Hirohito

Place: Tokyo

Born: 1901

Death: 1989

Biography:

Showa, also known as Hirohito, was the 124th emperor of Japan, reigning from 1926 until his death in 1989. He was one of the longest-reigning monarchs in the world, with his reign of 62 years being the longest of any Japanese emperor. Showa was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1901, during the reign of his paternal grandfather, Emperor Meiji. He was the first child of the Crown Prince Yoshihito and Princess Sadako (later Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei). As the grandson of Emperor Meiji, Showa was raised away from the court, but returned following his caregiver's death. His education emphasized physical health due to his frailty, alongside values of frugality and devotion to duty. Showa's early military commissions and education under influential figures shaped his perspective on Japan's divine imperial lineage, and its role in modernization and diplomacy. His father acceded to the throne in 1912 upon the death of his father Emperor Meiji, making the eleven-year-old Prince Showa the heir apparent. Proclaimed crown prince in 1916, Showa's overseas visits in 1921 to Western Europe marked a significant step towards international diplomacy for Japan, despite domestic opposition. His experiences abroad, particularly in Britain and meeting with European monarchs, influenced his understanding of international relations and Japan's position on the global stage. Showa assumed regency in 1921 due to his father's health issues, navigating Japan through significant treaties, the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, and an assassination attempt. In January 1924, he married Princess Nagako Kuni and their marriage further solidified his position within the imperial family and Japanese society. They had seven children: Shigeko, Sachiko, Kazuko, Atsuko, Akihito, Masahito and Takako. When his father died in December 1926, Showa—then 25 years old—became emperor of Japan. Showa reigned as a constitutional monarch and was the head of state under the Meiji Constitution during Japanese imperial expansion particularly in China, militarization, and involvement in World War II. Showa died aged 87 at Fukiage Palace in January 1989, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Akihito.