Taisho tenno

(1879-1926)

   The Taisho emperor (his personal name was Yoshihito) who reigned from 1912-1926. He was the third son of the Meiji emperor and was designated crown prince in 1887. He was the first emperor to receive a full Japanese and Western-style education and his reign-period is often referred to as the 'Taisho democracy', in reference to the more liberal political and social atmosphere that prevailed between the end of the Russo-Japanese war in 1906 and the early 1930's when party government gave way to a military dictatorship. In contrast to his father, he was prevented by constant ill health from exercising influence in government and by 1920 his duties were effectively taken over by Hirohito as regent (see Showa tenno).