Reikoku wrote:That, and Japan could serve to tie up the British Empire and Soviet Union in those regions. When it didn't declare war on the USSR, Hitler raved about how the Japanese Emperor was a weak man and could end up like the Czar. Which showed how much he actually regarded his "ally."
I mean this with no disrespect, but I've read several Hirohito biographies. In spite of being an Emperor of Japan, he does come across as a man with weak convictions and was indecisive. A lot of people could come to the opinion that he was weak. Hirohito did not break from Japan's military brass until all options were exhausted and the war situation was hopeless in 1945.
Instead of being proactive or being an assertive decision maker, he was content to spend time on Marine Biology and delegate out to other people. Hirohito does appear to have deferred to other people the majority of the time, in spite of having the power to say no and have his word be obeyed. Although, I'm sure that in Hirohito's mind- he was doing his best to behave as a proper Emperor and fulfill his role to his nation's benefit.