Arahitogami (現人神) is a Japanese word, meaning a god who is a human being. This word appears first in Kojiki, but is assumed to have been used before this book. The most well-known usage of this word would be in Japan before 1945, until the end of the Second World War. In those days Kokka-shinto (Nationalistic Shintoism) applied this word to the Emperor Hirohito and required the Japanese people to obey absolutely and have loyalty to the Emperor as a god. Later, Hirohito himself disclamed this conception and claimed his relation to the people didn't rely on such a mythological idea but a historically developed family-like reliance. Kojiki or Furukotofumi (古事記) is the oldest known historical book about the ancient history of Japan. ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Shintō (Japanese: 神道) is the native religion of Japan. ... His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan The Emperor of Japan (天皇 tennō) is the symbol of Japan, the unity of its people and the head of the Japanese Imperial Family. ... Hirohito (April 29, 1901 – January 7, 1989) was the 124th Emperor of Japan who reigned from 1926 to 1989. ...

See also

• Ningen-sengen
• Divine Right of Kings
• Imperial cult