Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Originally published by Lilian in August 2021, Updated by Charity K on April 2023.

Top 15 Facts about Japanese Emperor Hirohito


 

Hirohito was emperor of Japan from 1926 until 1989. When he took over, Japan was on the brink of rising democratic sentiment. Japan however favoured ultra-nationalism and militarism.

Under his leadership, Hirohito allied with Nazi Germany and attacked its Asian neighbors during World War II. His army assisted the German forces by launching attacks on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbour.

During Emperor Hirohito’s reign, Japan was known for its world-class military power. Japan also became the world’s second economic superpower.

It is also believed that Hirohito was entirely involved in the war. For this reason, he was never convicted of war crimes. 

The sovereign power of Japan is now with the people and no longer with the emperor. Hirohito died in Tokyo on January 7, 1989.

Here are the top 10 facts about Emperor Hirohito.

Read more about other historical events from Asia here.

1. Emperor Hirohito was not raised by his parents

Photo by Asahi Shimbun – Wikimedia

Hirohito was the eldest son of Crown Prince Yoshihito. He was born on April 29, 1901, in Aoyama Palace in Tokyo. The imperial customs back then separated children from their parents.

So Hirohito was raised by retired admiral Kawamura after he died, Hirohito’s new guardian was an imperial attendant. He started schooling at the age of 7 at the school for noble children.

At school, he was taught military tactics, religious education, physics, and mathematics among other subjects. He graduated from school at the age of 19.  

In 1921, Hirohito was the first Japanese crown prince to travel abroad. He was in the company of 34 other men. Their trip lasted six months.

2. Emperor Hirohito survived an assassination attempt

An earthquake rocked Tokyo, Japan in September 1923. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed and half of the city buildings were completely ruined.

A group of Koreans and leftists was accused of setting fire to properties and looting. What followed was the mass murder of these groups by the Japanese.

Months later, there was an assassination attempt on Emperor Hirohito. He got married to Princess Nagako in January 1924. They had seven children.

Hirohito put an end to the practice of imperial concubines.

3. Emperor Hirohito was the one who announced Japan’s surrender

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

After Japan got hit by atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in September 1945;

Hirohito announced Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces. Japan lost 2.3 million soldiers and more than 100,000 civilians during World War II.

This was the first time an emperor broke imperial silence and spoke publicly in a radio broadcast.

For several years that followed, Japan shared power with the United States. An American representative, General Douglas MacArthur, oversaw Japan’s rehabilitation.

4. Emperor Hirohito’s reign is known as the Showa Period

The period that Emperor Hirohito ruled was known as the Showa Period from 1926 to 1989. Showa means the Enlightened or Shining Peace; ironically Hirohito’s term was chaotic and turbulent.

The Showa Period was marked by the rise of militarism in Japan. The Japanese were also hostile to their Asian neighbors. 

Emperor Hirohito’s birthday is celebrated as a public holiday in Japan. The day was known as Green Day but a bill was passed in 2005 to rename the day Showa Day.  

The post-war Showa period was marked by Japan working closely with America and the economic recovery of the country.

Read more about other historical events from Asia here.

5. After the War, the Emperor was made a state symbol with no power

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

After World War II the Japanese government changed the constitution. They preserved the monarchy but stripped the emperor of his powers.

All political power was bestowed on elected representatives. The emperor became a ceremonial leader.

Hirohito was spared from indictment for his involvement in the war. The Americans spared him to prevent another war from ensuing.

America occupied Japan from 1945 to 1951 and oversaw the reconstruction of the country. During this time, Hirohito made several public appearances.

This increased his popularity and the imperial system. Emperor Hirohito died in 1989 after 64 years as an emperor.

6. Some leaders wanted Emperor Hirohito put on trial for crime wars

Emperor Hirohito was largely accused of having committed grievous acts during the war. He was blamed for the loss of life of millions of Japanese people.

After he publicly surrendered to the Allied Forces, he appointed his uncle as the prime minister. The uncle worked closely with the American representative to restore Japan.

Several Japanese leaders wanted the emperor put on trial for war crimes. He was however acquitted and his power stripped. The emperor was no longer a powerful leader.

7. Emperor Hirohito’s grandson, Naruhito, is the current Japanese Emperor

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Naruhito is the current emperor of Japan. He was crowned in 2019. He is the exact opposite of his grandfather who was a fearless military leader.

As the emperor, Naruhito is more concerned with climate change and clean water for the world. He also happens to be the last remaining emperor.

After World War II, several emperors lost their positions and were never replaced. The Japanese allowed the monarchy to keep its titles and traditions.

Read more about other Rulers in history here.

8. Emperor Hirohito’s wife was not liked by his subjects

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

The emperor married Empress Nagako who was the eldest daughter of Prince Kuni. Their marriage was arranged when he was 16 and she was 14.

Some imperial leaders were against their union because there were rumors that her relatives were color-blind. The wedding was delayed by a year because of the great Tokyo earthquake.

Empress Nagako was not a favorite of many Japanese people. She did not get along with her husband during their first year of marriage.

Her main duties were to birth the next heir of the empire. Their first four children were girls.

There were rumors that the emperor would get another wife to birth to sons. Luckily, their fifth child was a boy.  

9. Emperor Hirohito was known to be a loner and very strict

Hirohito was not a social person. Those close to him described him as being shy, anxious, distant, lonely, and a secluded family.

The Western world knows the emperor as a man who was always in a military uniform riding a white horse.

Hirohito made it his sole responsibility to preserve the Japanese monarchy. 

10. Emperor Hirohito accepted his responsibility in the war

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Hirohito accepted his role in the war and was appointed as a prime minister alongside an American representative.  The emperor was used as a symbol of peace during the post-war period.

He supervised the rebuilding of his nation and helped get Japan back up as an economic superpower.  The emperor was never involved in politics actively.  

11. Emperor Hirohito Married Princess Nagako in 1924

He got married to Princess Nagako Kuni in 1924 before he became the Emperor of Japan in 1926 after his father Emperor Yoshihito stepped down. Together they had five daughters and only two sons. His elder son Akihito succeeded him as an Emperor.

12. He Reighed after His Father Emperor Yoshihito Stepped Down

The Emperor of Yoshihito came to an end and his son Hirohito took over the Emperor. He carried the Emperor with authority and worked hard to conquer the neighboring territories to ensure Japan remained strong. 

13. Hirohito Met Queen Elizabeth II 

In 1971, Emperor Hirohito visited London and was given a royal welcome by Queen Elizabeth II, riding on a horse carriage from London’s Victory Station to Buckingham was amazing. This strengthened the ties between the two Kingdoms.

In addition, the current Japanese Emperor Naruhito together with Empress Masako were among the dignitaries who attended the burial of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey, London.

14. He Surrendered Amid Attacks by the United States

Under his reign, the United States launched a major attached on Japan. They bombed two cities, Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and took over Japan in from 1945 to 1945. This was the beginning of the end of World War II.

15. Emperor Hirohito Consulted his Government Officials

Tigre volant, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

 
During World War II, Emperor Hirohito took a bold step to consult with his senior government officials on the decision to make on how to conquer the war. He was advised by ex-Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe to consider a negotiated surrender to avoid a communist revolution in 1945.
 
Read more about other Rulers in history here.

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