Emperor of Japan Timeline of Events

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Emperor of Japan

The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest authority of the Shinto religion...

Timeline of Events

1308

12.28.1308

The reign of Emperor Hanazono, emperor of Japan, begins.

1586

12.17.1586

Emperor Go-Yozei becomes Emperor of Japan.

1867

10.14.1867

The 15th and the last military Shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate resigns in Japan, returning his power to the Emperor of Japan and thence to the re-established civil government of Japan

1869

7.25.1869

The Japanese daimyō begin returning their land holdings to the emperor as part of the Meiji Restoration reforms. (Traditional Japanese Date: June 17, 1869).

1945

8.14.1945

Japan accepts the Allied terms of surrender in World War II and the Emperor records the Imperial Rescript on Surrender (August 15 in Japan standard time).

1959

4.10.1959

Akihito, future Emperor of Japan, weds Michiko.

1992

10.23.1992

Emperor Akihito becomes the first Emperor of Japan to stand on Chinese soil.