On the day before his suicide, he dictated his will to his second son, Michitaka KONOE, and left the following words: 'I have made many mistakes, but I cannot stand being tried as a war criminal… only those people who understand, know my intentions.'
自殺の前日、次男の近衛通隆に遺書を口述筆記させ、「自分は多くの過ちを犯してきたが、戦犯として裁かれなければならないことに耐えられない…僕の志は知る人ぞ知る」と言い残した。