Humanity Declaration (人間宣言, Ningen-sengen) is an imperial rescript issued by the Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) as part of a New Year’s statement on January 1, 1946 at the request of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers. In the rescript, which follows the Five Charter Oath of 1868, the Emperor denied the concept of his being a living god, which would eventually lead to the promulgation of the new Constitution, under which the Emperor is “the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people.”
The rescript is not officially titled, but apart from its popular name, “Humanity Declaration” or “Ningen-sengen”, it is also known as Imperial Rescript on the Construction of a New Japan (新日本建設に関する詔書, Shin Nippon Kensetsu ni Kan suru Shōsho) and Imperial Rescript on National Revitalization (年頭、国運振興の詔書, Nentō, Kokuun Shinkō no Shōsho).
1946（昭和21）年1月1日に発せられた詔書。このなかで昭和天皇は、天皇を現御神（アキツミカミ）とするのは架空の観念であると述べ、自らの神性を否定した。これは、後に、天皇の地位に根本的な変更がもたらされる布石ともなった。同日、マッカーサーはこの詔書に対する声明を発表し、天皇が日本国民の民主化に指導的役割を果たしたと高く評価した。
