The oldest Royal family in the world (10) 2016/07/15
Showa Emperor was born in 1901 and died in 1989. The Emperor was at the position from 1926 to 1989 for 64 years. The period is called as Showa era when Japan had to encounter various inexperienced critical circumstances.
After Meiji restoration, Japan tried hard to build a wealthy and strong military nation. Japan won Japan-China war in 1894- 1895 and also astonished the whole world by the perfect victory against Russian navy in Japan-Russian war through 1904-1905. It was the first victory by colored peoples’ nation against white European nations.
Japan joined the world 5 strongest nations and successfully revised unequal treaties with America and European nations which were forced to contract at the end of Edo era. Japan became the living model for all colonized nations all over the world.
Japanese Emperor is a special person. He is different from ordinary people and he is sometime called as a living God. However, Showa Emperor was not in the position to decide dictatorially political matters by the restriction of Meiji constitution. Nevertheless, Japanese Emperor is specially admired by people because of historical special authority and a strong bond of trust between Emperor and people.
However Showa Emperor broke the above restriction twice. Firstly, he strictly ordered to suppress a rebel force of Army in 1936. Under the depressed economic circumstances, many young soldiers were affected by communism or socialism and tried to save the poor by coup de tar. They attacked and killed some of top governmental officers and attempted Showa restoration. Moreover, some of top officers in Army supported them in shadow and asked the Emperor to understand their pure spirits.
However, Showa Emperor resolutely rejected and ordered harsh disciplinary action against the rebel. His solid decision saved the nation from chaos.
Meantime the great depression began from 1929 which badly affected Japanese young and fragile industries. Moreover Japan had to receive tightening pressures including trade restrictions from European nations, especially from America.
Japan was gradually forced to be involved into the world war.
Showa Emperor tried hard to avoid the war but he was not in the position to decide as above and Japan plunged into the war. Despite of victories in the begging of the war, Japan was gradually losing the fighting power and was almost driven into a resistant hopeless battle in the mainland. All of top officers knew they had no more conflict power against United Nations and no other way but to accept Potsdam Declaration, however their concern was if the Declaration allowed them to retain Japanese historic national constitution with the Imperial Family unchanged.
Therefore regretfully they could not decide by themselves, and finally Showa Emperor broke the restriction of the constitution as his second Imperial decision which led senior officers to accept Potsdam declaration to end the war. At that moment, his life and position was not guaranteed but he made the decision to save lives of Japanese people.
Consequently Japan lost the territory of Taiwan, Korea, Sakhalin and south Pacific islands. Moreover Japan was occupied by the United Nations’ troop for 7 years under the severe restriction of speech and regained independence only in 1952.
Japan was forced to abandon all military powers but concentrated on economic recovery and enjoyed the remarkable success of world strongest economic power in 1970’s to 1980’s.
Japan had good time and severe time in Showa era, however Showa Emperor was always in the center of most Japanese hearts, like the father in the family.
Showa Emperor was probably only one Emperor in the world whole history who did not lose the trust from people and stayed at the position even after the miserable defeat in the war.
Showa EMperor shortly after the war
