Kenji Hatanaka was the principal army officer behind Japan’s 1945 attempt to prevent the surrender broadcast.
Hatanaka, a major in the Imperial Japanese Army, helped organize the Kyūjō Incident during the night before Emperor Hirohito’s surrender announcement. He and fellow officers opposed the decision to accept the Potsdam Declaration and attempted to keep the war going.
The conspirators sought control of the Imperial Palace, hoping to find and destroy the recording of Hirohito’s rescript. They also tried to influence military commanders and take over NHK, Japan’s national broadcaster. The plot lacked sufficient senior support, and the recording was hidden and moved safely to the station.
Hatanaka’s attempt failed when commanders ordered the rebels to stand down. He later tried to distribute a message urging resistance and sought permission to speak on radio, but neither effort succeeded. On the morning of 15 August, shortly before the broadcast, Hatanaka shot himself near the Imperial Palace. His actions became the defining episode of the failed coup.