In fact, Japanese emperors used to be seen as gods, but Emperor Hirohito - Naruhito's grandfather - publicly renounced his divinity at the end of World War Two, as part of Japan's surrender.

The emperors used to be seen as gods, but Hirohito - the father of Akihito - publicly renounced his divinity as part of Japan's surrender at the end of World War Two. It was Emperor Akihito who ...

it also forced Japan’s emperor to issue the following statement denying his divinity: “The ties between us and our people have always stood upon mutual trust and affection. They do not depend ...

Emperor Hirohito ... "renouncing" his divinity, and trying gamely to play the part of "Japan's first democrat." By the time his 62-year reign came to an end, Japan had risen like a Phoenix ...