Emperor
Emperor Hirohito was born to the Taisho Emperor on April 29, 1901. At the age of 15, in 1916, he became the crown prince of Japan, he married Nagako Kuninomiya in 1924, and on December 25th 1925, he became emperor at the age of 25 when his father died. His reign was the longest of any other previous emperor, from 1926 to 1989. Hirohito had inherited the role of emperor at a precarious time, and he had to deal with many challenges, including two wars, an economically unstable economy, a controversy surrounding the title of emperor (which will be discussed in the "Controversy" section), as well as an active diplomat (discussed in the "Diplomat" section). The role of the emperor in Japan is a felt force, not a seen one. One should never look upon the face of the emperor, in this time period, unless they were of similar status. Despite this, Hirohito had given the surrender of Japan to the Allied powers over the radio. This is an important time in history because this is the first time that all of Japan had heard the voice of their own emperor. Throughout the later part of his life, Hirohito was mostly a marine biologist and a diplomat, although he was still the emperor of Japan.
Starting from a young age, Emperor Hirohito was placed in the Gakushuin School from 1908 to 1914. This school was for the aristocratic elite in Japan. In 1912, at the age of 11, he was commissioned into both the army and navy, and was promoted quickly. After Gakushuin School, he went to another special school Togu-gogakumonsho, a school specifically for the crowned prince. After graduating in 1921, he had become a Major of the army and Lieutenant Major of the army. He then took a 6 month trip around Europe. When he came back to Japan, he was made the regent after his father had been mentally incapacitated. As regent, many important events had happened such as The Four Power Treaty, which Japan, the United State, Great Britain, and France had signed in order to recognize what was happening in the Pacific, Japan and Great Britain agreed to terminate the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, a political communist attempted, and failed, to assassinate Hirohito, and a law was passed that allowed all men above 25 years old to vote. He was also promoted to Colonel of the Japanese Army and Navy Captain in 1925.
On Christmas 1925, Hirohito became the emperor of Japan. His role as emperor was quite limited, however. The military had control over the government by this time, and he had not agreed with most of what the military had decided to do. However, he signed many of these operations regardless (this will be discussed more in the "Military Operations" section). After the end of World War II, he renounced his divinity, the Japanese government had shifted to a constitutional monarchy. The then military leader of the United States in Asia, Douglas MacArthur had made sure that Hirohito had stayed in power as a figurehead because of his symbolic status in Japan. Throughout the most of the rest of hist life, he was an important diplomat, a marine biologist, and he continued to be the emperor of Japan.
After World War II, Emperor Hirohito and his wife Empress Nagako had become diplomats in order to create good diplomatic relations between Japan and the rest of the world. He had also become an important public figure in Japan. Hirohito and his wife had often organized public walk arounds, as well as appearing for important holidays, ceremonies, and events. As a diplomat, he met with many foreign leaders, including Queen Elizabeth II and presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. As a marine biologist, he enjoyed talking to people about marine biology and was very well versed in marine biology. Before his death, Hirohito had published multiple articles and book about marine biology. He also had a laboratory in his palace, where he liked to entertain people.
Starting from a young age, Emperor Hirohito was placed in the Gakushuin School from 1908 to 1914. This school was for the aristocratic elite in Japan. In 1912, at the age of 11, he was commissioned into both the army and navy, and was promoted quickly. After Gakushuin School, he went to another special school Togu-gogakumonsho, a school specifically for the crowned prince. After graduating in 1921, he had become a Major of the army and Lieutenant Major of the army. He then took a 6 month trip around Europe. When he came back to Japan, he was made the regent after his father had been mentally incapacitated. As regent, many important events had happened such as The Four Power Treaty, which Japan, the United State, Great Britain, and France had signed in order to recognize what was happening in the Pacific, Japan and Great Britain agreed to terminate the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, a political communist attempted, and failed, to assassinate Hirohito, and a law was passed that allowed all men above 25 years old to vote. He was also promoted to Colonel of the Japanese Army and Navy Captain in 1925.
On Christmas 1925, Hirohito became the emperor of Japan. His role as emperor was quite limited, however. The military had control over the government by this time, and he had not agreed with most of what the military had decided to do. However, he signed many of these operations regardless (this will be discussed more in the "Military Operations" section). After the end of World War II, he renounced his divinity, the Japanese government had shifted to a constitutional monarchy. The then military leader of the United States in Asia, Douglas MacArthur had made sure that Hirohito had stayed in power as a figurehead because of his symbolic status in Japan. Throughout the most of the rest of hist life, he was an important diplomat, a marine biologist, and he continued to be the emperor of Japan.
After World War II, Emperor Hirohito and his wife Empress Nagako had become diplomats in order to create good diplomatic relations between Japan and the rest of the world. He had also become an important public figure in Japan. Hirohito and his wife had often organized public walk arounds, as well as appearing for important holidays, ceremonies, and events. As a diplomat, he met with many foreign leaders, including Queen Elizabeth II and presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. As a marine biologist, he enjoyed talking to people about marine biology and was very well versed in marine biology. Before his death, Hirohito had published multiple articles and book about marine biology. He also had a laboratory in his palace, where he liked to entertain people.