Modern History - Personalities

Biography from Encyclopedia Britannica. This is the more detailed version of the Encyclopedia that the College subscribes to. Therefore you must be logged in to Pymble to view this entry.

BBC History page on Emperor Hirohito.

An article from the WWII Museum (New Orleans) on Hirohito's role in Pearl Harbor.

Article from the Atomic Heritage Foundation on Hirohito.

An article from Inside hook exploring why Hirohito was not held to greater accountability over the horrors committed by the Japanese during WWII.

An article from The Atlantic exploring Hirohito's speech (and surrender) that ended the Pacific War.

A research paper written by Kazuaki Suhama, University of Washington. Download the paper to read.

Article by Saki Dockrill

Article by Hal Brands

Article by Hal Brands

Article by Hal Brands

History of Japan Podcast.
This episode: Hirohito goes to war. What did he know, how much did he direct things himself, and ultimately, how much responsibility does he bear for the greatest cataclysm in the history of East Asia?

History of Japan Podcast.
This episode: How does a man raised to be a military autocrat become a democratic emperor in just a few short years? Or is that even possible?

Podcast series - Hard Fried History. This is the first episode in a three-part series on Hirohito. Use the 'more episodes' link at the bottom to access the other two episodes.
As leader of Japan during World War Two, Emperor Hirohito oversaw, sanctioned and orchestrated the brutal atrocities committed by the Japanese against their enemies, both civilian and in uniform. So why did he remain on the throne 54 years after the end of the war?