Kenji Hatanaka
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese soldier, who was one one of the chief conspirators in the plot to seize the Imperial Palace
and to prevent the broadcast of Emperor Hirohito's
surrender speech
.
at the end of World War II
. As one of the leaders of a group of Japanese officers determined to prevent the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration
and therefore the surrender of Japan, Hatanaka attempted a coup d'état
on 14 - 15 August 1945. Failing to obtain the support of the War Minister
, General Korechika Anami, Hatanaka organised a number of other officers and was able to occupy the Imperial Palace
and Imperial Household Ministry.
Still needing high level support for his cause, he tried to enlist General Takeshi Mori
, commander of the Konoye Division. Mori was non-commital, and frustrated, Hatanaka shot and killed him. Hatanaka and his men then spent several hours searching for the recording that had been made of the Emperor's speech announcing the surrender of Japan, and which was meant for public broadcast. Having failed to locate the recordings, he went and occupied the NHK Building in an attempt to prevent the public broadcast. However, still without high level support and the recordings, Hatanaka abandoned his coup after receiving direct orders to do so from Eastern District Army Headquarters.
Following the failure of the coup, Hatanaka traveled to the plaza fronting the Imperial Palace. Along with his fellow conspirator, Lieutenant Colonel Jiro Shiizaki
, he shot himself. In Hatanaka's pocket was found his death poem: "I have nothing to regret now that the dark clouds have disappeared from the reign of the Emperor."
Kokyo
is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo close to Tokyo Station and contains several buildings including the main palace , the emperor left Kyoto Imperial Palace for Tokyo...
and to prevent the broadcast of Emperor Hirohito's
Hirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
surrender speech
Gyokuon-hoso
The , lit. "Jewel Voice Broadcast", was the radio broadcast in which Japanese emperor Hirohito read out the , announcing to the Japanese people that the Japanese Government had accepted the Potsdam Declaration demanding the unconditional surrender of the Japanese military at the end of World War II...
.
Military Career
Hatanaka served in the Military Affairs Section of the Japanese Ministry of WarMinistry of War of Japan
The , more popularly known as the Ministry of War of Japan, was cabinet-level ministry in the Empire of Japan charged with the administrative affairs of the Imperial Japanese Army...
at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As one of the leaders of a group of Japanese officers determined to prevent the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration
Potsdam Declaration
The Potsdam Declaration or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender is a statement calling for the Surrender of Japan in World War II. On July 26, 1945, United States President Harry S...
and therefore the surrender of Japan, Hatanaka attempted a coup d'état
Kyujo Incident
The ' was an attempted military coup d'état in Japan at the end of the Second World War. It happened on the night of 14 August 1945 – 15 August 1945, just prior to announcement of Japan's surrender to the Allies...
on 14 - 15 August 1945. Failing to obtain the support of the War Minister
Ministry of War of Japan
The , more popularly known as the Ministry of War of Japan, was cabinet-level ministry in the Empire of Japan charged with the administrative affairs of the Imperial Japanese Army...
, General Korechika Anami, Hatanaka organised a number of other officers and was able to occupy the Imperial Palace
Kokyo
is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo close to Tokyo Station and contains several buildings including the main palace , the emperor left Kyoto Imperial Palace for Tokyo...
and Imperial Household Ministry.
Still needing high level support for his cause, he tried to enlist General Takeshi Mori
Takeshi Mori
Takeshi Mori may refer to:*Takeshi Mori , commander of the Japanese Empire's First Imperial Guards Division, at the end of World War II*Takeshi Mori , anime director, storyboard artist, and script writer...
, commander of the Konoye Division. Mori was non-commital, and frustrated, Hatanaka shot and killed him. Hatanaka and his men then spent several hours searching for the recording that had been made of the Emperor's speech announcing the surrender of Japan, and which was meant for public broadcast. Having failed to locate the recordings, he went and occupied the NHK Building in an attempt to prevent the public broadcast. However, still without high level support and the recordings, Hatanaka abandoned his coup after receiving direct orders to do so from Eastern District Army Headquarters.
Following the failure of the coup, Hatanaka traveled to the plaza fronting the Imperial Palace. Along with his fellow conspirator, Lieutenant Colonel Jiro Shiizaki
Jiro Shiizaki
Jirō Shiizaki was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. He served as a member of the staff of the domestic affairs section of the Military Affairs Bureau's War Affairs Section...
, he shot himself. In Hatanaka's pocket was found his death poem: "I have nothing to regret now that the dark clouds have disappeared from the reign of the Emperor."