Emperor Hirohito, also known as Emperor Shōwa, was the 124th Emperor of Japan. He reigned from December 25th, 1926 until his death on January 7th, 1989. His reign of 62 years, known as the Shōwa Era, was the longest in Japanese history at the time and was one of the most significant in Japan’s history. For instance, Emperor Hirohito ruled during Japan’s militaristic rise in the early 20th century, to the events of World War II. As such, historians consider him to be an important figure in the history of World War II.
EMPEROR HIROHITO – EARLY LIFE
Emperor Shōwa (better known outside of Japan as ‘Hirohito’) was born on the 29th of April in 1901. Shōwa refers to the name of the era that corresponded to Hirohito’s reign, and when Hirohito died, he was renamed Shōwa to reflect this. Hirohito was born to the Crown Prince, Yoshihito who later became Emperor Taisho, and the Crown Princess Sadako, who later became Empress Teimei.
As a child, he was raised in a strict, traditional environment and educated at the Gakushūin Peers’ School. In fact, he was educated for leadership through both academic and military training. Hirohito was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in the Navy, and Major in the army. A year later, in 1921, he traveled to Europe, becoming the first Japanese crown prince to visit the West, which exposed him to international politics and modern culture. Also, in 1924, he married Princess Nagako Kuni, with whom he had seven children, including Akihito, his successor.
EMPEROR HIROHITO – EMPEROR OF JAPAN
Hirohito became Emperor of Japan in 1926 following the death of his father – Emperor Taisho. His early reign occurred during a period of economic difficulty and political unrest in Japan. In fact, this was a period that saw the rise of military nationalism in Japan. For instance, throughout the 1930s, Japan took a path of imperialist expansion. In fact, Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and China in 1937. These actions were followed by Japan’s alignment with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, forming the Axis Powers of World War II. Although Hirohito was the Emperor at the time, some historians have called into question the amount of authority he actually had over the government of Japan. For instance, Hideki Tojo, the Japanese Prime Minister during World War II, is often considered to be responsible for the actions of the government. As such, it is debated how much direct influence Hirohito had over political and military decisions.
EMPEROR HIROHITO – WORLD WAR II
World War II began in 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland and both France and Britain declared war on German in the days that followed. The conflict led to two large alliance systems being created between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers. As stated previously, Japan was part of the Axis Powers along side Italy and Nazi Germany.
During World War II, Japan’s military engaged in numerous aggressive campaigns across Asia and the Pacific. For instance, one of the most significant of these was the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, which led to war with the United States. The Pearl Harbor attacked occurred on December 7th, 1941 and was a surprise attack carried out by Japan against the United States. At the time, the United States was not directly involved in the fighting of World War II. As such, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a shock to the american government and public. In fact, it was the event that brought the United States into the fighting of World War II. Although the exact extent of Hirohito’s involvement remains uncertain by historians, he was kept informed of major decisions. Although, he largely followed the advice of military leaders of the time.
World War II in the Pacific continued through years of brutal warfare, which included significant battles, such as: Battle of Midway, Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa. Finally, in 1945, the United States made the decision to use two atomic bombs against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These bombings ultimately ended the war in the Pacific and forced Japan to surrender. At the time, Hirohito broke with military leaders and made a historic radio broadcast on August 15th, 1945, announcing Japan’s surrender. This was the first time the Japanese public had ever heard the emperor’s voice.
EMPEROR HIROHITO – POST-WORLD WAR II
Following Japan’s defeat in World War II, Emperor Hirohito was not prosecuted for war crimes, largely due to General Douglas MacArthur, who believed preserving the emperor would help stabilize post-war Japan. In 1946, Hirohito renounced his divine status as part of a new constitution that transformed Japan into a constitutional monarchy, where the emperor held no political power and served only as a symbol of the nation.
Throughout the 1950s to 1980s, Hirohito supported Japan’s economic reconstruction, modernization, and peaceful international engagement. He made numerous state visits, including trips to Europe and the United States, helping to rehabilitate Japan’s image on the global stage.
EMPEROR HIROHITO – DEATH AND SIGNIFICANCE
Emperor Hirohito died on January 7th, 1989, at the age of 87. He was succeeded by his son, Emperor Akihito, marking the beginning of the Heisei Era. Hirohito’s legacy remains complex and controversial. Some view him as a symbol of Japanese tradition and honor, while others criticize his role during the the events of World War II and his association with Japanese militarism in the early 20th century.
Despite the fact that some historians think that Emperor Hirohito was responsible for the terrible acts that were committed by the imperial forces in World War II, unlike many other leading governmental figures, such as Hideki Tojo, the war-time Prime Minister of Japan, Hirohito was not prosecuted for war crimes as his involvement was considered negligible at the time. After the war, Hirohito became Japan’s symbol of recovery. He helped Japan to rebuild itself, and when he died, Japan had regained its power, and emerged as the world’s second largest economy.
