Emperor Hirohito memoir bought by Japanese doctor
NEW YORK — A Japanese plastic surgeon known for his extreme political views has purchased at auction for $275,000 a memoir by Japanese Emperor Hirohito offering his recollections of World War II.
The 173-page document was sold Wednesday at Bonhams auction house in Manhattan for nearly double its expected top price.
“It should have been in Japan, but it ended up overseas,” Dr. Katsuya Takasu told The Associated Press in Tokyo. “So it feels like it’s finally coming back.”
Takasu said he wants to give the memoir to the only grandson of current Emperor Akihito, but said there is a limit of 150,000 yen (about $1,300) on gifts to the imperial family. He has no plans to show the work to the public or the media, and said he’s trying to figure out a way to get it to Akihito’s grandson.