Hirohito

He was married to his distant royal cousin, Princess Nagako Kuni (later known as Empress Kojun), the eldest daughter of Prince Kuniyoshi Kuni, in January 1924.

The couple had seven children – daughter Shigeko (1925), daughter Sachiko (1927), daughter Kazuko (1929), daughter Atsuko (1931), son Akihito (1933), son Masahito (1935), and daughter Takako (1939).

He was operated successfully on his pancreas for digestive issues in September 1987, when he was diagnosed with duodenal cancer. However, he showed positive signs of recovery post surgery.

Hirohito was born on April 29, 1901 in Aoyama Palace, Tokyo, as the eldest son of Crown Prince Yoshihito and Crown Princess Sadako.

Following the royal custom of not being raised by the family members, he was sent off to a retired vice-admiral, Count Kawamura Sumiyoshi, when he was just 70 days old and returned back only at the age of 3 following Sumiyoshi’s death.

In 1908, he was enrolled in Gakushuin Peers’ School and later attended a special institute from 1914 to 1921. He was declared as the crown prince and heir apparent in 1916.

In 1921, he became the first Japanese crown prince to travel abroad, embarking a six-month tour to Europe, visiting UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium.

Upon his return from Europe in November 1921, he was made the Regent of Japan to take over the duties of an emperor, due to his father’s chronic illness.

He was crowned as the Japanese emperor following his father’s death in 1926, which started a new reign ‘Showa’ (Enlightened Peace) while he formally came to be known as Showa Tenno.

He was formally crowned at the enthronement ceremony in November 1928.

At the time of his coronation, Japan was struggling with financial crisis, while the influence of military was increasing.

The increasing Japanese conflicts with China led to the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 by exploding a railway station and seizing it under Japanese control by establishing a puppet state there.

It was upon General Douglas MacArthur’s decision to let him retain the throne that he became a democratic head and initiated steps to accomplish political stability, reconstructing Japan as the second largest economy in the world.

He made several tours across Japan during 1945-51 and helped rebuild Japan’s diplomatic image while serving as the head of state, making public appearances and public walkabouts on various occasions, despite his divinity being revoked.