Emperor Shōwa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shōwa (Hirohito) |
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| Emperor of Japan | |
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| Reign | 25 December 1926 – 7 January 1989 (62 years, 13 days) |
| Predecessor | Taishō |
| Successor | Akihito |
| Born | April 29, 1901 Tokyo |
| Died | January 7, 1989 (aged 87) Tokyo |
| Burial | Imperial Mausoleum (多摩御陵, Tama Goryō) |
Emperor Shōwa (昭和天皇, Shōwa tennō, April 29, 1901 – January 7, 1989), also known as Hirohito (裕仁), was the 124th emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. His reign started on December 25, 1926 and ended with his death in 1989.
The name "Shōwa" was given to Hirohito after he died. Emperors of Japan are normally renamed in this way. People started using his new name in 1990. During his long reign, many people outside Japan called him Emperor Hirohito, or just Hirohito.
Contents
Key Moments in Emperor Shōwa's Life
Prince Hirohito was named regent for his father in 1921. This meant he ruled for his father, who was ill. He became emperor after his father's death.
Japan During World War II
Hirohito was the emperor of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War 2. This period lasted from 1931 to 1945. His role during these war years is a topic of much discussion.
Becoming a Constitutional Monarch
After Japan lost World War II, the emperor's role changed a lot. The emperor was no longer seen as a ruler with political power. Instead, he became a symbol of the state. This meant he represented Japan but did not make political decisions.
Hirohito was the first emperor to travel outside Japan. He visited Europe in 1971. He also traveled to the United States in 1975.
Emperor Shōwa's Passing
Emperor Shōwa died from small intestine cancer. His son, Prince Akihito, became the next emperor.
The state funeral for Emperor Shōwa was a big international event. Many world leaders attended. These included U.S. President George H. W. Bush and French President François Mitterrand. The Duke of Edinburgh also attended.
Emperor Shōwa is buried in the Imperial Mausoleum in Hachiōji. He is buried there alongside Emperor Taishō, his father.
Honors and Awards
Emperor Shōwa received many honors during his life. Some of these include:
- Order of the Chrysanthemum, Japan's highest honor
- Order of the Rising Sun, Japan
- Order of the Sacred Treasure, Japan
- Order of the Garter (KG), from the United Kingdom
- Fellow of the Royal Society, from the United Kingdom
Related Pages
Images for kids
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Hirohito in 1902 as an infant
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Emperor Taishō's four sons in 1921: Hirohito, Takahito, Nobuhito and Yasuhito
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The Crown Prince watches a boat race at Oxford University in the UK in 1921
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In May 1921, he visited Edinburgh, Scotland
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Prince Hirohito and British Prime Minister Lloyd George, 1921
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Prince Hirohito and his wife, Princess Nagako, in 1924
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Emperor Hirohito after his enthronement ceremony in 1928, dressed in sokutai
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The Emperor on his favorite white horse Shirayuki (lit. 'white-snow')
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Political map of the Asia-Pacific region in 1939
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Emperor Hirohito riding Shirayuki during an Army inspection on 8 January 1938
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The Emperor as head of the Imperial General Headquarters on 29 April 1943
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The Emperor with his wife Empress Kōjun and their children on 7 December 1941
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Emperor Hirohito on the battleship Musashi, 24 June 1943.
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Gaetano Faillace's photograph of General MacArthur and the Emperor at Allied General Headquarters in Tokyo, 27 September 1945
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Emperor Hirohito visiting Hiroshima in 1947. The domed Hiroshima Peace Memorial can be seen in the background.
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US President Richard Nixon with Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun in Anchorage (27 September 1971)
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Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun arriving in the Netherlands (8 October 1971).
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The Empress, First Lady Betty Ford, the Emperor, and President Gerald Ford at the White House before a state dinner held in honor of the Japanese head of state for the first time. 2 October 1975.
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Emperor Shōwa in his laboratory (1950)
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See also
In Spanish: Hirohito para niños
