The content of this article comes from the Internet, if it is inconsistent with the actual situation or there is infringement, please contact to delete. This article is only published in today's headlines, please do not move.
On August 15, 1945, Japan's war machine fell into despair, and Emperor Hirohito faced a difficult choice - unconditional surrender. This decision not only ended Japan's aggression and expansion, but also opened the unique era of American five-star general Douglas MacArthur's rule in Japan. However, behind this history lies a little-known story, that is, the legend about the "Showa goddess" Setsuko Hara.
Douglas MacArthur, a man born into a military family, was greatly influenced by the military of his family from an early age. His father, a lieutenant general in the U.S. Army who served as governor of the Philippines, laid an extraordinary foundation for his son. The young MacArthur always had a dream of joining the army, and after being admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, his military talent quickly appeared, his grades were among the best, and he graduated with the highest score that no one could break. Over the course of his career, he rose through the ranks to become a superstar in the U.S. military, serving as a military adjutant to the president and growing in power and prestige.
MacArthur's highest honor, however, was achieved in World War II. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the U.S. Far East Army, leading U.S. forces in the Pacific Theater against Japanese forces. Despite initial difficulties, under MacArthur's leadership, the U.S. military gradually rose to prominence and dealt heavy damage to the Japanese Navy. With the intervention of the United States, the fall of the Axis powers became inevitable, and in 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender, MacArthur accepted Japan's surrender on behalf of the Allies, became the supreme commander of the Allied forces in Japan, led hundreds of thousands of American troops to occupy Japan, and completed the post-war reconstruction work.
However, Japan's Emperor Hirohito faced an unprecedented dilemma. He knew that he bore great responsibility in Japan's aggression and feared punishment. In order to please the "Emperor Taishang", he decided to offer a precious gift - the young and beautiful woman Hara Setsuko, known as the "Goddess of Showa".
When MacArthur came to Japan, he did not rush to see Emperor Hirohito, but first devoted himself to other work, deliberately ignoring it. This was part of the strategy, and he knew that the Japanese, influenced by militarism and highly worshiped the emperor, had to give Hirohito a disgrace in order to conquer the entire country. Hirohito took the initiative to visit MacArthur a few days later, and the first meeting between the two was not friendly, MacArthur behaved casually, while Hirohito continued to curry favor without the emperor's shelf. MacArthur's first impression of Hirohito was: "Hirohito was better than I thought, and I felt like he was like my son." ”
From that moment on, Hirohito regarded MacArthur as "Emperor Taishang", everything in Japan was decided by MacArthur, and the people regarded him as "God". MacArthur became the de facto ruler of Japan, however, it was all part of the strategy.
MacArthur knew he wasn't greedy for power and wealth, but he had one weakness—his fascination with beautiful women. Setsuko Hara, known as the "Goddess of Showa", was a superstar in Japan at that time, not only beautiful but also loved by the Japanese people. Hirohito knew this, so he began to search for women willing to die for the country nationwide, and after selection, he finally chose Setsuko Hara.
Setsuko Hara quickly began to act, frequent frequent social occasions, attracting MacArthur's attention. Although MacArthur was in his sixties at the time, he could not resist the temptation of Setsuko Hara. The two met at a ball, MacArthur was deeply attracted to her, the two began to date frequently, and Setsuko Hara often accompanied MacArthur. All this was carefully planned by Hirohito to protect his own rights and interests.
During this time, MacArthur enjoyed unparalleled happiness. He became the ruler of Japan, and the people admired him, and Setsuko Hara became his companion. However, this happiness did not last long.
With the outbreak of the Korean War, MacArthur became commander-in-chief of the United Nations Forces, but he disagreed with the military philosophy of US President Harry S. Truman. Eventually, he was removed for "failing to fully support U.S. and U.N. policies." Before returning home, he left Japan, seen off by tens of thousands of Japanese, who called him "a kind father" in Japanese newspapers.
However, Setsuko Hara did not leave with him. She continued her film career, but eventually faded from public view. She never married until her death at the age of 95. To the Japanese, she was a hero and contributed greatly to Japan's post-war reconstruction, but in the eyes of the Allies, she was a criminal because she escaped punishment for many Japanese war criminals and also helped preserve Japan's emperor system.
The above content and materials are derived from the Internet, and the author of this article does not intend to target or allude to any real country, political system, organization, race, individual. The above does not mean that the author of this article endorses the laws, rules, opinions, behaviors in the article and is responsible for the authenticity of the relevant information. The author of this article is not responsible for any issues arising above or related to any of the above, nor does it assume any direct or indirect legal liability.