Signing ceremony for Japan's surrender on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay Collection of the National Archives and Records Administration From "Haiboku wo Dakishimete Vol.1"

ASHIDA Hitoshi From "Gaho Kindai 100 nenshi.18"

This is the manuscript of the prospectus of the questions submitted by ASHIDA Hitoshi to the 88th Extraordinary Session of the Imperial Diet on 4 and 5 September 1945 (Showa 20), the first time the Assembly met after Japan's defeat in the war. In it, ASHIDA sharply takes the Government to task to pinpoint blame for the war. He lays out the causes of Japan's defeat, outlining the chain of events leading to the country's isolation, the inadequacy of preparatons for war, as well as wartime leadership, and the preparations made of the total mobilization system (i.e., increased production and the mobilization of human resources). At that time, the Diet was still controlled by Great Japan Political Association ("Dai-Nippon Seijikai"), so questions from the floor were prohibited and could only be submitted in writing.

The Government's response to ASHIDA's written questions came the following day, but contained only lame, superficial comments, such as "There were many regrettable points in the organization and policies adopted in the war's execution," and "The Government looks upon the past experience as a lesson for the future, and will do its utmost to reflect that lesson in the execution of policies henceforth."

Upon receipt of the Government's response to his questions, ASHIDA writes, "The response lacks any sincerity whatsoever," and "It staggers me ... I don't even know what to say." He also alludes to the absurdity of the Government's urging the Japanese people to rebuild the country while obfuscating the issue of how the war started and who was to blame. In reference to his own war responsibility, he said, "It's not that I don't feel any personal blame," adding in his reflections, "Honestly speaking, there wasn't anything more that I could do at that time."