Born: April 29, 1901 Died: January 7, 1989 Grandson of famous Emperor Meiji Reagent: 1921-1926 Ruled: 1926-1989 Wife: Empress Nagako

Hirohito was most influential political figure throughout most of his time as emperor, as opposed to common misconception of Emperor Hirohito being a figurehead and is responsible for much of what the rest of the globe saw as the injustice done by Japan

Went to Peer’s School with his brothers, Yasuhito and Nobuhito

Togu-Ogakumonjo› military and liberal arts school› Only Hirohito & five students from Peer’s

Special secondary education from specialized teachers from Peer’s School and Tokoyo Imperial University› Combination of old conservative and new

modernization ideas Took tour of globe

› Opened eyes and encouraged him to become more informed

Emperor Meiji› Influenced him to take

control of his government› Legacy inspired HIrohito

General Nogi› Military style teaching› Taught ways of

Confucianism, bushido, and Zen

Fleet Admiral Togo- Togu-Ogakumonjo

Cpt. Ogasawara Naganari- Togu Ogakumonjo

General Nara- future aide-de-camp

Prof. Hattori Hirotaro› Natural History/Physics

Sugiura Shigetake› Confucianism› Behavior

Charter Oath of Five Articles Imperial Rescript on Education

Shiratori Kurakichi› Japanese/Western History-

nationalistic ideas Shimizu Toru

› Constitutional law› Enforced idea of Meiji being

ideal monarch- helped influence Hirohito to take control where Yoshihito did not

Toured Globe to enforce political ties› Made him less naïve and more inclined to

learn Continued education

› Daily Lectures and study Media used to improve Hirohito’s

image Used regency to acquire military and

political experience

Brought back emperor’s dominant role in politics› Displayed his power and image to

encourage Japanese people to follow him Began as idealistic Built reputation in political world Started

Manchuria and China› Needed for oil and raw material› Involved recklessness of army officers that helped make

Hirohito a more experienced and capable commander-in-chief

› Initial takeover easy due to military superiority› Long term Chinese resistance taxing on Japan- 8yrs.› Used chemical and biological warfare› Rape of Nanking- caused concern among global

community and came back to haunt him after WWII› Was unopposed due to Great Depression› Established “puppet government”› Paved way for Chinese communism

Indochina› Needed for oil to supply Japan’s war efforts during WWII

Prime Minister Konoe› Pacifist who

encouraged Hirohito to negotiate rather than fight

Prime Minister Tojo› Encouraged Hirohito

to wage war› Often thought as real

authority figure during WWII

Adm. YamamotoCommander in chief of naval forces

Prime Minister Konoe

Japan allied themselves with Nazi Germany and Facist Italy› Partially to have an ally against Soviet Union

Prepared and oversaw army and navy preperations for possible war

Faced oil and material embargoes from U.S.

Abandoned Konoe’s idea of negotiation and planned for blitzkrieg attack strategy› Involved Pearl Harbor and the conquest of

strategic islands throughout the Pacific

Initial “blitzkrieg” attacks gave Japan an edge over Anglo-American armies and navies

At first capable of taking over critical strategic points following a plan overseen by Hirohito to win the war

Mistreated POWs› Led to common negative Japanese stereotype

U.S. able to recover from initial attack and start pushing backwards

American bombings of Japan decreased civilian morale

Final blow delivered by atomic bombs brought about Japan’s surrender

Many officials, incl. family members encouraged Hirohito to abdicate

Unconditional surrender Former Prime Minister Tojo

took blame for WWII in order save Hirohito and keep imperialism alive in Japan

Hirohito used others to take blame for the war

Used atomic bombs as reason for surrender in order to cover up domestic issues

Loss of military

Picture of Hirohito and General MacArthur

Officially brought down to status of a ceremonial figurehead

Still secretly maintained great influence within government

Viewed by rest of world as passive monarch with no control

Hirohito at DisneyLand