17,394
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 3:
Line 3: − + − It is important to note that outside Japan he is usually referred to by his personal name, '''Hirohito''' (裕仁), the Japanese have a very different practice. During his life, in accordance with Japanese custom, the living Emperor's personal name is never used. He would have been referred to only as "His Majesty the Emperor" (天皇陛下 ''Tennō Heika''), but the title could be shortened to ''Heika'' (陛下 "Your Majesty").+ − In keeping with the correct naming convention, this article will refer to Hirohito as '''Emperor Shōwa''', where appropriate. Line 17:
Line 16: − + + + − Hirohito visited Europe for six months in 1921, thus becoming the first member of the Japanese Imperial family to travel abroad. During his visit he spent some time in [[Great Britain]] and had meetings with [[King George V]], as well as visiting [[Italy]], [[France]] and the [[Low Countries]]. Line 38:
Line 38: − + + + + Line 115:
Line 118: − + Line 122:
Line 125: − + − + − + − * Stephen S Large, Emperor Hirohito and Shōwa Japan: A Political Biography, 1992.+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
add bibliogarphy and new details
{{Japanese characters}}
{{Japanese characters}}
'''Hirohito''' or the '''Emperor Shōwa''' (昭和天皇 ''Shōwa Tennō'') (29 April 1901 – 7 January 1989) was the 124<sup>th</sup> [[Emperor]] of [[Japan]] in the [[List of japanese emperors|traditional count]] of order of succession, who reigned for 62 years from 25 December 1926, until his death, making his reign, the Shōwa era (昭和), the longest of any [[Japanese]] Emperor. During his era, (Shōwa era) Japan went from a fairly rural country to one of the economic powers of the world.
'''Hirohito''' or the '''Emperor Shōwa''' (昭和天皇 ''Shōwa Tennō'') (29 April 1901 – 7 January 1989) was the 124<sup>th</sup> [[Emperor]] of [[Japan]] in the [[List of japanese emperors|traditional count]] of order of succession, who reigned for 62 years from 25 December 1926, until his death, making his reign, the Shōwa era (昭和), the longest of any [[Japanese]] Emperor. During his era, (Shōwa era), he was the symbolic leader of his nation through prosperity (1926-29), the Great Depression (1929-41), victory and defeat in [[World War II, Pacific|World War II]] (1941-45), the American Occupation (1945-50), and the rapid recovery of Japan to become an economic superpower (1950-86). He had significant decision-making power only in 1944-45, and made the decision to durrender in August 1945.
==The Emperor's Name==
==The Emperor's Name==
Outside Japan he is usually referred to by his personal name, '''Hirohito''' (裕仁), the Japanese have a very different practice. During his life, in accordance with Japanese custom, the living Emperor's personal name is never used. He would have been referred to only as "His Majesty the Emperor" (天皇陛下 ''Tennō Heika''), but the title could be shortened to ''Heika'' (陛下 "Your Majesty").
After his death, his definitive posthumous name, Shōwa Tennō (昭和天皇 "Emperor Shōwa), was announced on 31 January 1989. The name coincides with the era of ''Shōwa'' (昭和 "Enlightened Peace") which was the name attributed to his reign and is the name by which the Emperor is known within Japan.
After his death, his definitive posthumous name, Shōwa Tennō (昭和天皇 "Emperor Shōwa), was announced on 31 January 1989. The name coincides with the era of ''Shōwa'' (昭和 "Enlightened Peace") which was the name attributed to his reign and is the name by which the Emperor is known within Japan.
==Early Days==
==Early Days==
Prince Hirohito was born in the [[Aoyama Palace]], [[Tokyo]] on 29 April 1901, the eldest son of Crown Prince Yoshihito, who was later to become Emperor [[Taisho|Taishō]]. He was the grandson of Emperor [[Meiji]], during whose reign the [[Meiji Restoration]] had taken place.
Prince Hirohito was born in the [[Aoyama Palace]], [[Tokyo]] on 29 April 1901, the eldest son of Crown Prince Yoshihito, who was later to become Emperor [[Taisho|Taishō]]. He was the grandson of Emperor [[Meiji]], during whose reign the [[Meiji Restoration]] had taken place.
Prince Hirohito attended school at the boy's section of the Gakushuin Peers School from 1908 to 1914. In 1915, Kimmochi Saionju, the former prime minister of Japan, tutored him whereupon he attended a special institute for the crown prince (''Tôgû-gogakumonsho'') until 1921. During this time, he developed a keen interest in natural science and marine biology and was later to publish several scholarly works on marine biology.
He was raised by Count and Countess Kawamura, in accordance with the Japanese custom that imperial princes should be reared in a normal household unaffected by the elaborate ceremonial of the royal palace. The Kawamuras also were given charge of Prince Chichibu, Hirohito's younger brother and Kawamura treated them as he would his own grandchildren, subjecting them to a careful discipline. When Hirohito was five years old he and Chichibu were returned to the palace, where a kindergarten was arranged. At the age of eight Hirohito was sent to the Gakushuin Peers' School, where emphasis was placed on discipline, frugality, and diligence. There he was initiated into military training. He also proved an excellent pupil, showing a strong early interest in marine biology, as well as geography and history. Upon the death in 1912 of his grandfather, Emperor Mutsuhito, Hirohito became heir-apparent to the throne and was commissioned a second lieutenant in both the army and navy.
In 1915, Kimmochi Saionju, the former prime minister of Japan, tutored him whereupon he attended a special institute for the crown prince (''Tôgû-gogakumonsho'') until 1921. After his graduation in 1914 from the Peers' School, the Crown Prince's Institute was opened for his higher education, which required seven years; five sons of peers were his classmates. Upon his graduation in 1921 he became the first imperial prince ever to tour Europe, March to September 1921, to see how constitutional monarchy worked in Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. The public discovered Hirohito had surprisingly democratic qualities, an eager intelligence, and a shy, quiet manner (the last partly ascribed to his self-consciousness and myopic eyesight). The crown prince returned from his tour to find his father failing rapidly in health, and in November 1921 Hirohito was entrusted with the affairs of government as prince regent. On Jan. 26, 1924, he married Princess Nagako Kuni.
In 1924, Prince Hirohito, married Princess Nagako Kuni, a distant cousin, who was to become the future Empress Kōjun. Together, they had seven children:
In 1924, Prince Hirohito, married Princess Nagako Kuni, a distant cousin, who was to become the future Empress Kōjun. Together, they had seven children:
He was later appointed as Regent of Japan on 29 November 1921, upon his return from Europe, ruling in place of his father, who was suffering from a debilitating mental illness, as a result of childhood meningitis and rumoured lead poisoning.
He was later appointed as Regent of Japan on 29 November 1921, upon his return from Europe, ruling in place of his father, who was suffering from a debilitating mental illness, as a result of childhood meningitis and rumoured lead poisoning.
On 25 December 1926, Crown Prince Hirohito assumed the throne upon the death of his father. The Taishō era ceased immediately and the new Shōwa era (昭和 "Enlightened Peace"), was proclaimed, with the deceased Emperor being posthumously renamed Emperor Taishō several days later.
His father had been physically and mentally incompetent, and power had drained away from the throne. In 1928 to 1931 the young emperor and his close advisers, Makino Nobuaki, Suzuki Kantaro and Nara Taketsugu, were most preoccupied with reasserting the power and prestige of the throne, and establishing the 'imperial will' as distinct from the policy of the government. Hirohito's removal of support for Tanaka Giichi's cabinet in 1929 was key to its downfall. His forthright opposition to the coup attempted by army officers in the 26 February Incident in 1936 did much to facilitate its suppression. In general his role was more symbolic than powerful, but everything was done in his name and he formally signed off his approvals. During Japan's period of "ultranationalism," 1931-45, Hirohito's constitutional obligations kept him from implementing his peace-oriented ideas in the face of almost total opposition from powerful advisers.
On 25 December 1926, Crown Prince Hirohito assumed the throne upon the death of his father. The Taishō era ceased immediately and the new Shōwa era (昭和 "Enlightened Peace"), was proclaimed, with the deceased Emperor being posthumously renamed Emperor Taishō several days later. He was formally enthroned in November 1928. Upon becoming emperor he adopted the reign name of '''Shōwa''', meaning "Radiant Peace," an increasingly ironic term as the increasing military dominations of Japan's government led the country into war, first with China and then with the Western powers.
==His Reign as Emperor==
==His Reign as Emperor==
== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Japan]]
*[[Douglas MacArthur]]
*[[Douglas MacArthur]]
*[[Japanese Instrument of Surrender]]
*[[Japanese Instrument of Surrender]]
==Additional Reading==
==Additional Reading==
* Fujiwara Akira, Shōwa Tennō no Jū-go Nen Sensō (Shōwa Emperor's Fifteen-year War), Aoki Shoten, 1991.
==Bibliography==
* Kawahara Toshiaki Hirohito and His Times: A Japanese Perspective, Kodansha International, 1997.
* Asada, Sadao. "The Shock of the Atomic Bomb and Japan's Decision to Surrender: a Reconsideration." ''Pacific Historical Review'' 1998 67(4): 477-512. Issn: 0030-8684 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3641184 in Jstor]
* Yamada Akira, Daigensui Shōwa Tennō (Shōwa Emperor as Commander in Chief), Shin-Nihon Shuppansha, 1994.
* Bix, Herbert P. ''Hirohito And The Making Of Modern Japan'' (2000), 816pp, the highly influential standard scholarly biography [http://www.amazon.com/Hirohito-Making-Modern-Japan-Herbert/dp/006019314X excerpt and text search]
* Bix, Herbert P. "Japan's Delayed Surrender: a Reinterpretation." ''Diplomatic History'' 1995 19(2): 197-225. Issn: 0145-2096 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]
* Bix, Herbert P. "Inventing the 'Symbol Monarchy' in Japan, 1945-52," ''Journal of Japanese Studies,'' Vol. 21, No. 2 (Summer, 1995), pp. 319-363 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/133011 in JSTOR]
* Bix, Herbert. "Emperor Hirohito's War." ''History Today'' 1991 41(dec): 12-19. Issn: 0018-2753 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]
* Bix, Herbert. "Emperor Hirohito's war," ''History Today,'' (Dec 1991), Vol. 41, Issue 12, in [[Ebsco]]
* Brands, Hal. "The Emperor's New Clothes: American Views of Hirohito after World War II". ''Historian'' 2006 68(1): 1-28. Issn: 0018-2370 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]] also [http://www.questia.com/read/5019027598?title=The%20Emperor's%20New%20Clothes%3a%20American%20Views%20of%20Hirohito%20after%20World%20War%20II online edition]
* Brinckmann, Hans, and Ysbrand Rogge. ''Showa Japan: The Post-War Golden Age and Its Troubled Legacy'' (2008)
* Butow, Robert J.C. ''Tojo and the Coming of the War'' (1961), 584pp
* Butow, Robert J.C. ''Japan's Decision to Surrender'' (1967), the standard history
* Dower, John W. ''Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II'' (1999), major scholarly study [http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Defeat-Japan-Wake-World/dp/0756768403/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211828015&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]
* Gluck, Carol, and Stephen R. Graubard, eds. ''Showa: The Japan of Hirohito.'' (1992) articles by scholars [http://www.amazon.com/Showa-Japan-Hirohito-Carol-Gluck/dp/0393310647/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211828995&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]
* Kawahara, Toshiaki. ''Hirohito and His Times: A Japanese Perspective.'' (1990). 181 pp.
* Kawamura, Noriko. "Emperor Hirohito and Japan's Decision to Go to War with the United States: Reexamined." ''Diplomatic History'' 2007 31(1): 51-79. Issn: 0145-2096 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]
* Large, Stephen S. ''Emperor Hirohito and Showa Japan: A Political Biography'' (1997), 250pp; highly regarded scholarly biography; says the emperor tried to steer policy in a liberal direction [http://www.questia.com/library/book/emperor-hirohito-and-showa-japan-a-political-biography-by-stephen-s-large.jsp online edition]
* Morris-Suzuki, Tessa. ''Showa: An Inside History of Hirohito's Japan.'' (1985). 330 pp.
* Ruoff, Kenneth J. ''The People's Emperor: Democracy and the Japanese Monarchy, 1945-1995.'' (2001). 331 pp.
* Sheldon, Charles D. "Japanese Aggression and the Emperor, 1931-1941, from Contemporary Diaries." ''Modern Asian Studies'' 1976 10(1): 1-40. Issn: 0026-749x [http://www.jstor.org/pss/311667 in Jstor]
* Shibusawa, Naoko. ''America's Geisha Ally: Reimagining the Japanese Enemy.'' (2006). 397 pp. scholarly study of the astonishing reversal of hatred in 1945 into friendly admiration by the late 1940s
* Wetzler, Peter. ''Hirohito and War: Imperial Tradition and Military Decision Making in Prewar Japan.'' (1998). 294 pp. [http://www.questia.com/read/8997577?title=Hirohito%20and%20War%3a%20Imperial%20Tradition%20and%20Military%20Decision%20Making%20in%20Prewar%20Japan online edition]
===Historiography===
* Bix, Herbert. "Emperor Hirohito's War." ''History Today'' (Dec. 1991) 41: 12-19. Issn: 0018-2753 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]] discusses new Japanese sources that opened after the emperor's death in 1989
* Gordon, David M. "The China-Japan War, 1931-1945," ''The Journal of Military History'' 70#1 (January 2006) pp. 137-182, historiographical overview in [[Project Muse]]
* Harootunian, Harry. "Hirohito Redux." ''Critical Asian Studies'' 2001 33(4): 609-636. Issn: 1467-2715 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]], focused on Bix (2000)
* Large, Stephen S. "Emperor Hirohito and Early Showa Japan." ''Nipponica'' 1991 46(3): 349-368. Issn: 0027-0741 [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2385212 in Jstor]
===Primary sources in English===
* Honjo, Shigeru. ''Emperor Hirohito and His Chief Aide-de-Camp: The Honjo Diary, 1933-36.'' (1983). 263 pp.
===Not recommended===
* Bergamini, David. '''Japan's Imperial Conspiracy. '' (1971) contends that Hirohito led his nation into WW2 and intimidated opponents by conniving in religious frauds, blackmails, and assassinations. This book has very negative reviews from scholars who say Bergamini falsified his evidence. See [[http://www.jstor.org/pss/311667 for the consensus]
===Japanese books===
* Fujiwara Akira, ''Shōwa Tennō no Jū-go Nen Sensō'' (Shōwa Emperor's Fifteen-year War), Aoki Shoten, 1991.
* Yamada Akira, ''Daigensui Shōwa Tennō'' (Shōwa Emperor as Commander in Chief), Shin-Nihon Shuppansha, 1994.
==References==
==References==