Hirohito Becomes Emperor of Japan
Hirohito became Emperor of Japan on December 25, 1926, after the death of his father, Emperor Yoshihito. Known as the Showa Emperor, Hirohito's reign was characterized by his choice of the name "Showa," which translates to "enlightened peace." Born on April 29, 1901, in Tokyo, he was the first son of the crown prince, receiving a comprehensive education, including travels abroad as the first member of the imperial family to leave Japan. Initially serving as regent in 1921 due to his father's declining health, Hirohito's reign saw Japan transition into militarism, with his role in World War II remaining a topic of historical debate. Although he expressed reservations about the war, evidence regarding his level of support is inconclusive. Following Japan’s defeat, he retained the throne and was spared from war crimes trials, as Allied forces viewed him as a unifying figure. In a significant shift, Hirohito publicly renounced his divine status in 1946, signaling a move towards a more modern governance structure. He continued to fulfill his ceremonial duties and pursued personal interests, such as marine biology, until his passing on January 7, 1989, after which his son Akihito succeeded him.
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Hirohito Becomes Emperor of Japan
Hirohito Becomes Emperor of Japan
On December 25, 1926, the Japanese emperor Hirohito ascended to the throne. He chose the name Showa (enlightened peace) to describe his reign, and so he is often known as the Showa Emperor.
Hirohito, who had no given name other than Hirohito, was born on April 29, 1901, in Tokyo, Japan. He was the first son of crown prince Yoshihito, who became emperor in 1912, making Hirohito the new crown prince or heir to the throne. Hirohito received an extensive education and even traveled to several countries in Europe. He was the first member of the ancient and reclusive Japanese imperial family ever to leave Japan. He became regent in 1921, taking over most of the duties of his ailing father, and married Princess Nagako Kuni in 1924. Hirohito became emperor in 1926 after his father died.
As emperor, Hirohito was largely content to remain in the background and made little effort to oppose the increasing influence of the military in Japan's civilian government. He was a quiet man whose interests lay elsewhere, such as in marine biology. His role in Japan's entry into World War II has always been a matter of historical controversy, with some evidence suggesting that he supported it. However, the evidence is not conclusive, and it is known that on the eve of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he quoted a line of poetry to his ministers in order to express in the elegant manner expected of emperors his qualms about the upcoming war: “I think that all the people of the world are brothers / Why are the waves and wind so unsettled these days?”
After World War II, Hirohito was permitted to retain his throne, and he was exempted from the war crimes proceedings conducted by the American occupying forces. General Douglas MacArthur, who commanded the occupation, saw Emperor Hirohito's value as a symbol of stability and unity. Hirohito cooperated with the Americans, and in 1946 he renounced his claim to divinity in a national radio broadcast, severing millennia of tradition in which the emperors had been revered as descended from the gods during the dim mists of ancient Japanese history. He quietly accepted the Westernization of Japanese government and society, performing his ceremonial duties and other responsibilities with scrupulous attention, and wrote several books on marine biology during his private time. Hirohito died on January 7, 1989, and was succeeded by his son, Akihito.