For the government announcement, he distrusted the military and said 'peace of mind through faith or ascetic practice wouldn't be obtained' ("HONJO Shigeru Nikki" (Shigeru HONJO's Diary).
国体明徴声明に対しては軍部に不信感を持ち「安心が出來ぬと云ふ事になる」と言っていた（『本庄繁日記』）。