Why is hirohito famous

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View all Bird worksheets. After the war, the new constitution drafted by the United States transformed Japan into a constitutional monarchy so that sovereignty lay with the people instead of the emperor. Hirohito died in Tokyo on January 7, His son, Akihito, succeeded him.

As a child, Hirohito was separated from his parents, as was custom, and given an imperial education at the Gakushuin School, also known as the Peers' School. He later attended a special institute which conditioned him to become emperor and was formally given the title of crown prince on November 2, Years later, in , he became the first crown prince of Japan to travel abroad and study, voyaging to Europe.

In November , shortly after his return to Japan, Hirohito was appointed acting ruler of Japan due to his father's failing health. On January 26, , he married Princess Nagako later Empress Nagako , a distant cousin of royal blood. The couple would eventually have seven children. On December 25, , following the death of his father, Hirohito succeeded him as emperor, taking the th Chrysanthemum Throne.

Shortly after Hirohito's induction as emperor, Japan found itself in a state of unrest. While his reign saw an incredible amount of political turmoil, he remained a gentle man who allegedly had limited influence over the military and its politics. Soon, the military began to revolt, resulting in the assassination of many public officials, including Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi. Hirohito was a reluctant supporter of the occupation of Manchuria, which led to the second Sino-Japanese War.

Japan's military subsequently became more aggressive and implemented policies reflecting that stance, which eventually led to the country's allegiance with WWII's Axis Powers and the attack on Pearl Harbor. They then used the event as an excuse to take over Manchuria in northeastern China and set up a puppet state there.

Excursions into other areas of the country soon followed, and by war had broken out. That winter, the Japanese army massacred an estimated , civilians and prisoners of war in and around the city of Nanking. Rape is thought to have been commonplace, and women throughout Japanese-controlled regions of Asia were brought in to serve as prostitutes.

He also sanctioned the use of chemical warfare and the uprooting of peasants. In September , Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, in which they agreed to assist one another should any of them be attacked by a country not already involved in the war. Japan sent troops to occupy French Indochina that same month, and the United States responded with economic sanctions, including an embargo on oil and steel.

A little over a year later, Hirohito consented to the decision of his government to battle the Americans. On December 7, , Japanese planes bombarded the U. The United States declared war one day later. But the tide started turning at the June Battle of Midway and soon after at Guadalcanal. A postwar constitution preserved the monarchy but defined the emperor as a mere symbol of the state. All political power went to elected representatives.

Unlike many among his top military brass, Hirohito was not indicted as a war criminal, in part because U. From to , Hirohito toured the country and oversaw reconstruction efforts. The American occupation ended in , after which Hirohito served largely in the background while Japan went through a period of rapid economic growth.

He died on January 7, , having spent nearly 64 years on the throne—the longest imperial reign in Japanese history. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present.