History has again been playing one of its tricks that end in tragedy. This time the victim is the Emperor of Japan, Hirohito, unspeakably sacred to his loyal subjects. In our age any emperor would be a controversial character; Hirohito is doubly so. In fact we have been witnessing the beginning of controversy and argument concerning him. We may not see the end of it for a long time to come. The process is already well along. What it may become later we can only surmise. The stage is set, the plot unraveling, the finale may be tragic.