Japan’s Emperor Hirohito - A Life in Photos

Emperor Showa (Emperor Hirohito) was the 124th Emperor of Japan.
During his childhood, he was educated by eminent scholars and Meiji era generals such as Nogi Maresuke and Togo Heihachiro. He was particularly interested in biology and published various papers throughout his life.
In 1921, he spent half a year in Europe. At that time, he was greatly influenced by King George V and he regarded the British way of "Sovereign reigns, but does not rule" as an ideal. After returning to Japan, he ascended to the throne in 1926.
In the 1930s, he struggled with the military runaway and his own ideal of a constitutional monarchy and failed to stop the momentum of them.
After World War II, he was exempted from prosecution because of the US political intention in the Cold War structure, the efforts of Japanese politicians, and the fact that he was passive in the war.
Since then, he had been active in aiming for an open royal family like Britain, and laid the foundation for a symbolic Emperor system in Japan. He frequently visited various parts of Japan and issued statements, which supported the Japanese people emotionally during the post-war reconstruction period.
He also often advised successive prime ministers and exerted a behind-the-scenes influence on post-war Japanese politics.
Emperor Hirohito's turbulent life came to an end in 1989, when the Japanese economy was in an unprecedented boom.

[rabnadskubla]

The only Axis leader who survived the war. He did reconcile with America which helped relations as early as the 50s.

[ComradeRandolph]

Hirohito has always been a very interesting figure. The fact that he lived for such a long time and witnessed so many changes in the world. The fact that at one point, he was so feared and respected that people called him a "Living God".

[ErnestJay]

The real reason why Hirohito spared simply because Japanese emperor only serve for ceremonial duty and technically doesn't have real political power, but doesn't matter Japanese politician views, everyone respect the Emperor, he's the only one who can united Japanese people.

General McArthur once said "if we remove the emperor, Japan will ended in anarchy and never ending riots"

Basically they keep the Emperor so American and other allied occupation in Japan can maintain order.

[JustAPersonWhoComments]

After Japan's surrender in 1945, he remained in his position as Emperor and played a crucial role in the country's post-war reconstruction. He continued to reign until his death in 1989, having become a symbolic and ceremonial figurehead under Japan's post-war constitution

[nysus]

Regarding His Power: Although Emperor Hirohito held a wide range of authority constitutionally, he did not exercise it by the customary law since Emperor Meiji and the constitutional interpretation he supported.
It is said that he exercised his power only twice: the suppression of the February 26 Incident and the surrender of World War II.
In both cases, the Cabinet was dysfunctional.

Regarding War Crime: The war crimes committed by the Japanese military were intentionally hidden from Hirohito by the military authorities. In his memoir, Hirohito said that he had harbored a suspicion about them, but remained unsure of and not been able to prevent in the end.
It is also proven by the evidentiary materials of the Japanese military.

[nile]

1:07 With King George V 1:10 1:16 With King Edward VIII 5:37 5:40 With Queen Elizabeth II 5:07 With King Charles III

[handsomemedic]

The only japanese emperor who saw the start of the sovet union but never saw the end of it

[o]

At 4:37 you can also see his relatives
Guy in the left - Prince Akihito, emperor of Japan for 1989-2019
Woman next to him - Princess Mitiko, Akihito's wife
Child on woman's hands - Prince Naruhito, emperor of Japan since 2019
Guy in glasses - Hirohito
Woman next to Hirohito - Empress Nagako, Hirohito's wife

[may-kyjl]

All Japanese Emperors are expert on Japanese arts and poet themselves and most of them were scholars. Hirohito was scientist too. Even during the war, he kept busts of Charles Darwin &Abraham Lincoln whom he had great respect in his study.

[bigsky]

Emperor Hirohito said, "I am the supreme leader of Japan and there are no war criminals in Japan except me. I am ready to suffer the death penalty, whether it be hanging or extreme punishment. However, it is very painful to see 80 million innocent people suffering without food, clothing, and shelter. In exchange for my life, I would like you to provide food and clothing for the people who fought in the name of the Emperor." He went to General MacArthur himself to ask him to do so. Emperor Hirohito, who sacrificed his own life and cared for the people, is still loved and respected by the people.

[Say_what_man]

A legend who experienced a life that almost no other people will.

[happysecret]

He was about at the point where he COULD have (idk if he did) meet queen mother, watch the titanic sink, watch the first colour move, watch the first moive with sound, live through ww1, , watch King kong, beast from 20, 000 fathoms, return of godzilla (1984) all while having been on the axis side of the war.
NOTE: IDK if he did any of this or not

[Rubix]

he was born and died as a normal person simply beautiful

[SigmaRaptor]

crazy to think Hirohito was younger than I thought.

[pulazuzu]

This person was one of the few upper echelons who opposed the Pacific War, and even after the war, he begged the United States to feed the people instead of his own lives. One of the best gentlemen in Japan.

[yassqueen]

This really brings to light that even emperors are still normal people! :)

[HTV]

The only world leader during World war 1 as a soldier and world war 2 as a Emperor of Japan
The only world leader on the Axis side to survive the war In the 1960s he and america got together for the first time in 30 years and Got in touch and 😂 became friends again oddly he lived over 80 years witnessing so much

[fastgoofy]

As an aviation fan I kinda wanna say thank you to him cuz he built the legendary Kai Tak’s runway which is in Hong kong(I live there too)

[カステラ-yh]

The military, both moderates and imperial loyalists, exploited Hirohito's charisma for war, while GHQ used it to avert Japan's communism. Despite possessing unparalleled charisma in human history, he failed to wield it personally, ending up being used by others. That is the true essence of the sorrowful emperor.

[ballbenderthousand]

1919-1920 was the best Glow up ive ever seen