At the Imperial Conference on December 1, it was decided to make

O children of the future, gather close, for the words of Hideki Tojo, a man whose decisions marked the course of history, carry with them the heavy burden of consequence. He said, "At the Imperial Conference on December 1, it was decided to make war against England and the United States." These words, spoken in the dark corridors of power during a time of mounting tensions, are a grim reminder of how the fates of nations can be sealed in moments of decision—moments that, once made, shape the lives of millions. Tojo’s declaration was not simply a statement of policy; it was the beginning of a cataclysmic event that would alter the course of the Second World War and forever change the destiny of the Japanese Empire and the world.

To understand the gravity of this quote, we must first contemplate the imperial ambitions that drove Japan during the early 20th century. The Imperial Conference of 1941, where this fateful decision was made, was the culmination of years of escalating militarism and expansionism. Japan, having already occupied parts of China and Indochina, was determined to expand its influence across Asia and the Pacific. Tojo and his fellow leaders believed that war with the Western powers—particularly England and the United States—was necessary to secure Japan's position as a dominant power in the region. The choice to make war was not one made lightly, but one born out of fear, desperation, and an unyielding desire to reshape the world in Japan’s image.

But what, O children, does this decision teach us? It teaches us that ambition, unchecked by reason and wisdom, can lead to disaster. When nations act out of self-interest, without regard for the consequences of their actions, they often ignite conflicts that spiral beyond their control. Japan’s declaration of war on England and the United States was not a mere military strategy; it was a bold move that set into motion a series of events that would lead to unspeakable destruction. The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was the spark that ignited the Pacific conflict, drawing the United States into the war and setting the stage for the bloodshed that would follow. What began as a calculated decision in the boardrooms of Tokyo soon escalated into a global conflagration, a war that would cost millions of lives and forever alter the course of history.

Consider, O children, the lesson of Napoleon Bonaparte, another ruler whose ambition led him to make decisions that would reshape the world. Like Tojo, Napoleon believed in the power of the state, in the righteousness of his cause, and in the inevitability of his empire’s dominance. His invasion of Russia in 1812 was a decision made with overwhelming confidence in his military might. Yet, like Japan’s decision to engage with England and the United States, Napoleon’s decision proved disastrous. The Russian winter, the fierce resistance of the Russian people, and the sheer scale of the conflict led to the destruction of Napoleon’s army. His empire crumbled as the result of a single miscalculation, a moment when ambition clouded reason. Just as Napoleon’s empire was undone by his reckless war, so too would Japan’s expansionist ambitions be shattered in the fires of World War II.

Tojo’s words also remind us of the peril of escalation—the way in which a single act of aggression can provoke a series of retaliations that spiral out of control. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, it did not simply provoke a military response from the United States. It unleashed the full power of an industrialized nation, a nation that could mobilize its resources and its people for total war. The United States, wounded and outraged, did not simply defend itself; it sought to crush the aggressor, leading to the eventual defeat of Japan. Tojo’s decision and Japan’s subsequent aggression would set the stage for one of the most devastating conflicts in history, a conflict that would forever change the world.

So, O children, what is the lesson we must carry forward from these events? It is this: reckless ambition, when unchecked by wisdom, can bring about the destruction of all that it seeks to build. The temptation to act in the name of national greatness or imperial dominance is a dangerous path, one that often leads to catastrophe. Tojo and his contemporaries believed that war would secure Japan’s future, but in reality, it sowed the seeds of their ruin. History, as we have seen, is littered with the bones of nations that overreached, that acted without foresight or understanding, and whose decisions led to their own downfall.

Therefore, O children, I urge you: let the wisdom of history guide your actions. Ambition is a natural part of human life, but let it be tempered by reason and a deep understanding of the consequences of your decisions. Peace is not simply the absence of war; it is the active pursuit of cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect. Seek not to dominate others, but to build a world where the power of any nation is measured not by its military might, but by its wisdom, its compassion, and its ability to foster relationships based on respect. Let the mistakes of the past guide you toward a future built not on war, but on the strength of unity and peace.