April 29, 1901 - Emperor Hirohito
His reign encompassed Japan's imperial expansion across Asia, the atrocities committed by Japanese forces during World War II, and the use of biological and chemical weapons — making the scope of harm carried out under his authority among the most consequential of the twentieth century. The precise nature of his personal involvement in wartime decision-making has been a subject of sustained historical debate, shaped in part by postwar decisions to preserve the imperial institution. He was ultimately shielded from prosecution at the Tokyo Trials, a political calculation that allowed him to reign for another four decades.
From Wikipedia
Emperor Shōwa (born Hirohito; 29 April 1901 – 7 January 1989) was Emperor of Japan from 25 December 1926 until his death in 1989. He reigned during a period of increasing Japanese nationalism and militarism, culminating in the entry of the Empire of Japan into World War II as an Axis power. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki led Hirohito to announce the surrender of Japan to the Allies in August 1945. Under pressure from the Allies, he issued the Humanity Declaration in January 1946, rejecting the divinity of the emperor as a descendant of Amaterasu. The Constitution of Japan, adopted in November 1946, emphasizes pacifism and constitutional monarchy, in contrast to imperialism and absolute monarchy. After the war, he reigned over a period of unprecedented economic growth known as the Japanese economic miracle. Hirohito reigned for 62 years and 13 days, the longest reign in Japanese history and the 12th longest verifiable reign in world history.
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).
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