What were the beliefs of Hideki Tojo? Tojo was an ultra-nationalist who believed Japan must rely on its own power to establish itself as the dominant force in Asia. He was also a strong social and political conservative who believed Japan should purge itself of liberal democracy and establish authoritarian government.
Who is Hideki Tojo?
Hideki Tojo ( Kyūjitai: 東條 英機; Shinjitai: 東条 英機; Tōjō Hideki (help·info); 30 December 1884 – 23 December 1948) was a Japanese politician and general of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association for the majority of World War II.
What did Tojo do for Japan?
Tojo was a militant ultra-nationalist, well respected for his work ethic and his ability to handle paperwork, who believed that the Emperor was a living god and favored "direct imperial rule", ensuring that he would faithfully follow any order from the Emperor.
When did Hideki Tojo join the Japanese Army?
In 1899, Hideki entered the Army Cadet School. When he graduated from the Japanese Military Academy (ranked 10th of 363 cadets) [citation needed] in March 1905, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry of the IJA. In 1905, Tojo shared in the general outrage in Japan at the Treaty of Portsmouth,...
Why was Tokugawa Tōjō a bad guy?
In Allied propaganda, however, Tōjō was caricatured and vilified as the equivalent of a Hitler or Mussolini. He became the poster boy for all the worst of Japan’s militarism and was widely thought to be the one responsible for Japan’s atrocities and warmongering.
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What did Hideki Tojo care about?
Tojo wanted an alliance between Japan, Germany and Italy and pushed for it in the government. Tojo served as the Prime Minister and army minister during WWII, and in 1944 he took the additional command of chief of the Army General Staff.
What did Hideki Tojo promise to his people?
Tojo, now a virtual dictator, quickly promised a “New Order in Asia,” and toward this end supported the bombing of Pearl Harbor despite the misgivings of several of his generals. Tojo's aggressive policies paid big dividends early on, with major territorial gains in Indochina and the South Pacific.
Was Hideki Tojo religious?
He was Shinto and Buddhist. Shinto is a set of practices establishing a connection between present-day Japan and its ancient past.
Was Tojo executed?
I wished to commit suicide but sometimes that fails." Hideki Tojo was sentenced to death for war crimes and executed by hanging on December 23, 1948, after accepting full responsibility for his actions in World War II and, in the end, advocating peace.
What bad things did Hideki Tojo do?
During the course of the war, Tojo presided over numerous war crimes, including the massacre and starvation of civilians and prisoners of war. He was also involved in the sexual enslavement of thousands of mostly Korean women and girls for Japanese soldiers, an event that still strains modern Japanese–Korean relations.
Did Tojo order Pearl Harbor?
Though Hideki Tojo wasn't the man who orchestrated the attack on Pearl Harbor, and still required the Emperor's approval before going ahead with the plan, he's often credited as the official who ordered it.
Why was Tojo called the razor?
Known within the army as “Razor Tôjô” both for his bureaucratic efficiency and for his strict, uncompromising attention to detail, he climbed the command ladders, in close association with the army faction seeking to upgrade and improve Japan's fighting capabilities despite tight budgets and “civilian interference.” ...
What was Tojo's dilemma?
In October 1941, a new Japanese government, led by General Hideki Tojo, faced a dilemma. If Japan withdrew from China, American trade would resume, but the proud Japanese army would be humiliated. If the Japanese remained in China, Japan would need a new source of oil.
How did Hideki Tojo achieve his goals?
Tojo furthered his rise to power in 1935 when he was given command over the Kwantung Army in Manchuria, which was a region in northeastern China. This position allowed him to use his militaristic insights to expand Japanese influence in China.
What did Hirohito promise Japan?
The only promise pertinent to the emperor was the pledge that after occupation and satisfactory demonstration that Japan was peaceful, the Japanese people would be free to choose their own form of government.
Why does Tojo say that it would be hard for Japan to pull their troops?
Why does Tojo say that it would be hard for Japan to pull their troops out of China? He says it would be difficult because of the lives they've lost in the effort would have died in vain. According to Tojo, how long will the Japanese supply of oil last? 2 more years.
What is a famous quote from Hideki Tojo?
I am determined to offer an apology with my death. It goes without saying that when survival is threatened, struggles erupt between peoples, and unfortunate wars between nations result.
How did Tōjō Hideki change the world?
Tōjō was the prime minister of Japan during most of the Pacific War. He was one of the architects of Japan’s expansionist policies in Asia and dire...
Where was Tōjō Hideki educated?
Tōjō attended Japan’s Imperial Military Academy and Military Staff College. These two schools were a gateway to power in pre-World War II Japan, an...
How did Tōjō Hideki die?
Tōjō shot himself in a failed suicide attempt after Japan surrendered on September 11, 1945, but the Allies treated his wounds so he could stand tr...
Where is Tōjō Hideki buried?
Tōjō was cremated. Some of his ashes were scattered at sea, and some were interred at Zōshigaya Cemetery in Tokyo and at Koa Kannon, a temple dedic...
What did Tôjô do?
Tôjô characteristically sought to gather administrative levers into his own hands. Serving as both prime minister and army minister, at various times he also held the portfolios of home affairs (giving him control of the dreaded “thought police”), education, munitions, commerce and industry, and foreign affairs.
What was Tôjô's role in the war?
Tôjô built up a personal power base and used his position as head of the military police of Japan’s garrison force in Manchuria to rein in their influence before he became the Kwantung Army’s chief of staff in 1937. He played a key role in opening hostilities against China in July.
Why was Razor Tôjô so famous?
Known within the army as “Razor Tôjô” both for his bureaucratic efficiency and for his strict, uncompromising attention to detail, he climbed the command ladders, in close association with the army faction seeking to upgrade and improve Japan’s fighting capabilities despite tight budgets and “civilian interference.”.
What happened to Tôjô?
After Japan’s surrender the next year, Tôjô attempted suicide when threatened with arrest by occupation authorities, but he was tried and hanged as a war criminal on December 23, 1948. At his trial, he asserted his personal responsibility for the war and attempted to deflect attention from the emperor. In 1978, despite the protest of many citizens opposed to honoring the man they felt had brought disaster on Japan, Tôjô’s name, along with those of thirteen other “class A” war criminals, was commemorated at Yasukuni, the shrine in Tokyo dedicated to the memory of warriors fallen in service to the imperial family.
What were Japan's early victories?
Japan’s early victories greatly strengthened his personal prestige and his assertion that there were times when statesmen had to “have faith in Victory.”. When the war intensified, Japan’s losses mounted, and its fragile industrial foundations threatened to collapse.
When did Tôjô become Prime Minister?
In October 1941 he became prime minister. Although Tôjô supported last-minute diplomatic efforts, he gave final approval to the attacks on the United States, Great Britain, and the Dutch East Indies in December 1941.
Who was the leader of Japan during the Pacific War?
Tôjô Hideki. Wartime leader of Japan’s government, General Tôjô Hideki (1884-1948), with his close-cropped hair, mustache, and round spectacles, became for Allied propagandists one of the most commonly caricatured members of Japan’s military dictatorship throughout the Pacific war.
How did Tōjō Hideki change the world?
Tōjō was the prime minister of Japan during most of the Pacific War. He was one of the architects of Japan’s expansionist policies in Asia and directed Japan’s military efforts during its earliest and most successful campaigns .
Where was Tōjō Hideki educated?
Tōjō attended Japan’s Imperial Military Academy and Military Staff College. These two schools were a gateway to power in pre- World War II Japan, and many graduates were prominent members of the militarist faction that controlled Japanese politics in the 1930s and ’40s.
How did Tōjō Hideki die?
Tōjō shot himself in a failed suicide attempt after Japan surrendered on September 11, 1945, but the Allies treated his wounds so he could stand trial for war crimes. A military tribunal found him guilty, and he was executed by hanging on December 23, 1948.
What was the Japanese military's role in World War 2?
This expansion continued relatively unchecked until mid-1942. Then, after losing the Battle of Midway, Japan was forced on the defensive.
What was the name of the Japanese army in 1937?
In 1937 he was named chief of staff of the Kwantung Army in Manchuria. In World War II the Japanese military forces quickly took advantage of their success at Pearl Harbor to expand their holdings throughout the Pacific and westward toward India. This expansion continued relatively unchecked until mid-1942.
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Where is the ashes of the Japanese buried?
Some of his ashes were scattered at sea, and some were interred at Zōshigaya Cemetery in Tokyo and at Koa Kannon, a temple dedicated to the bodhisattva of compassion in Atami. He is also enshrined at Yasukuni, a shrine that honours the millions of Japanese who died in World War II.
What was the name of the memo that the US issued to the Japanese in 1941?
To Pearl Harbor. The situation grew more precarious. On November 26, 1941, the United States issued a memorandum called the Hull Note, named after Secretary of State Cordell Hull, which demanded the complete withdrawal of Japanese troops from China and French Indochina. Hideki Tōjō saw this as an ultimatum.
What was the death rate of Western prisoners in Japanese POW camps?
The death rate of Western prisoners in Japanese POW camps was 27 percent — seven times higher than in German POW camps. In addition, he approved biological experiments on POWs. Tōjō also consented to the forced prostitution of so-called “comfort girls” at the hands of the Japanese military.
Why did the restoration end the samurai class?
The restoration ostensibly ended the samurai class as part of its reform to modernize and industrialize Japan. But the old divisions between commoners and aristocratic nobility were hard to crack. Tōjō followed in the footsteps of his father.
Why was Kamisori called Kamisori?
As his power grew, he earned the nickname Kamisori, meaning “Razor,” for his decisiveness and strict by-the-book mentality (some sources say it was because of his cold-bloodedness). His next step up was in 1937 to chief of staff of the Kwantung Army. The next year he became Japan’s vice-minister of war, and in 1940 he was appointed army minister.
When was the Razor born?
The Razor Is Born. In 1931 , the Japanese invaded Manchuria and established the puppet state of Manchukuo. In 1934, Hideki Tōjō was promoted to major general and the following year he commanded the Kempetai, Japan’s Gestapo-style military police force, in Manchuria.
What were the sanctions on Japan?
The United States imposed economic sanctions and embargoes on Japan, including the restriction of key strategic resources such as scrap metal and gasoline (more than 80 percent of Japan’s petroleum came from the U.S.). Instead of crippling Japan, these sanctions emboldened it to align against the U.S.
Who replaced Hirohito as Prime Minister?
Tōjō ended up on top. On Oct. 16, 1941, Konoe resigned as prime minister, recommending to Emperor Hirohito that Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni replace him. But Hirohito chose a different tack: The next day, he appointed Hideki Tōjō, the career general and militaristic hardliner, as prime minister of Japan.
Where did Hideki Tojo land?
Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo landed in Nichols Field, an airfield south of Manila, for state visit to the Philippines. By Reader’s Digest – Kasaysayan: Story of the Filipino People Volume 7, Public Domain. An interesting fact was that Tojo held on to his position as the Army Minister while being the Prime Minister of Japan.
What was Tojo's job in Japan?
An interesting fact was that Tojo held on to his position as the Army Minister while being the Prime Minister of Japan . The atrocities committed in China were often guided by his supervision. On top of that, Tojo held the positions of Minister of Education , Minister of Commerce and Industry, Home Minister and Minister of Foreign affairs ...
Why did McArthur protect Hirohito?
Some claimed that McArthur was protecting Emperor Hirohito from charges in order to maintain peace in Japan, thus making Tojo the main culprit of the war and the face of the Japanese terror. After he was sentenced to death, Tojo stated:
What rank did Tojo become?
In 1934, Tojo continued his rise within the political structures of The Japanese Empire and became a major general serving as Chief of the Personnel Department within the Army Ministry .
Why was Tojo arrested?
After the unconditional surrender of Japan in 1945, Tojo was arrested by the orders of general Douglas McArthur. He was put on trail for numerous charges, most of them indicating his full responsibility in waging war against the Allies, maltreatment of POWs and genocides in China.
What was the Japanese government like in the 1930s?
The 30s in Japan were marked by political turmoil between two factions within the military. The first faction advocated the expansion on the territory of the Soviet Union and unprecedented loyalty to Emperor Hirohito while the “Young Officers” wanted to reduce the power of the Emperor and the ruling elite while emphasizing colonial conquest in China. Other than the two factions, there was a number of secret societies that lurked the Japanese government from shadows in the 1930s.
What was Tojo's role in the Tripartite Pact?
Tojo played an important role in joining the Tripartite Pact together with Italy and Germany and in negotiating the occupation of Indochina after the fall of France. The animosity between the US and Japan started to flourish, as the US proclaimed a total embargo on oil and gasoline exports to Japan.
Overview
Honors
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (July 7, 1937; Third Class: September 29, 1928; Fourth Class: June 25, 1920; Fifth Class: May 31, 1913; Sixth Class: April 1, 1906)
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (April 29, 1940; Second Class: April 29, 1934; Fourth Class: November 1, 1920)
Early life and education
Hideki Tojo was born in the Kōjimachi district of Tokyo on December 30, 1884, as the third son of Hidenori Tojo, a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army. Under the bakufu, Japanese society was divided rigidly into four castes; the merchants, artisans, peasants, and the samurai. After the Meiji Restoration, the caste system was abolished in 1871, but the former caste distinctions in many ways persisted afterwards, ensuring that those from the former samurai ca…
Military career
Upon graduating from the Japanese Military Academy (ranked 10th of 363 cadets) in March 1902, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry of the IJA. In 1918–19, he briefly served in Siberia as part of the Japanese expeditionary force sent to intervene in the Russian Civil War. He served as Japanese military attache to Germany between 1919 and 1922. As t…
Rise to Prime Minister
On June 1, 1940, Emperor Hirohito appointed Kōichi Kido, a leading "reform bureaucrat" as the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, making him into the Emperor's leading political advisor and fixer. Kido had aided in the creation in the 1930s of an alliance between the "reform bureaucrats" and the Army's "Control" faction centered around Tojo and General Mutō Akira. Kido's appointment also favore…
World War II
On December 8, 1941 (December 7 in the Americas), Tojo went on Japanese radio to announce that Japan was now at war with the United States, the British Empire, and the Netherlands, reading out an imperial rescript that ended with the playing of the popular martial song Umi Yukaba (Across the Sea), which set to music a popular war poem from the classic collection Manyōshū, featuring the …
Arrest, trial, and execution
After Japan's unconditional surrender in 1945, U.S. general Douglas MacArthur ordered the arrest of forty individuals suspected of war crimes, including Tojo. Five American GIs were sent to serve the arrest warrant. As American soldiers surrounded Tojo's house on September 11, he shot himself in the chest with a pistol, but missed his heart. As a result of this experience, the Army had medic…
Legacy
Tojo's commemorating tomb is located in a shrine in Hazu, Aichi (now Nishio, Aichi), and he is one of those enshrined at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
A number of his descendants survived, including his granddaughter, Yūko Tojo, who was a political hopeful who claimed Japan's war was one of self-defense and that it was unfair that her grandfather was judged a Class-A war criminal. …