Seishirō Itagaki

Now that the Emperor has accepted the Potsdam Declaration, we must lay down our arms. Obeying the Emperor's order, we shall not fight. We must keep peace and order and we shall not make any trouble.

— Seishirō Itagaki

I am convinced that in times such as these, every man must be a soldier, in substance as well as in name.

— Seishirō Itagaki

The conflict between Japan and Chiang is little affected by the fall of the Wuhan cities and Sino-Japanese hostilities have just started.

— Seishirō Itagaki

It is a place rich in natural resources, having everything we need for national defense, a crucial place for the empire's self-reliance. The place is crucial too for our wars with China, Russia, and the U.S.

— Seishirō Itagaki

We hope the peace will last for twenty years. Then we will be here again.

— Seishirō Itagaki

The war will continue a long time. Chiang Kai-shek may attempt to continue hostilities throughout his ifetime and as long as Chiang continues, Japan must continue.

— Seishirō Itagaki

The Chinese courts have tried many Japanese officers for their crimes against the Chinese. These men committed thousands of crimes against Koreans. They killed and persecuted thousands of our people for refusing to help the Japanese war effort. They forced Koreans into the coal mines as slave laborers and let them die of tuberculosis and neglect.

— Seishirō Itagaki

I am convinced of the necessity to take an effective measure of self defense.

— Seishirō Itagaki