Mr. Bix talked about his book Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan, published by HarperCollins. The book describes the enigmatic emperor whose sixty-three-year reign led Japan into the modern world. Mr. Bix talked about the history of Japan before and after Hirohito ascended the throne, saying that he was trained from birth to be emperor and to have divine status. Hirohito’s image was that of a reluctant, passive monarch, but with a combination of Japanese imperial tradition and a modern scientific worldview, the young emperor gradually evolved. He aligned himself with the growing ultranationalist movement, perpetuated a cult of religious emperor worship, and resisted attempts to curb his power. Mr. Bix lived for many years in Japan. He explained how he researched the biography there and wrote it.