Primary sourceSpeech8 December 1941
Having Received the Imperial Rescript
Hideki Tojo · 8 December 1941
Tojo's radio address to the Japanese people on 8 December 1941, explaining and justifying the declaration of war against the US and Britain.
Tojo delivered this radio address himself as Prime Minister, justifying Japan's entry into war against the US and Britain.
About this source
What it is
This is a radio speech given by Hideki Tojo, Japan's Prime Minister, on 8 December 1941, hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Imperial edict declaring war. It was broadcast to the Japanese nation.
Why it matters
The speech shows how Tojo, as head of government, presented the start of the Pacific War to his own people. He frames the war as forced on Japan by American and British pressure, and calls on citizens to sacrifice themselves for the emperor. It is a key document for understanding how wartime leaders used language to build support for war.
Look closer
- Who does Tojo blame for the war, and why might he choose to tell the story this way?
- What words does he use to describe Japan's history and mission?
- What does the speech leave out about Japan's own actions in Asia before 1941?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Hideki Tojo on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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