Showa

Showa, written as 昭和 in Japanese, is the name given to the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito). It spans from December 25, 1926, to January 7, 1989. The era name Shōwa is commonly translated as "bright peace" or "enlightened peace," with 昭 meaning bright or illustrious and 和 meaning harmony or peace. The name was selected to mark the new era at the start of the emperor’s reign.

The Showa period covers a time of dramatic change and conflict. It began in the late Taisho era with growing militarism and expansionism, including the Manchurian Incident of 1931 and the Second Sino-Japanese War beginning in 1937. World War II culminated in Japan’s defeat in 1945. After the war, Japan was occupied by Allied forces, and a new constitution enacted in 1947 established a democratic government, a constitutional monarchy, and pacifist principles. The postwar era saw rapid economic restoration and growth, aided by industrial policy, investment, and favorable global conditions.

From the 1950s through the 1980s, Japan experienced significant economic expansion, often referred to as the Japanese postwar economic miracle. The 1964 Tokyo Olympics symbolized renewed national prestige, and by the late 1980s Japan had become a major global economy. The Showa era ended with Emperor Hirohito’s death in 1989, after which the reign name changed to Heisei with his son Akihito ascending the throne. The period remains a central reference point in discussions of modern Japanese history.