Meiro Koizumi

The name "Sunday at Hirohito's" is taken from the series of photos taken in December 1945 and published by the American Life Magazine in February 1946 called, "Sunday at Hirohito's- Emperor poses for first informal pictures". It was the first time the Japanese public saw him in daily settings. American's purpose was to provide an image of the emperor as an ordinary person instead of a divine figure. In 1946, on January 1st, as part of a New year's statement, he made the Humanity Declaration (Renunciation of Divinity) under American's request. Meiro Koizumi painted anatomical images over his figure to push the concept further. In this new series in which Koizumi is again dealing with Hirohito he added a personal reflection on this work engraved on the glass of the frame. The following text is to be read: "A few years ago, my father, a devout Christian, who is now 76, saw one of my collgaes featuring the Emperor Hirohito at my studio. In this collage work, I draw anatomical drawings over the Emperor’s body, the moment he saw the work, his face froze and he fell silent. A few days later he called me on the phone, and confessed that the moment he saw the drawing, he felt hurt. He didn’t understand why he felt hurt, buyt he felt something important within him was dishonoured. All his life, he has rejected the Emperor. All his life he has believed in Jesus Christ. All his life, he has believed Jesus Christ was the only God. Yet at the age of 76, he found the Emperor within himself…"