Empress Of Japan Nagako

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Family

Japanese royalty, the Empress Dowager Kōjun of Japan, wife of Emperor Hirohito. She was widowed with his death on 1/07/1989, 6:33 AM JST, Tokyo, Japan. Nagako was a witness to Japan's century of history, living through times that were tumultuous with a world war and a national rebirth as one of the world's richest countries. A princess before she became Empress, Nagako was a modest wife who paid proper deference to her husband, but she and the Emperor were willing to break tradition. After they had four daughters, Hirohito declined the custom of taking a mistress to give him sons, and Nagako went on to have two more children - both boys. In contrast to Hirohito, who was always scholarly and aloof, Nagako appeared in public with a big smile and a wave, winning the affection of her people. Nonetheless, when her son Akihito chose a commoner to become the next empress, she was disapproving. Nagako saw her son Akihito became the 125th Emperor of Japan on 11/12/1990, enthroned in an ancient ceremony as a symbol rather than a living god with unlimited power, as in former Japanese history. Age 95, Nagako began having trouble breathing on 6/15/2000 and fell into a coma. She died the following day at her home in Tokyo's royal palace. Link to Wikipedia biography