Akihito
At a glance:
- Series: Dictionary of World Biography: Twentieth Century
- Categories: Government and Politics, Royalty, Rulers, Nobility
- Subcategories: Emperors, Caesars, Khans
- Curriculum: Asian History
Article abstract: By linking the ancient traditions of Japan to the modern age, Emperor Akihito, Japan’s nonpolitical head of state, symbolizes his nation’s commitment to democracy while Japan learns from its militaristic past.
Early Life
The news of Akihito’s birth was a time of great celebration among the Japanese people. Within court circles, there was considerable pressure on Emperor Hirohito to take a concubine because his wife, the former Princess Nagako Kuni, had provided only four daughters. Had a son not been born, the military may have...
[The entire page is 2078 words long]