Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-25
IS MADE
JAPAN'S REGENT
Twenty-Year-oId Heir to Mi
kado's Throne Invested With
Ruling Power
FATHER lNCAPACITATED
BY the Associated Press

ny tuC ftoSVtihttu
Toxic, Nov. 25.-Crown Prince Hiro-
hito has been designated Regent Of
japan.
Designation Of Crown Prince Hirohite
as Regent of Japan follows reports
which have been in circulation for about
year that Emperor Yoshihito was In
bad physical condition. A dispatch to
Honolulu newspaper in May of last
years reported that he had suffered q
mental and physical breakdown.
Early last month q rumor that he
was dead circulated in Toxic, and the
imperial household in denying 1t at
that time stated that he was so i'll it
was feared that he could not recover.
The Emperor s physical and mental
condition had become aggravated, it
was said, and the difficulty he had ex-
perienced in walking and holding con-
versation had been augmented. while
his memory, and capacity for attention
had declined.
Ill In Infancy
There we're signs that he had been
suffering from severe disease of the
brain, the imperial household stated,
and it was recalled that he was seriously
Ill during his infancy, and that his
malady had recurrcd after he had at
tained his majority. Since his corona
mind and body had been noted, said
the official statement, which concluded
by saying that the growing volume of
domestic and international business was
placing an increased demand upon his
time.
Yoshihito became Emperor upon the
death of his father, the Emperor Nut
suhito, on July 80, 1912. The formal
coronation. however, did not occur un-
til November 10. 1915. He was born
at Kioto, August 81. 1870. and was
married in 1900 to Princess Sadako,
daughter Of Prince Kujo. There are
three other children Of the imperial pair
besides Prince Hirohit0-Prince Yasu-
hito, born in 1902; Prince Nobuhito.
born in 1905. and Prince Takahito,
born in December, 1916.
Washington, Nov. 25.--(By A. P.)
The announcement from Toxic of the
regency of Hirohito was expected in
japanese circles here, as the recent
tour of the Crown Prince to Europe
generally was understood TO have been
the first step in the court arrange :
ment TO give Hirohito the conduct of
the empire because Of the continued
illness of the Emperor.
This tour, which was quite extern
sivc, was arranged in order that before
taking up the duties of regency the
young Crown Prince would have al
opportunity to study foreign languages
and foreign customs. Representative
japanese today emphasized how much
this visit to western countries had
meant for Japan.
1t was recalled that when the Crown
Prince returned to Toxic he made d
memorable speech to the people, il
which he frankly admitted that Japan
had much to learn from western coun .
tries and that all the subjects of tn,
empire must strive their utmost tC
bring Japan to the high development
necessary Tor her national progress.
Only Twenty Years Old
The regent, who is only twenty year,
old, has already accomplished grea
deal in establishing a more liberal un.
derstanding between the imperial court
and the people of the empire. He has
already abandoned the ancient idea OF
imperial aloofness, and in striking con
trast to the earlier days when Japa
| neSc we're not supposed to gaze upor
their Emperor, Hirohito has recently
appeared at various public meetings il
quite an informal manner and has made
number of speeches.
japanese here assert that the rcspon
sibility of having japanese emerge from
the Olden days to the present liberia
movement as regards the court is, how
ever, in the hands Of NiscOunt Maxine
minister of the imperial household, whC
was one of Japan's delegates at tn,
Versailles Conference.
Viscount Maxine has before him tn,
task of meeting the wishes of moderr
Japan with its democratic tendence
without offending the old court mobiles
who are inclined to resist too many in
nOvations. 1t is the understanding her
among japanese that the immediat,
reason for the regency is the conviction
that the Emperor IS incurably Ill.