The Shōwa era is named after the reigning Emperor of the time: Hirohito, whose regnal name or "元号 (gengō )" was Shōwa. He occupied the throne from his ascension in November 1928 up until his death in 1989, marking the longest reign of the modern Japanese Emperors since the Meiji Restoration.
The 昭和 Shōwa era was a dynamic and tumultuous time in which Japan underwent radical change, in society, culture and politics. Furthermore, Japanese culture and Japanese products spread and became popular around the world. This was mainly the consequence of the post-war economic miracle which enabled Japan to become, until a certain point in time, the largest economy in the world after the United States. Key factors of the economic success of this time were the close relationship and ties with the U.S., combined with the rise of cost-effective and reliable household products such cameras, TVs, radios, cars and more. Innovations such as the first high speed rail system: the Tokaido Shinkansen helped further accelerate the country's economic growth which led Japan to become the largest car producing country in the world.
In total, this period of Japan's modern history is regarded by many as a golden age because of the large economic growth, the consequent increase in the standard of living, and place Japan achieved on the world stage.
The Showa Era Lifestyle museum started as the Kitanagoya City Museum of History and Folklore, opened in 1990 and was used as a facility for lifelong learning that collects and exhibits materials on the history of the area starting from the Jomon period (about 5000 BCE) to the Showa era (1926 to 1989).
Three years after the museum opened, a program began to supplement these materials with a collection of materials from daily life in the Showa era, with a focus on the decade from 1955 to 1964. It was the beginning of our present way of life. The period of dramatic changes in people's lifestyles saw the appearance of electric appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines, which were called the three sacred treasures at that time.