Hello and welcome to the History of Japan podcast.

Episode 166, The Maelstrom, Part 4. Now at last, all the pieces are in place, and it's

time for the Russo-Japanese War to get off the ground. By 1904, that was the general feeling

in the Japanese military establishment. Japan was as ready for war as it could be, and it was now left to the leadership to determine

if it was time to throw the dice.

In early February, the Meiji leadership met in an imperial conference, a formal gathering

of government ministers, which took place in the presence of the Meiji Emperor,

and whose determinations were, in essence, sanctified by the Emperor's attendance.

Despite the Emperor's role in legitimating the proceedings,

Meiji himself was not a decision-maker when it came to war.

And this gets back to the sticky issue of the emperor's role in government prior to World

War II.

He was expected to reign, but not to rule directly, because if the emperor makes a dumb

decision, nobody can really tell him no.

So instead, the emperor restricted himself to a ceremonial role, justifying the proceedings,

by asking his advisors if there was truly no hope for peace.

Meiji then read a poem lamenting the cost of war, quote,

I believe that every sea to every other is bound together as a brother,

why is it now the seas must rise to strike each other with angry cries? Every sea to every other is bound together as a brother.

Why is it now the seas must rise to strike each other with angry cries?

He asked his advisers one final time if there was no hope for peace.

Led by the sitting Prime Minister, Katsur Ataro, a protege of Yamagata Aritomo and a backer

...