When MacArthur Met the Emperor

Japan officially surrendered on September 2nd, 1945. What happened next was an equally interesting story.

General Douglas MacArthur had landed at Atsugi airbase two days before; since the VJ day, he had been asked by President Truman to oversee the occupation of Japan. It was a daunting task. On his drive to Yokohama from Atsugi, tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers greeted him with their bayonets out in one final act of symbolic defiance. Seventy percent of Americans thought Emperor Hirohito should be persecuted; there were protests outside MacArthur’s headquarters by American servicemen and calls in Australian and Russian press to that effect.

However, MacArthur understood that for the transition to be smooth, the imperial rule must persist. Yet, he didn’t make the customary call to the palace; instead, he waited for the emperor to make the first contact. On 27th September, Hirohito finally crossed the palace moat to reach MacArthur’s headquarters at the Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Company — requisitioned for its relative intactness and its proximity to both the palace and the American embassy. In The Man Who Saved Kabuki, Shin Okamoto wrote:

MacArthur greeted the emperor at the entrance to the reception room, shaking his hand and saying, ‘You are very, very welcome sir.’ The emperor kept bowing lower and lower until MacArthur found himself shaking hands with him over the emperor’s head. Only the emperor, MacArthur and Okamura, the interpreter went into the reception room. Then the door to the reception room was opened and Lt. Gaetano Faillace, of the military camera corps, took a now famous photograph of the emperor and MacArthur from outside the room.”

Faillace was given one shot, but he spoke up and asked for three. Faillace also adviced MacArthur against a seated picture on a soft couch. First two photos were less than ideal — their eyes were closed in one, and the Emperor’s mouth was gaping open in the other. But even the perfect, final shot posed its own problems: at this juncture, Hirohito was still  akitsumikami or manifest deity (he would not renounce his divinity before the coming New Year’s Day), and everyone was supposed to avert eyes from the veiled imperial portraits in government buildings.

Thus, printing the photo was deemed sacrilegious, not least because of the general’s extremely casual attire and his even more pointed body language. MacArthur’s office itself had to intervene to Japanese censors to have it printed. It ran on 29th September. He had to intervene again when the photo appeared in the New York Times alongside an unprecedented interview with the Emperor — where he criticized his government on failing to declare war on US before Pearl Harbour — and police tried to confiscate the papers.

Outside Japan, too, the general’s informal appearance shocked many. Even Life clutched its pearls and wrote, “MacArthur did not trouble to put on a tie for the occasion”. As for the contents of their 40-minute tete-a-tete, nothing was made public; the two men would meet 10 more times during MacArthur’s sojourn as the American Proconsul. The general never paid a return call to the palace.

Liked it? Take a second to support Iconic Photos on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!

1,368 thoughts on “When MacArthur Met the Emperor

  1. With the dawn of 2024, opening a t-shirt business continues to be a profitable endeavor.
    Featuring effective planning, business owners can capitalize on the ever-growing demand for personalized t-shirts.
    This overview offers tips on ways to effectively run a t-shirt business.

    ## Introduction to a T-Shirt Business

    Opening a t-shirt store involves various phases, from planning to executing.
    This section explains the fundamentals to get you started.

    ### Selecting Your Audience

    The primary step in launching a t-shirt store is finding your
    niche. This includes studying industry data to determine which tees are in demand.

    Reflect on concentrating in a particular like vintage
    designs.

    ### Designing Your T-Shirts

    Creativity is a key aspect of a successful T-shirt
    shop. T-Shirt designs must stand out and capture your target audience.
    Reflect on collaborating with experienced artists or using design software to produce your designs.

    ### Finding Suppliers

    Premium fabrics are crucial for your tee collection. Finding
    trustworthy suppliers to source T-shirt blanks guarantees that your T-shirts
    meet customer expectations. Search for vendors with good reputations
    and reasonable pricing.

    ## Establishing Your T-Shirt Store

    Once you have your concepts and inventory prepared, the next
    step is creating your t-shirt business. This requires several elements.

    ### Deciding on a Sales Approach

    Decide on whether you want to combine both eCommerce and retail options.
    Each sales strategy has its distinct advantages and challenges.
    eCommerce platforms provide broader market but necessitate effective
    SEO. Physical stores provide a physical shopping
    experience but require higher maintenance expenses.

    ### Designing Your Online Store

    If you decide to operate digitally, building a attractive digital platform is essential.

    Your online store needs to be easy to navigate, showcase detailed pictures of your T-shirts, and offer safe transaction methods.

    Think about utilizing website builders like Shopify to facilitate the job.

    ### Organizing Your Brick-and-Mortar Outlet

    If you choose to launch a retail shop, setting is essential.
    Select a place with easy access to bring in buyers. Organize your store layout
    to highlight your products strategically and enable
    buying easy for customers.

    ## Advertising Your T-Shirt Business

    Efficient advertising is crucial to attract shoppers to your t-shirt business.
    Below are some methods to consider.

    ### Using Social Media

    Social media offer a powerful way to connect with your
    market. Publish consistent updates about your T-shirts, host contests,
    and respond to fans to foster a loyal community.

    ### Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

    Search Engine Optimization is key to attracting search traffic
    to your website. Implement specific search terms
    in your blog posts and ensure your website is fast.

    ### Sending Newsletters

    Building an subscriber base enables you to connect with your customers directly.

    Email weekly promotions with unique deals and
    latest products to keep customer interest.

    ## Operating Your T-Shirt Store

    Effective management of your t-shirt store is key to its profitability.
    Think about the next tips.

    ### Managing Your Products

    Controlling your inventory ensures that you always have best-selling tees ready.
    Utilize digital systems to track sales.

    ### Providing Support

    Superior customer service is crucial to maintain shoppers
    and build repeat business. Address customer inquiries promptly and
    fix disputes satisfactorily.

    ### Tracking Performance

    Consistently analyze your business analytics to gauge successes and areas for
    improvement. Use this data to make informed decisions.

    ## Conclusion

    Launching a T-shirt shop today remains a promising endeavor.
    By using the right strategies, business owners
    can create a thriving brand. Always emphasize quality and stay
    updated of industry trends. Happy selling with your t-shirt store!

    Take a look at my web site … Danuta

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *