Emperor Showa Memorial Museum Marks 20-Year Milestone with Special Exhibition

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2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the Emperor Showa Memorial Museum in Tachikawa City. Dedicated to Emperor Showa (Hirohito), the museum traces his 87-year life through a collection of related artifacts.

In addition to its permanent exhibits, which include items used by the Emperor himself, the museum is currently holding a special exhibition. It traces his footsteps through portraits, including photographs and paintings. Preparations are also underway for a major facility renewal in this milestone year.

Posters and Postcards

One photo shows the young Emperor Showa with his hand resting on the shoulder of his younger brother, Prince Yasuhito, both staring straight ahead. Dressed in matching sailor uniforms, the photo is believed to have been taken around 1905, when the Emperor Showa was about four years old.

The ongoing special exhibition, Portraits of Emperor Showa, presents a chronological display of portraits of Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun, from their childhood through their later years. It features a wide variety of images of the Emperor — from a formal signed portrait intended as a gift to posters made as magazine and newspaper supplements.

Among the highlights are postcards depicting the Emperor's youth. In 1921, as Crown Prince, he toured Europe and received the honorary rank of General in the British Army from King George V. A portrait photo of him in British Army dress uniform was turned into a postcard. Also on display are depictions of Empress Kojun before their 1924 wedding, showing her strolling along a beach and playing ring toss during her travels.

Museum Director Akihiro Kajita said, "During the Taisho period (1912–1926) when democratic ideals were spreading in Japan, portraits like these became a familiar and approachable part of everyday life."

*Postcard of Emperor Showa in British Army dress uniform*

*Postcard of Empress Kojun walking along the beach*

Visits from the Imperial Family

The museum opened in 2005 inside the Green Cultural Zone at Showa Memorial Park and features about 550 square meters of exhibition space. Its permanent collection includes valuable artifacts linked to Emperor Showa, such as his elementary school uniform from Gakushuin, the desk he used for official duties, and his official car, the Nissan Prince Royal.

Since its opening, the museum has welcomed several visits from members of the Imperial Family. In 2006, a year after the museum opened, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko toured the facility. The current Emperor first visited in 2009 while still Crown Prince then returned in 2016 with Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko. Other Imperial Family members, including Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko, have also made visits.

Although visitor numbers once reached tens of thousands, they have declined in recent years as younger generations, unfamiliar with the Showa era, have grown. Aging facilities, including issues like monitor failures, have also become a concern. In response, the Showa Seitoku Memorial Foundation, which operates the museum, launched a crowdfunding campaign last year for a major renovation, raising approximately ¥13.8 million JPY (approximately $96,000 USD).

With additional support from businesses, plans are underway to renovate the facility into one that is more accessible to younger generations. Director Kajita said, "We are considering introducing projection mapping and other features."