(JA-18) Hirohito Funeral

The State Funeral for Emperor Hirohito of Japan. Although His Majesty Emperor Hirohito made considerable efforts to modernize and adopt western ways for his country, his state funeral shows something of another side to the man. It is very obvious the Emperor longed to be buried in the manor and style to which he was born, raised and ruled Japan. It is also very evident, that his subjects wished to honor and show their last respects to their deity in a way to which they knew him and honor him in his last rights. It is very evident that the tradition and their historic culture was also being buried with the divinity of their emperor. It is absolutely necessary for us to look upon this event with great respect and esteem for their monarch who was so highly revered. This was possibly the last time the Japanese people would be able to show their admiration and reverence for a divine being in the form of their Emperor. Future Japanese monarchs would be looked upon in a much more moderate and fearless manner. What the barers are carrying is the Emperor's coffin.