The President and the Emperor

To accompany production of our epic new landmark drama about the decision to drop the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, Sadao Ueda chats to Ashley Byrne about playing Emperor Hirohito. Sadao grew up in Japan and here he talks about what he was taught about the devastating events at school in the 1970s. He also reflects on taking on a part he's really wanted to play all his acting career. 
Sadao Ueda is in conversation with Ashley Byrne.
A Made in Manchester Production   
The President and The Emperor  brings to life the story behind one of the most consequential decisions in modern history, the dropping of the atomic bomb eighty years ago.
Told in seven parts and produced by indie company Made in Manchester, the series draws on newly declassified US and Japanese documents, along with first-hand testimony, to present a dual-perspective account of the final days of the Second World War.
At the heart of the drama are two isolated but powerful figures, President Harry S. Truman and Emperor Hirohito. They navigate moral and political dilemmas as the world teeters on the brink of nuclear devastation.
In a unique casting move, Truman is portrayed by his real-life grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, adding an intimate connection to a role few could approach with such personal insight.
He stars alongside acclaimed Japanese actor Sadao Ueda, who plays Hirohito with quiet intensity and emotional nuance.
“This drama is not about who was right or wrong in the war,” Ueda says. “It presents historical facts dramatically from two different points of view. I hope the listener will reflect on what global conflict might mean if it ever happened again.”
Samuel Barnett plays Robert Oppenheimer
The President and the Emperor is written by Guy Smith, directed by Jonathan Kydd and produced by Ashley Byrne. The Executive Producer is Kurt Brookes.
Guy Smith says: ''I wanted to find out what really took place behind the scenes in Washington and Tokyo in the weeks leading up to the most momentous - and controversial - decision in the history of modern warfare; the order to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.
And, just as importantly, I wanted to find out if that world changing event could have been avoided.  Was it inevitable?  Or could the conflict have been ended without the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
The more I dug into the archives and examined first hand accounts of those who were there at the White House and Imperial Palace, I discovered an extraordinary story full of intrigue, drama and turmoil.
Now, as the world once again moves closer to the threat of nuclear conflict than at any time since the Cold War, I hope The President and the Emperor provides listeners with a timely warning on the dangers of escalating tensions and failing to explore all possible opportunities to stop man's inhumanity to man.'
With thanks to:
The National Security Archive, Washington DChttps://nsarchive.gwu.edu
The Harry S Truman Library, Independence, MOhttps://www.trumanlibrary.gov

The extraordinary inside story of the most controversial decision in the history of modern warfare - the order to drop the atomic bomb. Drawn from first-hand accounts of those involved and declassified top secret American and Japanese documents from 1945, this documentary drama unfolds through the eyes of the two people at the centre of this world changing event - President Harry S. Truman and Showa Emperor Hirohito of Japan 
Episode 2: THE ALTERNATIVE OPTION 
President Truman is briefed on plans for the invasion of Japan which, the generals tell him, could cost hundreds of thousands of American casualties and take eighteen months to end the war. But he has a secret alternative option, which he believes, will force Japan to surrender with just one bomb...
You can hear the cast and production team list in detail at the end of the episode.
A Made in Manchester Production.
This drama has been made with the good will of everyone involved and not with huge funders behind it. If you would like to give something to the costs and to show your appreciation for all the work involved, please donate here https://buymeacoffee.com/presidentandemperor

To accompany our exclusive new drama The President and the Emperor, acclaimed actor Samuel Barnett who plays 'father of the bomb' Robert Oppenheimer chats about taking on historical figures as characters - and what it means to play the famous nuclear scientist.  Sam also reflects on the meticulousness of the script by Guy Smith and what he hopes listens around the world draw from this epic seven part drama.
Samuel Barnett is In Conversation with Ashley Byrne
A Made in Manchester Production
The President and The Emperor  brings to life the story behind one of the most consequential decisions in modern history, the dropping of the atomic bomb eighty years ago.
Told in seven parts and produced by indie company Made in Manchester, the series draws on newly declassified US and Japanese documents, along with first-hand testimony, to present a dual-perspective account of the final days of the Second World War.
At the heart of the drama are two isolated but powerful figures, President Harry S. Truman and Emperor Hirohito. They navigate moral and political dilemmas as the world teeters on the brink of nuclear devastation.
In a unique casting move, Truman is portrayed by his real-life grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, adding an intimate connection to a role few could approach with such personal insight.
He stars alongside acclaimed Japanese actor Sadao Ueda, who plays Hirohito with quiet intensity and emotional nuance.
“This drama is not about who was right or wrong in the war,” Ueda says. “It presents historical facts dramatically from two different points of view. I hope the listener will reflect on what global conflict might mean if it ever happened again.”
Samuel Barnett plays Robert Oppenheimer
The President and the Emperor is written by Guy Smith, directed by Jonathan Kydd and produced by Ashley Byrne. The Executive Producer is Kurt Brookes.
Guy Smith says: ''I wanted to find out what really took place behind the scenes in Washington and Tokyo in the weeks leading up to the most momentous - and controversial - decision in the history of modern warfare; the order to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.
And, just as importantly, I wanted to find out if that world changing event could have been avoided.  Was it inevitable?  Or could the conflict have been ended without the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
The more I dug into the archives and examined first hand accounts of those who were there at the White House and Imperial Palace, I discovered an extraordinary story full of intrigue, drama and turmoil.
Now, as the world once again moves closer to the threat of nuclear conflict than at any time since the Cold War, I hope The President and the Emperor provides listeners with a timely warning on the dangers of escalating tensions and failing to explore all possible opportunities to stop man's inhumanity to man.'
With thanks to:
The National Security Archive, Washington DChttps://nsarchive.gwu.edu
The Harry S Truman Library, Independence, MOhttps://www.trumanlibrary.gov

The extraordinary inside story of the most controversial decision in the history of modern warfare - the order to drop the atomic bomb. Drawn from first-hand accounts of those involved and declassified top secret American and Japanese documents from 1945, this documentary drama unfolds through the eyes of the two people at the centre of this world changing event - President Harry S. Truman and Showa Emperor Hirohito of Japan 
Episode 1: THE NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 
April 1945 and the new president, Harry S. Truman, is briefed for the first time on the Manhattan Project - America's top secret operation to build an atomic bomb. And as allied forces advance across the Pacific, Emperor Hirohito fears it will only be a matter of time before Japan is defeated.
The Cast 
Clifton Truman Daniel - President Harry S Truman 
Sadao Ueda - Emperor Hirohito 
Christopher Strauli - Secretary of War Henry Stimson
Mark Takeshi Ota - Lord Koichi Kido 
Mike Grady - General Leslie Groves 
Leo Ashizawa - Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo 
Samuel Barnett - Dr J Robert Oppenheimer 
Takatsuna Mukai - Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki 
Jonathan Kydd - Dr Robert Stearns 
Samuel Barnett - English Radio announcer
Takatsuna Mukai - Studio Engineer
Jonathan Kydd - American Radio Announcer.
The narrator is Lorelei King 
The music is by Andy Street
The historian is Guy Walters
and historical observers were Kazuhiko and
Shigehiko Togo.
The President and the Emperor is written by
Guy Smith.
The director is Jonathan Kydd.
Produced by Ashley Byrne
Executive Producer is Kurt Brookes
Recorded at the Voices Sound Studio, Soho, London
A Made in Manchester production.
With thanks to:
The National Security Archive, Washington DChttps://nsarchive.gwu.edu
The Harry S Truman Library, Independence, MOhttps://www.trumanlibrary.gov
This drama has been made with the good will of everyone involved and not with huge funders behind it. If you would like to give something to the costs and to show your appreciation for all the work involved, please donate here https://buymeacoffee.com/presidentandemperor

The extraordinary inside story of the most controversial decision in the history of modern warfare - the order to drop the atomic bomb. Drawn from first-hand accounts of those involved and declassified top secret American and Japanese documents from 1945, this documentary drama unfolds through the eyes of the two people at the centre of this world changing event - President Harry S. Truman and Showa Emperor Hirohito of Japan 
Episode 3: BABY SATISFACTORILY BORN
President Truman hears the Trinity Test of the first atom bomb has been a great success.  Meanwhile, in Tokyo Emperor Hirohito hears he has been misled about the strength of the Imperial Army and decides to make desperate attempts to secure an end to hostilities by using a secret backchannel.
You can hear the cast and production team list for episode 3 in detail at the end of the episode. Otherwise the cast list is also listed below.
Please note,  if you need to, you can hear the previous episodes further down in the feed.  Due to serious illness in the team, the production of this series had to be put on hold, we are playing both opening episodes in the series on limited release to enable you to catch up on the full story. 
We hope Episode 4 will be released soon.  
This drama has been made with the good will of everyone involved and not with huge funders behind it. If you would like to give something to the costs and to show your appreciation for all the work involved, please donate here https://buymeacoffee.com/presidentandemperor
The President and the Emperor is written by
 Guy Smith.
The director is Jonathan Kydd.
Produced by Ashley Byrne
Executive Producer is Kurt Brookes
Recorded at Studios in London and Chicago
A Made in Manchester Production.
With thanks to:
The National Security Archive, Washington DChttps://nsarchive.gwu.edu
The Harry S Truman Library, Independence, MOhttps://www.trumanlibrary.gov