"Indeed, we declared war on America and Britain out of our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from our thought either to infringe upon t…"

"It is important to remember the lessons of history."

"Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not on…"

"I made efforts to swallow tears and to protect the species of the Japanese nation."

"It was not clear to me that our course was unjustified. Even now I am not sure how historians will allocate the responsibility for the war."