The Emperor and Empress after the War, from "Tokyo Series"
終戦後の天皇、皇后陛下（東京シリーズ）
- Birth Year
- 1914
- Death Year
- 1991
- Date
- 1947
- Technique, Material, Format
- gelatin silver print
- Dimension
- 20.1 x 29.6 cm
- Donor name
- Mr. Morooka Koji
- Category
- Photograph or Moving Image by JapanesePhotographer/Artist
- Inventory Number
- 85-PHJ-176
On January 1, 1946, Emperor Showa issued an edict denying the concept of his divinity. It was later referred to as his "humanity declaration." When the new constitution was made, the Emperor officially became a symbol of the nation. From this period onwards, photographs of him changed markedly, from emphasizing his majesty to emphasizing his relatability. This snapshot shows the Emperor and Empress alighting from a car in front of Hibiya Public Hall and the Emperor taking off his hat in greeting. Perhaps there are well-wishers gathered by the road and, standing among them, Morooka has chosen to present the imperial couple almost like two ordinary residents of Tokyo. In this way, the image conveys the sense that a new era has begun.
(KIMURA Eriko)