Who was Emperor Taishō? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Yoshihito

Died At Age: 47

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Empress Teimei (m. 1900)

father: Emperor Meiji

mother: Empress Shōken, Yanagihara Naruko

children: Hirohito, Nobuhito, Prince Chichibu, Prince Mikasa, Prince Takamatsu, Takahito, Yasuhito

Born Country: Japan

Emperors & Kings Japanese Men

Died on: December 25, 1926

place of death: Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan

Diseases & Disabilities: Pneumonia

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

City: Tokyo, Japan

Recommended For You

1

When did Emperor Taishō rule Japan?

Emperor Taishō ruled Japan from 1912 to 1926.
2

What major event occurred during Emperor Taishō's reign?

One major event during Emperor Taishō's reign was Japan's participation in World War I.
3

How did Emperor Taishō contribute to modernizing Japan?

Emperor Taishō supported various political and social reforms that helped modernize Japan during his reign.
4

What impact did Emperor Taishō's poor health have on his rule?

Emperor Taishō's poor health led to increased influence of his advisors and reduced his direct involvement in governance.
5

How was Emperor Taishō perceived by the Japanese people?

Emperor Taishō was generally well-regarded by the Japanese people for his efforts to promote peace and modernization.

Recommended Lists:

Japanese Celebrities

Japanese Emperors

Japanese Historical Personalities

Childhood & Early Life

Emperor Taishō was born on 31st August 1879, at the Togu Palace in Akasaka, Tokyo. His mother, Lady Naruko Yanagihara, was the daughter of the imperial chamberlain Mitsunaru Yanagihara. She was a concubine to Emperor Meiji who fathered Emperor Taishō.

He was given the name Haru-no-miya during his childhood, and his official name was Yoshihito Shinnō. Emperor Meiji’s wife, Empress Shoken, did not have any children. So, she officially adopted Yoshihito.

When he was three weeks old, Yoshihito suffered from cerebral meningitis. This affected his mental and physical health for the rest of his life. He suffered from speech disorders and had difficulty walking.

Yoshihito was raised in the household of his great-grandfather Tadayasu Nakayama. Emperor Meiji had also been raised in the same household.

In September 1887, when Yoshihito was eight years old, he was sent to the ‘Gakushuin’ or Peers School. The school was established for the children of the nobility. However, Yoshihito’s ill-health prevented him from attending school regularly and he spent his time at seaside imperial villas.

After his two elder brothers died, Yoshihito was officially declared heir to the throne on August 31, 1887. The investiture ceremony making him the crown prince took place on November 3, 1888.

Yoshihito had a flair for languages and was tutored privately in French, Chinese and history. He also had a skill for horse-riding. In other areas of study though, he fared poorly. He withdrew from the ‘Gakushuin’ in 1894.

In 1898, Yoshihito received initiation into political and military affairs by attending sessions of the ‘House of Peers’ of the ‘Diet (Legislature) of Japan’.

Continue Reading Below

Life as the Crown Prince

As the crown prince, Yoshihito gave his first official reception in 1898. The guests were foreign diplomats and according to records, he was able to conduct himself with grace and converse well with the foreign dignitaries.

The prince also took many tours to learn about the customs and geography of the country he was set to rule. This included visits to the sites of the Imperial Japanese Navy, government offices, schools, factories and the famous Buddhist temple of Nagano.

In 1903, Yoshihito was made a colonel in the Imperial Japanese Army and a captain in the Imperial Japanese Navy. During this period, tension was brewing between Japan and Russia. Though the prince only had a ceremonial role, he traveled to various parts of Japan to inspect the military facilities.

Accession & Reign

Prince Yoshihito became Emperor of Japan upon his father’s death on July 30, 1912. His enthronement is considered the first modern one of Japan. Until then, the crowning was a private ceremony. This was the first time that representatives from other countries attended the emperor’s accession to the Chrysanthemum throne.

The ceremony was unique in another aspect as well. Prince Hirohito, who was a minor at that time, was allowed to attend upon the insistence of his teacher, Sugiura Jugo. In view of the frail health condition of the emperor, influential officials were convinced to let Hirohito see for himself what the enthronement would mean.

In another departure from tradition, the new emperor addressed the public announcing his accession and hoping for peace and happiness for the people of Japan and the world.

The emperor’s health condition made it difficult for him to carry on his duties and he was rarely seen in public. He slowly lost interest in political affairs and even the decisions he took were often manipulated by the Keeper of the Privy Seal and the Imperial Household Minister.

During this period, Japan’s two-party political system became more powerful and a distinct shift of power took place from the imperial palace to the democratic parties. This is why this period is also referred to as the ‘Taishō Democracy’.

Japan saw a great deal of cultural modernization during this period. Literary societies flourished, new publications came out, and a culture of film and theater thrived. European style cafes came up in cities like Tokyo and were frequented by the university crowd. People took to wearing western outfits.

Continue Reading Below

Emperor Taishō himself had always been attracted to western culture and had the tendency to pepper his conversation with French. This period was marked by a more congenial relationship with the western nations.

The Taishō period also saw the rise of labour unions and a rising demand for women’s suffrage. Strikes became a common affair. Emperor Taishō had very little involvement in the political scenario of his country. From 1919 onwards, he withdrew from public duties. Hirohito was declared Prince Regent in 1921.

On September 1, 1923, one of the most devastating earthquakes of Japan, the Great Kanto earthquake, took place. The city of Tokyo was completely destroyed. The emperor had, however, moved to his summer palace in Nikko. Carrier pigeons were used to keep the emperor informed about the extent of the damage.

Towards the end of his life, Emperor Taishō slowly became mentally deranged. The emperor passed away on December 25, 1926; he was 47. He was buried at the Musashi Imperial Graveyard at Hachioji in Tokyo.

Family & Personal Life

For Yoshihito’s marriage, Emperor Meiji sought a bride who would compensate for Yoshihito’s lack of mental capacities. The bride selected was 15-year-old Lady Sadako, daughter of Prince Michitaka Kujo. She was chosen for her intelligence, eloquence and dignified personality. The marriage took place on May 10, 1900.

The Akasaka Palace constructed in 1909 became the official residence of the prince and the princess. It was a lavish palace built in the European rococo style.

The royal couple had four children: Hirohito (1901 - 1989); Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu (1902 - 1953); Nobuhito, Prince Takamatso (1905-1987) and Takahito, Prince Mikasa (1915 - 2016).

After the death of Emperor Taishō, Hirohito ascended the throne and took the title of Emperor Showa.

Facts About Emperor Taishō

Emperor Taishō was known for being a devoted family man, often spending quality time with his wife and children despite his duties as emperor.

He had a unique interest in marine biology and was fascinated by the study of sea creatures, leading to the establishment of Japan's first aquarium during his reign.

Emperor Taishō was a skilled calligrapher and enjoyed practicing this art form in his free time, creating beautiful pieces that are still admired today.

He had a strong passion for traditional Japanese arts, particularly Noh theater, and actively supported the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage during his reign.

Despite facing health challenges that affected his ability to carry out official duties, Emperor Taishō remained resilient and continued to fulfill his responsibilities to the best of his abilities.

Emperor Taishō Biography

You wanted to know

When did Emperor Taishō rule Japan?

What major event occurred during Emperor Taishō's reign?

How did Emperor Taishō contribute to modernizing Japan?

What impact did Emperor Taishō's poor health have on his rule?

How was Emperor Taishō perceived by the Japanese people?