Hirohito

postage stamp of Hirohito, printed c. 1998, by Niger, photo by gors4730/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Hirohito, Prince Michi (迪宮裕仁親王)

Date of Birth: 29 April, 1901

Place of Birth: Tōgū Palace, Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan

Date of Death: 7 January, 1989

Place of Death: Fukiage Palace, Tokyo, Japan

Ethnicity: Japanese

Hirohito was the 124th Emperor of Japan, who reigned from 25 December, 1926 to 7 January, 1989, his death. He was enthroned on 10 November, 1928. He had previously been Sesshō of Japan, from 25 November, 1921 to 25 December, 1926.

He was the son of Yoshihito, Emperor Taishō, who was Emperor of Japan, from 30 July, 1912 to 25 December, 1926, and of Lady Sadako Kujō. He was married to Princess Nagako, of Kuni, with whom he had seven children, including Akihito, who was Emperor of Japan, from 7 January, 1989 to 30 April, 2019. He was the paternal grandfather of Naruhito, who has been Emperor of Japan, since 1 May, 2019; and the paternal great-grandfather of Aiko, Princess Toshi.

Hirohito’s patrilineal ancestry can be traced to his 49th great-grandfather, Emperor Keitai (c. 450–534). However, descent prior to Keitai is unclear to modern historians, but is traditionally traced back patrilineally to Emperor Jimmu.

Hirohito’s paternal grandfather was Mutsuhito, Emperor Meiji (the son of Osahito, Emperor Kōmei, and of Lady Yoshiko Nakayama). Mutsuhito was born in Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, Kyoto, Yamashiro Province, Japan, and was Emperor of Japan, from 3 February, 1867 to 30 July, 1912. Osahito was Emperor of Japan, from 10 March, 1846 to 30 January, 1867, and was the son of Ayahito, Emperor Ninkō, who was Emperor of Japan, from 7 May, 1817 to 21 February, 1846; and of Lady Tsuneko Fujiwara. Yoshiko was the daughter of Nakayama Tadayasu and Lady Matsuura Aiko.

Hirohito’s paternal grandmother was Lady Naruko Yanagihara (the daughter of Count Takamitsu Yanagihara and Lady Utano Hasegawa). Naruko was born in Kyoto, Japan. Yanagihara was the son of Takamitsu Yanagihara and Noriko Oogimachi Sanjo. He was an imperial chamberlain, who held the rank of chūnagon in the imperial household, and was later appointed dainagon. Hasegawa was the daughter of Hasegawa Yukiarawa.

Hirohito’s maternal grandfather was Prince Kujō Michitaka, of the Fujiwara Clan (the son of Prince Kujō Hisatada, Regent of Japan, and of Lady Tsuneko Karahashi). Hirohito’s grandfather Kujō was Minister of the Left, from 1867 to 1869, and Head of Kujō family, from 1859 to 1906. Hisatada was the son of Nijō Harutaka, who was Minister of the Left, from 30 May, 1796 to 21 May, 1814; and of Higuchi Nobuko. Hisatada was adopted by his brother Suketsugu. Karahashi was the daughter of Matsuumein ZenYasushi.

Hirohito’s maternal grandmother was Lady Ikuko Noma (the daughter of Yorioki Noma and Lady Kairi Yamokushi).