The+Impact+on+Hirohito+The+changing+role+of+the+Emperor

The Impact on Hirohito and his changing role:

In 1947, MacArthur and his advisors drew up a new constitution for Japan. The position of the Emperor was retained, but much to the dismay of the JApanese, he was no longer a deity and was instead a constitutional monarch. Hirohito had prepared the way for this major change in a decree issued on New Years Day in 1946 when he said that it was untrue that 'the Emperor is divine and that the Japanese people are superior to other races and fated to the rule of the world'. MacArthur kept his artifical position as he argued that the Emperor was necessary for the occupation of Japan by the Allies to work smoothly. He said that keeping the Emperor would ensure the obedience of the Japanese people.