Substack Blog: https://patricklancasternewstoday.substack.com/subscribe.   YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/PatrickLancasterNewsToday . Support Patrick's Journalism here https://buymeacoffee.com/plnewstoday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Appreciating just how dangerous our situation is right now. They are experts in language and controlling the language. The revolution is more important than honesty. Going for a ruck in the neighborhood. Stopping the Kamikaze planes. The communist is purposeful with his language. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.