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First Crown Prince
Becomes first Crown Prince to visit Europe. -
Hirohito Becomes Emperor
Hirohito becomes the emperor of Japan, after the sad death of his father. He took over at a time of rising democratic sentiment, but his country soon turned toward ultra-nationalism and militarism. -
Ex Post Facto Approval
Ex post facto authorisation was given for the movement of troops from Korea to assist in the occupation of Manchuria. The earlier troop moves that sparked the (Second) Sino-Japanese War were illegal. -
Supression of an Attempted Coup
He asserted his authority, like he ordered the suppression of an attempted coup by several military officers. -
The Tri-Partite Pact
In Berlin, representatives signed a Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Hirohito was the Emperor of Japan during the time of the invasion of China and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He misjudged American opposition to his foreign strategy of formally allying himself with Germany and Italy before the war with the United States. He also had reservations about going to war at first, but over the protests of some of his advisers, he confirmed the plan to attack Pearl Harbor. -
The Surrender Decision
Hirohito had his first encounter with the Manhattan Project's history (as the war hastened research, which was later used as part of President Truman's reason for dropping atomic bombs on Japan). His second connection was the 1945 surrender argument. Hirohito had an opportunity to end the war sooner when it became clear that Japan could not win. -
Hirohito breaks the Precedent of Imperial Silence
When Japan was approaching defeat and leaders were split between those proposing surrender and those insisting on a desperate defense of the home islands against an impending invasion by the Allies, Hirohito decided the issue in favor of those promoting peace. When he made a nationwide radio broadcast to announce Japan's acceptance of the Allies' surrender terms, he broke the imperial silence.