If the author is expecting the center of the Japanese cult of emperor worship, a literal living god to his subjects, to admit wrongdoing or fallibility, particu

If the author is expecting the center of the Japanese cult of emperor worship, a literal living god to his subjects, to admit wrongdoing or fallibility, particularly when his only control over the situation is entirely rooted in the fact he was considered a living god and even then barely avoided a military coup attempt the night before in spite of even that, then, yes, he does not understand the historical context. Of course Hirohito lied through his teeth; he had to.