Q 01/05

Emperor Hirohito kept a laboratory in the Tokyo Imperial Palace to publish papers in which science?

A) Organic chemistry

B) Marine biology

C) Astronomy

D) Meteorology

Answer · why

B) Marine biology

Marine biology was his lifelong passion: he described several dozen species of hydrozoans, small relatives of jellyfish, that were new to science.

Q 02/05

During a 1975 tour of the United States, Emperor Hirohito posed with the mascot of which California attraction?

A) Disneyland

B) Universal Studios

C) Knott's Berry Farm

D) SeaWorld San Diego

Answer · why

A) Disneyland

Disneyland produced a smiling newspaper photo of the emperor beside Mickey Mouse, a striking image for a ruler who had once been at war with the Unite...

Q 03/05

What did most Japanese experience for the first time when Emperor Hirohito announced surrender in August 1945?

A) His photograph

B) His handwriting

C) His voice

D) His given name

Answer · why

C) His voice

His voice had never been heard by ordinary subjects. The noon announcement was played from a phonograph record, in court language so formal that many ...

Q 04/05

On New Year's Day 1946, Emperor Hirohito issued a statement denying that the emperor possessed which attribute?

A) Absolute power

B) Great wealth

C) Military command

D) Divinity

Answer · why

D) Divinity

Divinity was the idea he set aside in what became known as the Humanity Declaration, saying his bond with the people rested on trust and affection rat...

Q 05/05

Which American general's photograph beside the much shorter Emperor Hirohito stunned the Japanese public?

A) Dwight D. Eisenhower

B) Douglas MacArthur

C) George Marshall

D) Omar Bradley

Answer · why

B) Douglas MacArthur

Douglas MacArthur's staff released the picture of the pair's first meeting, and the sight of the emperor overshadowed by a far taller foreigner underm...