Hirohito+3

=Heather: Social= Japan’s military leaders were all too aware of the possibility of another world war, and decided to focus energy on making Japan self-sufficient in resources from America and the like using resources available to them in China. Japan is and was an industrialized nation, after all, and industrialized nations all require the same thing--resources. With Manchuria in their grasp, the Japanese would have plenty of resources for their factories.

To prepare their people for the conquest of China and other lesser Asian nations, Japan used their schools, media, and pro-Japanese propaganda to paint other Asians as beings "worth less than even pigs"--therefore excusing the horrendous acts committed by the Japanese against them. The Japanese populace also believed that their military’s aggressive behaviour to less-powerful Asian countries was in the nation’s best interests.

However, Japan was in a peculiar state apart from their racist worldview (eerily similar to the British Empire's alledged superiority over Africa during //their// industrialization). The presence of modern inventions and factories alongside traditional Japanese cultural elements proved to be disconcerting to many ueber-nationalist Japanese. Many insisted that the fusion and adaptation of Western elements was why Japan had had so many economic problems in the late 20s. =Summer: Political= In the 1930's the military essentially had total control over Japan and resented facism, also known as militarism. Hirohito, who was born into the throne, and his followers took over the prime minister and attacked many other political parties that threatened them, including the communists. The government also required China to sign unfair treaties that gave them more and more ascendancy over Manachuria. The Chinese people were becoming irritable with the Japanese. A year later Japan dropped a bomb Shangahi in order to protect its country from movements against Japan. Japan began being harrassed by others in the League of Nations for their incident in China, so they removed themselves from the group. =Matt: Biography=



Emperor Hirohito was born on April 29th, 1901 in Tokyo, Japan. He was the first son of Crown Prince Yoshihito. He was taken away from his parents when he was born as a Japanese custom. When he returned he was sent to his parents palace where he was schooled by Gen. Maresuke Nogi, who took a special interest in the Hirohito. Hirohito's time with Nogi got him interested in marine biology. After Hirohito's grandfather, Emperor Meiji died Hirohito's father, Yoshihito, took the thrown as emperor. In 1916, Hirohito was named Crown Prince, which meant he was next in line to take the thrown as emperor of Japan.

In February of 1918, Hirohito was engaged to Princess Nagako, but they weren't officially married until 1924. They had 6 children, 4 daughters, and 2 sons.

In 1921, Hirohito became the first Japanese Crown Prince to travel overseas, taking a 6-month tour of Europe. He toured countries such as France, the Netherlands, Italy, and England. Visting England made an big impression on Hirohito. He liked the freedom that they had in England.

Hirohito became Emperor Hirohito in 1926, after his father passed away after battling a long illness, becoming the 124th Japanese emperor. He took the reign name of Showa. Though he had the title of Emperor, Hirohito did not have much power at all. He was a quiet man and was looked at more as a god-like symbol than the country's leader. Shortly after Hirohito became emperor, Japan went through an economic crisis and Japan's relationships with other countries soon started to go bad after Japanese military officers triggered a struggle with Manchuria without Hirohito's consent. Soon after, the military began to take over the rest of China, also without Hirohito's consent. The military eventually tried taking over the government, but any attempt was crushed by Hirohito and the rebels were punished.

Hirohito did, though, approve the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, launching Japan into World War II with the United States. The Japanese formed an alliance called the Axis Powers, with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The emperor chose General Hideki Tojo to lead his army and Tojo was also appointed Japanese Prime Minister. During the war, Hirohito refused to leave his palace in Tokyo even after air raids had begun and a lot of the city was burning down, saying he wished to suffer the same hardships as his people. Unhappy with the progress in the war, Hirohito removed Tojo from the leader of the army and from his Prime Minister position. In 1945, even though defeat for the Japanese was imminent, it took atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the Japanese to finally surrender. Hirohito got on the radio and told his people that they had surrendered in the war, the first time his people had ever heard their leaders voice.

After the war, many wanted Hirohito to be tried as a war criminal, but Gen. Douglas McArthur decided it would better serve the goals of Japan if Hirohito stayed emperor and was not tried.

During the years after the war, Hirohito became a more active figure in Japan, being seen in public more often and became a popular figure in Japan. His travels to Europe in the 1970s were not so popular with the Europeans, and they were not friendly with him. However when he got to visit the United States, the Americans were much more friendly with him. When not involved in public functions, he was an admirable marine biologist and lived a quiet, peaceful life. He died on January 7th, 1989 at the age of 87 of cancer. His son, Akihito took the thrown after his death. **Samantha: __Economy__** Japan 1930- 
 * Japan recovered from 1930s depression with exploitation of captive East Asian markets.
 * Japan’s drive for industrial growth and economic security drove it forward to expand its land and territories in Asia.
 * In 1938 government spending on the military reached 70% and Japan was spending far more on their army than the wealthier democracies of the world.
 * In the 1930s Japan possessed the 3rd largest merchant marine force in the world.
 * As Japan’s army captured China the navy and air force were readying themselves to take on America or England.
 * Rationing was introduced in 1938 to support the campaign across China.
 * With shrinking raw materials Japan was becoming dependant on American and English goods.
 * America’s industrial power during the Great Depression was 7 time that of Japans.
 * Japan’s public supported a strong military but did not approve of the military running the government.
 * Emeror Hirohito favored peace between Japan and China but only on their terms, they sought corporation from the Chinese not political agreement.