Documents with Commentaries Part 1 Military Defeat and Efforts to Reform the Constitution

1-7 Imperial Rescript of the Termination of the War, August 14, 1945

 This document expressed to the people of Japan the will of the Emperor, based on the Imperial prerogative, regarding acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. It was issued on August 14, 1945, officially pronouncing the termination of the war. On that very day, the Emperor recorded this rescript and it was broadcast on the radio to all the people of Japan at noon of the following day, August 15.

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• Outline
  1. Outline Part 1 Military Defeat and Efforts to Reform the Constitution
  2. Outline Part 2 Creation of Various Proposals to Reform the Constitution
  3. Outline Part 3 Formulation of the GHQ Draft and Response of the Japanese Government
  4. Outline Part 4 Deliberations in the Imperial Diet
  5. Outline Part 5 Enactment of the Constitution of Japan
• Documents with Commentaries
  1. Documents with Commentaries Part 1 Military Defeat and Efforts to Reform the Constitution
  2. Documents with Commentaries Part 2 Creation of Various Proposals to Reform the Constitution
  3. Documents with Commentaries Part 3 Formulation of the GHQ Draft and Response of the Japanese Government
  4. Documents with Commentaries Part 4 Deliberations in the Imperial Diet
  5. Documents with Commentaries Part 5 Enactment of the Constitution of Japan
• Main Issues
  1. Popular Sovereignty and the Emperor System
  2. Renunciation of War
  3. Guarantees for Fundamental Human Rights
  4. A New Bicameral System
  5. Judicial Review of Constitutionality
  6. Local Self-Government
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