信：只有通过美国的吞并，日本才有希望

 信：只有通过美国的吞并，日本才有希望

1946年2月15日

尊敬的麦克阿瑟将军

由其秘书转交

亲爱的先生

尊敬的将军，我最钦佩的将军，请原谅我这个地位低下的人突然直接给您这位世界英雄写信。

在寄出这封信之前，我犹豫了很久，不知道给您写信是否合适，但我还是忍不住了，尽管我很无礼，但我还是决定寄出这封信。

我向您道歉，请您原谅。

1924 年，我从早稻田大学专门学校政治经济学部毕业后，花了三年时间经营家里的酒坊。

由于经济不景气，我们被迫关闭，我在家乡担任了十多年的工业合作社社长。

在此期间，我还担任了京都府信用合作社联合会的理事。

1938 年，我辞去了所有的名誉职务，来到东京一家公司工作，直到去年因日本大轰炸而撤离到滋贺县。

从那时起，我就一直从事旧四日市机场的填海工作。

我之前没有提到，京都府是我的合法居住地。

错误的军事集团将我们无辜的人民带入战争，给贵国造成了巨大的困难。

无论多么真诚的道歉都无法抹去这一点。

日本人民也因此遭受了难以形容的苦难。

目前，许多人居无定所，食不果腹，生活费用飞涨，许多人徘徊在死亡的边缘。

这是因为人民愚昧，因为他们没有勇敢地反抗军国主义者，所以他们必须自食其果，但人民的境况真的很可怜。

自从您进入日本以来，日本的面貌一直在改变。

您的领导真是神一般的存在。

您的远见卓识渗透到日本社会的每一个角落，您的每一个指示都非常准确。

您的指导是人道主义的，您的指示是日本政客永远无法比拟的好政府，我们对此深表感激。

令人尴尬的是，日本人民已经姗姗来迟地认识到，在所有问题上，我们都比不上贵国。

现在，通过占领军，日本人民第一次了解到贵国是多么的优秀，我们对向贵国这样一个伟大的国家挑起一场鲁莽的战争深表遗憾。

随着我们对贵国的尊敬与日俱增，我们深信贵国是日本未来唯一可以托付的国家。

日本人对您的崇高敬意不同于他们对天皇形式上的尊敬，而是真正发自内心的钦佩，是一种虔诚的敬意。

这种敬意越来越深，随之而来的感觉是，只有贵国才能将日本从穷困潦倒中拯救出来，只有贵国才能帮助这个悲惨的日本像以前一样重新繁荣起来。

日本人民对贵国的信任使我们将日本的方方面面托付给贵国，并依赖贵国的领导。

对贵国的信任与日俱增，我现在相信，除了将一切托付给贵国并依靠贵国的同情之外，别无他法。

至于天皇制的未来，这是第二或第三要务。

我认为这并不重要。

我只希望重建能够尽快进行，我们的生活能够稳定下来。

怎样才能让日本起死回生，给日本人民带来幸福呢？

我曾与周围的人讨论过这个问题。

他们都认为，如果可能的话，如果困难条件允许的话，日本的一切都应该托付给贵国，我们应该依靠贵国明智的精神指导。

换句话说，大家都热切地希望和渴望，如果日本和美国能够合并，拯救这个濒临灭绝的日本，那么大家都会认为日本人民会非常幸福。

这是一个诚实的事实。

即使他们没有说出来，但毫无疑问，所有日本人都从心底里相信，除了通过日美联合，并在所有事务上依靠贵国的指导和仁慈，日本没有办法恢复繁荣。

这是事实。

我坚信，只有贵国吞并日本，日本才能得救。

难道我的想法错了吗？

事实上，当今许多日本人都开始有同样的想法....。

我担心我向你们提交这样一封信可能会遭到你们的愤怒，但我写这封信无意背叛我的国家。

我是真心实意地为国家着想，而且无论我如何深思熟虑，我相信除了贵国同意吞并日本来拯救日本之外，别无他法。

有一种说法认为，日本的情况类似于欧洲的巴尔干半岛。

日本确实就像欧洲的巴尔干半岛。

与贵国团结一致，听从命令，不仅可以拯救日本，我相信这样做还可以维护世界和平。

如果我的想法不幸有误，请认为我是个愚蠢的人并原谅我。

但是，我相信我所写的。

不仅是我，很多日本人都有这样的想法，而且这样想的人还在与日俱增。

这是日本无法回避的命运。

事后看来，本应在明治维新（1868 年）时发生的事情只是被推迟到了现在。

阁下！请可怜可怜日本吧。

不，您已经原谅了日本的罪行，您是仁慈的。

阁下！我请求您从根本上拯救日本。

不，无需恳求，您已经打算从根本上帮助日本了。

您的善意从您每天发布的指令中可见一斑。

迄今为止，我们日本人民一直将贵国视为我们的敌人，对于我们今天所接受的充满同情的指导，我们无法用言语表达我们的感激之情。

之所以能做到这一点，完全是因为贵国具有非凡的宽宏大量的民族性格。

虽然这么说很不好意思，但我想知道，如果战争的结果发生逆转，日本会表现出什么样的态度。

这个想法让我不寒而栗。

日本人真是野蛮人。

我们必须悔过自新。

目前，我生活在我从满目疮痍的东京撤出的那个国家，一贫如洗，衣食无着，只能勉强度日。

我感到遗憾的是，我无能为力，但如果我有能力，我将把自己锻造成一名国会议员，通过畅所欲言来唤起民众的舆论。

所有日本人都有我在这里所描述的感受，但他们太害怕了，不敢表达自己。

如今，当我遇到人们时，我会与他们讨论如何让日本从废墟中崛起。

他们都同意我的美日统一计划。

我惊讶地发现，在我与他们交谈之前，人们就已经有了这种看法。

我不能做任何事情，因为我没有任何资源，但如果我有办法，我会勇敢地走出去，即使面对死亡，也要帮助日本，给人民带来和平，但可惜我无能为力。

不过，即使我不发起这样的运动，美日统一的思想也会在适当的时候自然而然地在人民中间传播开来。

我深表歉意，因为我的这封长信占用了您百忙之中的大量时间。

请原谅我的失言。

我真诚地道歉。

最后，请允许我说，日本人民是幸运的。

他们能在像您这样伟大的人民的领导下生活，是无比幸运的。

日本人民受到了态度良好的占领军的启迪。

我怀疑，如果换成另一个民族而不是贵国，日本人民是否会如此幸运。

我们日本人从未想到，尽管日本罪孽深重，但我们还是得救了。

尊敬的先生，我请求您继续指导和帮助日本。

只有在贵国人民的帮助下，日本人民才能找到幸福和繁荣。

我将继续谦卑地呼吁美国和日本的统一。

最后，我向占领军全体成员致以由衷的敬意和感谢。

深表敬意、

八木章三郎

February 15 [1946]

The Honorable General MacArthur

c/o His Secretary

Dear Sir: 

Honorable general, whom I most admire, please forgive me, a person of low status, for directly and suddenly writing a letter to you, the hero of the world.

 Before sending this letter, I debated for a long time whether or not it was proper for me to send a letter to you, but I could not help myself, and despite my rudeness, I decided to send it.

 I apologize and ask you to please forgive me.

In 1924, after graduating from the political science and economics department of Waseda University's professional college, I spent three years running my family's sake brewery.

 Because the depressed economic conditions, we were forced to close, and I served as the head of an industrial cooperative in my hometown for more than ten years.

 During this time I also served on the board of the Kyoto Prefecture Credit Union Federation.

 In 1938 I resigned all of my honorary positions and moved to Tokyo to work for a company, until last year when I evacuated to Shiga Prefecture because of the bombing.

 Since then I have been working on the reclamation of the old Yokkaichi airfield.

 I failed to mention earlier that Kyoto Prefecture is my legal residence.

The misguided military cliques led our innocent people into war and caused great difficulties for your country.

 No apology, no matter how sincere, can erase this.

 Also as a result, the Japanese people are experiencing indescribable suffering.

 At present, many have no place to live, there is not enough food to eat, and with the soaring cost of living, many are hovering at the edge of death.

 This is because the people were stupid and because they did not bravely resist the militarists, so they must reap what they have sown, but the people are in a truly pitiful state.

Ever since you entered Japan, the face of the country has been changing.

 Your leadership is truly godlike.

 Your vision penetrates every corner of Japanese society, and every one of your directives is superbly on target.

 We are all deeply grateful that your guidance is humanitarian, and that your directives are good government that Japanese politicians will never match.

 Embarrassingly, the Japanese people have belatedly come to understand that, in all matters, we are no match for your country.

 Now for the first time, through the occupation forces, the people of Japan have come to know how fine your country is, and we deeply regret provoking a reckless war against a country as great as yours.

 As our respect for your country increases steadily, we are convinced that yours is the only country to which Japan's future can be entrusted.

 The high esteem the Japanese have for you is unlike the formal respect they have for the emperor;

 it is admiration that truly comes from the heart, a devoted respect.

 This respect is growing deeper and deeper, and with it the feeling that only your country can rescue Japan from its destitution, only your country can help this miserable Japan prosper again as it once did.

 The Japanese people's confidence in your country leads us to entrust every aspect of Japan to your country and to depend upon your leadership.

 Trust in your country deepens by the day, and I now believe that there is no other way to reconstruction except to entrust everything to your country and to depend upon your sympathy.

As to the future of the emperor system, this is second or third in priority.

 I don't think it matters.

 I only hope that reconstruction can take place quickly and that our livelihood can be stabilized.

 What should be done to bring Japan back from the dead and bring the Japanese people happiness?

I have discussed this with people around me.

 They all feel that if possible and if difficult conditions allow, everything about Japan should be entrusted to your country, and we should rely on your country's wise, spiritual guidance.

 In other words, there is a fervent wish and desire that if it were possible for Japan and the United States to merge to save this drowning Japan, then everyone agrees the Japanese people would be exceedingly happy.

 This is an honest fact.

 Even if they do not say it in so many words, there is no doubt that all of the Japanese people believe in the bottom of their hearts that there is no way for Japan to return to prosperity except through United States-Japan union and reliance upon your country's guidance and mercy in all matters.

 This is true.

 I firmly believe that Japan can be saved only through annexation by your country.

 Am I mistaken in my thinking?

 The fact is that many present-day Japanese are beginning to think the same way....

I fear that I may face your anger for presenting this kind of letter to you, but I harbor no intention of betraying my country in writing it.

 I am sincerely concerned for the country, and no matter how often I think it through, I believe there is no way to save Japan other than to have your country save Japan by agreeing to annex it.

 There is a theory that Japan's situation is similar to that of the Balkan Peninsula in Europe.

 Japan is truly like the Balkans of Europe.

 Not only will Japan be saved by uniting with your country and doing as it is ordered, but I believe that by doing so peace in the world will be maintained.

 If my thinking is unfortunately mistaken, please consider me a stupid person and forgive me.

However, I believe what I have written.

 Not only I, but many other Japanese are thinking like this, and the number who think this way is growing daily.

 This is a destiny Japan cannot avoid.

 In hindsight, what should have happened at the time of the Meiji Restoration [1868] has only been delayed until now.

Your Excellency! Please take pity on Japan.

 No, you have already forgiven Japan's crimes and are being merciful.

 Your Excellency! I beg you to save piti ful Japan from the roots up.

 No, there is no need to beseech you, you already intend to help Japan from the roots.

 Your goodwill is evident in the directives you issue every day.

 We Japanese people, who battled your country as our en emy until now, can find no words to express our gratitude for the compas-> sionate guidance we are receiving today.

 This is only possible because of the extraordinary generosity that is your national character.

 It is embarrassing to say so, but I wonder what attitude Japan would have shown if the outcome of the war had been reversed.

 The thought makes me shudder.

 The Japanese are truly barbarians.

 We must repent and reform ourselves.

At present, I am living in the country where I evacuated from the devastation of Tokyo, impoverished, without means or clothing, just managing to stay alive day by day.

 I regret that there is nothing I can do, but if I had the power, I would forge myself into a member of the Diet and arouse public opinion by speaking my mind freely.

 All Japanese feel as I have described here, but they are too frightened to express themselves.

 Nowadays when I meet people, I discuss with them how to get Japan to rise from the ashes.

 They all agree with my plan for United States-Japan unification.

 I have been amazed to find that people have this opinion even before I talk with them.

 I cannot do any thing because I do not have any resources, but if I had the means, I would bravely go forth, even in the face of death, to help Japan and bring the people peace, but alas, there is nothing I can do.

 However, even if I do not start such a movement, the idea of United States-Japan unification will likely spread naturally among the people in due time.

I apologize deeply for taking so much of your busy time with my long letter.

 Please forgive me for speaking out of place.

 I apologize earnestly.

Finally, let me say that the Japanese people are fortunate.

 They have been blessed beyond measure to be under the direction of a great people such as yours.

 The Japanese people have been enlightened by the well-mannered occupation forces.

 I doubt the Japanese people would have been as fortunate at the hands of another people instead of your country.

 We Japanese never imagined that, as guilty as Japan was, we would be saved.

Honorable sir, I beg of you, please continue to guide and help Japan.

 Only with the help of your people will the Japanese people find happiness and prosperity.

 I will continue to humbly appeal for unification of the United States and Japan.

In closing, I offer my heartfelt respect and gratitude to all of the members of the occupation forces.

With deep respect,

Yagi Chōsaburo