The Showa period (昭和年号) was the time of Japanese History when the Emperor Hirohito ruled Japan between 1926 and 1989. It is the longest period of all Japanese Emperors.
The early part of Hirohito's reign was characterized by a period of Japanese Imperialism. Following the surrender of Japan in the Second World War, the Occupation of Japan occurred until 1952. After the Treaty of San Francisco was enacted, Japan was free and has been in a period of relative peace ever since.
Subperiods: