Hirohito

Hirohito (29 April 1901 – 7 January 1989), also known by his posthumous name Emperor Shōwa, was Emperor of Japan from 25 December 1926 until his death in 1989. He is the longest-reigning non legendary emperor in Japanese history as well as one of the world's longest-reigning monarchs. The Shōwa era that corresponded to his reign was initially characterized by heightened Japanese nationalism and militarism, developments which culminated in Japan's entry into World War II as an Axis power. After Japan's defeat in the war and under pressure from the victorious Allied powers, he renounced his divinity as Emperor via the Humanity Declaration and sanctioned a new Constitution for Japan based on parliamentary government and pacifism.

Hirohito was born during the reign of his paternal grandfather, Emperor Meiji, as the first child of Crown Prince Yoshihito and Crown Princess Sadako (later Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei). When Emperor Meiji died in 1912, Hirohito's father ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne, and Hirohito was proclaimed Crown Prince of Japan in 1916, making him the heir apparent. In 1921, he made an official visit to six European countries, marking the first time a Japanese crown prince had traveled abroad. Due to his father's ill health, Hirohito became Sesshō of Japan (regent) that same year. In 1924, he married Princess Nagako Kuni, with whom he later had seven children: Shigeko, Sachiko, Kazuko, Atsuko, Akihito, Masahito and Takako. He became emperor upon his father's death in 1926.