Background
"The military controlled the Emperor, obtaining his 'authorization' usually by his omission to speak out against their behavior."
- K. Henshall, A History of Japan
- K. Henshall, A History of Japan
Hirohito, seen here on his famous white horse Hatsu Shimo 初霜("First Frost"). Before World War II Hirohito was merely a figurehead of the government and believed by his people to be God. According to mythology, Japan's first Emperor Jimmu was a descendant of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Emperors reigned over Japan for more than 1500 years, and are believed to have all descended from the same family.
Hirohito on White Horse, 1930s, World Heritage Encyclopedia.
Hirohito on White Horse, 1930s, World Heritage Encyclopedia.
TIMELINE
Japan's longest-reigning monarch, Emperor Hirohito, was born Michinomiya Hirohito on April 29, 1901, in Tokyo, Japan. He was the first son of Crown Prince Yoshihito and Princess Sadako. As a child, Hirohito was separated from his parents, as was custom, then given an imperial education at the Gakushuin School. Years later, in 1921, he became the first Crown Prince of Japan to travel abroad and study, voyaging to Europe. Prince Hirohito later returned to Japan and married his distant cousin Princess Kuni and had seven children including Akihito, the current Emperor of Japan. Hirohito died in 1989 at the age of 88.
1928: Mass arrests of communists and other political activists.. 1936: coup attempt by military officers is foiled.. 1937: Japanese capture Shanghai. Nanking captured Dec. 13th.. 1940: Sept. 27: Japan, Germany and Italy sign the Tripartite Pact.. 1941: April 13: Japan and Russia sign a neutrality agreement. 1944: The first kamikaze pilots begin their attacks on U.S.. ships. All toll around 5,000 pilots died during their missions; U.S. losses were moderately heavy. Plans existed for a type of piloted suicide rocket plane, but those were not ready in time to make a difference. 1945: Aug. 14: Japan surrenders, ending WWII". |
."1926: Taisho dies: Hirohito becomes emperor
.1934: Dec. 29: Japan cancels Washington naval treaty .1937: Japan invades China, resulting in the deaths of millions of Chinese. .1938: Japanese forces occupy Canton and Hankou. .1940: Japan invades Indo-China and joins the Axis Pact. .1941: Japan launches attack on Pearl Harbor and U.S. enters the war. .1945: Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs. Invasion of Japan was scheduled for November of 1945 but the war ended in August.There is some reluctance to surrender by some of the Japanese ministers, but the Emperor casts the deciding vote for surrender. Allies occupy Japan. |
Timeline from http://www.bookmice.net/