Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 3:39 pm
I was stationed on the USS Midway when both Emperor Hirohito and Osamu Tezuka died within a week of each other. It was quite an experiance how the Japanese reacted.
Hirohito of course was old and had seen much in such a long life span. Since his death was expected and had been for about a year you didn't see much emotion from the population, well except for the "national rightist" groups. Otherwise it was another normal day in Tokyo.
On February 9th though...it was as if someone had just assassinated a President. That morning I went to the Hotel Yamato because the Yen rate there was better than the base's. People in the lobby were watching the television and they were openly weeping. When I saw Astro Boy on the screen, you knew Tezuka was gone, of course he had cancer for some time which no one knew about. It was said he was working right up to the time he passed away.
Unexpected shock all over the place, schools closed at noon, shops were putting up Tezuka character art, newspapers covered their afternoon editions wih Astro Boy pictures. Tezuka Cartoons ran on NHK for a week with specials about his life.
The Funeral itself was huge, far more than Hirohito's state funeral. What a surprise that such a common and good natured man could receive a more grand display of affection than an Emperor.
And why not? Tezuka certainly merited national affection more than Hirohito.
Hirohito of course was old and had seen much in such a long life span. Since his death was expected and had been for about a year you didn't see much emotion from the population, well except for the "national rightist" groups. Otherwise it was another normal day in Tokyo.
On February 9th though...it was as if someone had just assassinated a President. That morning I went to the Hotel Yamato because the Yen rate there was better than the base's. People in the lobby were watching the television and they were openly weeping. When I saw Astro Boy on the screen, you knew Tezuka was gone, of course he had cancer for some time which no one knew about. It was said he was working right up to the time he passed away.
Unexpected shock all over the place, schools closed at noon, shops were putting up Tezuka character art, newspapers covered their afternoon editions wih Astro Boy pictures. Tezuka Cartoons ran on NHK for a week with specials about his life.
The Funeral itself was huge, far more than Hirohito's state funeral. What a surprise that such a common and good natured man could receive a more grand display of affection than an Emperor.
And why not? Tezuka certainly merited national affection more than Hirohito.