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Despite his lack of enthusiasm over the decision to go to war, he was pleased with the early Japanese military and naval successes that followed and the Emperor frequently appeared in public, dressed in military uniform in order to raise morale.  

Despite his lack of enthusiasm over the decision to go to war, he was pleased with the early Japanese military and naval successes that followed and the Emperor frequently appeared in public, dressed in military uniform in order to raise morale.  

However, When the promised quick victory over the Allies did not take place and the war machine suffered its first reversals, with the [[Battle of Midway]] and the US invasion of [[Guadalcanal]] and [[Tulagi]], Emperor Shōwa became critical of the political leaders, which eventually led to the removal of Tōjō from office on 18 July 1944. After the loss of [[Okinawa]], Emperor Shōwa called on his ministers to seek a negotiated end to the conflict. However, his government refused, claiming that Japan and Germany could still win the war.

However, when the promised quick victory over the Allies did not take place and the war machine suffered its first reversals, with the [[Battle of Midway]] and the US invasion of [[Guadalcanal]] and [[Tulagi]], Emperor Shōwa became critical of the political leaders, which eventually led to the removal of Tōjō from office on 18 July 1944. After the loss of [[Okinawa]], Emperor Shōwa called on his ministers to seek a negotiated end to the conflict. However, his government refused, claiming that Japan and Germany could still win the war.

By spring 1945, however, Japan's defeat appeared imminent and the Japanese government had become deeply divided between military leaders who favoured continuing the war and civilians who wanted to negotiate for peace. Emperor Shōwa himself favoured peace. Yet it was not until after the [[atom bomb]] attacks on [[Hiroshima]] and [[Nagasaki]], that Emperor Shōwa insisted that Japan surrender.

By spring 1945, however, Japan's defeat appeared imminent and the Japanese government had become deeply divided between military leaders who favoured continuing the war and civilians who wanted to negotiate for peace. Emperor Shōwa himself favoured peace. Yet it was not until after the [[atom bomb]] attacks on [[Hiroshima]] and [[Nagasaki]], that Emperor Shōwa insisted that Japan surrender.