The Sun

The film focus on the meeting between Emperor Showa and General Douglas MacArthur after the Empire of Japan's defeat in World War II.

Having confessed himself not "being interested in the history or politics which took place, not really interested in historical events or the period" [2], Sokurov gives a personal impression of Hirohito and choose to omit all references to questions surrounding the Tokyo tribunal about the personal responsibility of the emperor as head of the Imperial General Headquarters and thus in the Japanese war crimes.

This choice reflects even in the events such as the imperial conference between the emperor and his council and the meeting between Hirohito and MacArthur where none of the words are related to imperial interpreter Katsuzô Okumura's transcript. Thus, as Okumura noted that the general praised the emperor's "august virtue" (miitsu) [3], Sokurov present a tense meeting where MacArthur clearly show his disrespect and Hirohito is confused and talking to himself.

According to The Times, the film has not been widely screened in Japan due to fears of violence from right wing extremists over its portrayal of Hirohito.