“The contemporary diary evidence suggests that Hirohito was uncomfortable with the direction of Japanese policy.
“The consensus of those who have studied the documents of the period is that Hirohito was consistent in attempting to use his personal influence to induce caution and to moderate and even obstruct the growing impetus toward war.”
But Whitehead wrote that ultimately the Emperor was “powerless” and any comparisons with Hitler are “ridiculously wide of the mark.”