General Tojo The Razor

In the mounting theory of world conflict, events in the Pacific are taking on ever greater importance. Here is the story of the Pacific and the millions of people who live around this greatest sea. The drama of the people whose destiny is at stake in the Pacific War.

Here is another public service, the pale of the war in the Pacific, and its meaning to us and to the generations to come. General Toh-Joh, the Razor. On the 20th of October, 1941, a Japanese in the grey uniform of a Japanese general walked alone up to the great shrines of Ise, nestled among the pine-clad slopes near Kyoto.

His step was brisk. He walked grimly through the outer shrine. His mouth was a thin hard line beneath his scraglimous dash. His eyes blinted through heavy horn-rimmed glasses. He walked into the inner shrine, dedicated to the sun goddess, the ancestrous of the imperial family of Japan before one of the three sacred treasures, the mirror, in Nelt in Silence.

Humbly, that's your servant. I have received an Imperial command to form a new cabinet. Our exhausted Emperor has appointed me, Premier, and directed that I hit the nation. I come to you to report my assumption of this high office.

I am brought with trepidation at my limited ability. I pray for your gracious guidance and care." A little man remained kneeling in silence. Then he rose and for a moment stood motionless. This was General Hideki Tojo, War Minister, Home Minister, Minister of Munitions, Premier of Japan and known as the Razor because of his sharp temperament. He clapped his army hat

over his bald head and strode out. He had reported his new job to the Japanese holy of holies. Now it was time to roll up his sleeves and go to work. A modern high-powered highly polished limousine whisked him to the airport. He flew back the 250 miles to Tokyo. At Tokyo, General told Joe paid his respects at the Yasukuni Shrine and the Meiji Shrine.