For the sixth time in a twelvemonth, Japanese were perturbed, last week, at the recurrence of an awful but now chronic scandal: personal appeal by a mere subject to the Divine Emperor.
Since His Majesty is the 124th lineal descendant of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu-0-Mikami, such appeals are regarded as a deadly sacrilege and sin. Nonetheless last week, when Emperor Hirohito rode out to open Parliament, a burly farmer from Saitama Province burst through the cordon of Imperial police and groveled sinfully before the Son of Heaven.
"The floods!" cried the farmer. "Save us from the waters, Divine One! The floods are...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
