Inukai Tsuyoshi
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese politician
and the 29th Prime Minister of Japan
from 13 December 1931 to 15 May 1932.
family of the Niwase Domain
, in Niwase village, Bizen Province
(present-day Okayama city, Okayama Prefecture
), and was a graduate of Keio Gijuku (subsequently Keio University
) in Tokyo
. In his early career, he worked as a journalist. He went with the Imperial Japanese Army
to the front during the Satsuma Rebellion
as a reporter for the Yūbin Hōchi Shimbun
.
political party
in 1882, which supported liberal
political causes, and strongly opposed the domination of the government by members of the former Chōshū and Satsuma domains (hanbatsu). He was first elected to the Lower House of the Imperial Diet
in 1890, and was subsequently reelected 17 times.
His first cabinet post was as Minister of Education in the first Ōkuma Shigenobu
administration of 1898, and as Minister of Posts and Communications
in the second Yamamoto Gonnohyōe
administration.
He was a leading figure in the Shimpotō
, the Kenseitō
and the Rikken Kokumintō
, which eventually toppled the government of Katsura Tarō
in 1913.
In 1922, the Rikken Kokumintō became the Kakushin Kurabu, which joined forces with other minor parties to form the cabinet during the premiership of Katō Takaaki
in 1924. During his time, Inukai served on the cabinet again as Minister of Posts and Communications. The Kakushin Kurabu then merged with the Rikken Seiyūkai
, and Inukai continued as a senior member. In 1929, after the sudden death of Tanaka Giichi
, Inukai became president of the Rikken Seiyūkai.
Inukai became the 29th Prime Minister of Japan
in 1931. At the time, Japan was in a serious economic situation due to the effects of the Great Depression of 1929, and its untimely return to the gold standard
. Inukai's government immediately took steps to inflate the economy and to place an embargo on gold exports. However, Inukai was unable to impose fiscal restraint on the military, nor was he able to control the military’s designs on China
after the Manchurian Incident. Inukai's struggle against the military led to his assassination
during the May 15 Incident
of 1932, which effectively marked the end of civilian political control over government decisions until after World War II
.
Inukai's third son was writer, politician and post-war Minister of Justice
Inukai Takeru. His great-granddaughter is Sadako Ogata
, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
from 1991 until 2001.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the 29th Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
from 13 December 1931 to 15 May 1932.
Early life
Inukai was born to a former samuraiSamurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
family of the Niwase Domain
Niwase Domain
The ' was a Japanese han of the Edo period, located in Bitchū Province.-History:The Niwase domain was founded in 1600, when Togawa Michiyasu, a retainer of Ukita Hideie, rebelled against his lord and sided with the Tokugawa clan at the Battle of Sekigahara. As a reward, the Tokugawa granted Togawa...
, in Niwase village, Bizen Province
Bizen Province
was a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of Honshū, in what is today the southeastern part of Okayama Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Bitchu and Bingo Provinces. Bizen borders Mimasaka, Harima, and Bitchū Provinces....
(present-day Okayama city, Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
), and was a graduate of Keio Gijuku (subsequently Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
) in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. In his early career, he worked as a journalist. He went with the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
to the front during the Satsuma Rebellion
Satsuma Rebellion
The was a revolt of Satsuma ex-samurai against the Meiji government from January 29 to September 24, 1877, 9 years into the Meiji Era. It was the last, and the most serious, of a series of armed uprisings against the new government.-Background:...
as a reporter for the Yūbin Hōchi Shimbun
Sports Hochi
, previously known as literally widely informing newspaper, is a Japanese language daily sports newspaper. As of 2002, it has a circulation of a million.It is an affiliate newspaper of Yomiuri Shimbun.-External links:*...
.
Political career
Inukai helped form the Rikken KokumintōRikken Kokuminto
The was a minor political party in the Empire of Japan. It was also known as simply the 'Kokumintō’.The Kokumintō was founded in March 1910, by a merger of the Kensei Hontō with a number of minor political parties and groups within the Lower House of the Japanese Diet, and was dominated by Inukai...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in 1882, which supported liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
political causes, and strongly opposed the domination of the government by members of the former Chōshū and Satsuma domains (hanbatsu). He was first elected to the Lower House of the Imperial Diet
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
in 1890, and was subsequently reelected 17 times.
His first cabinet post was as Minister of Education in the first Ōkuma Shigenobu
Okuma Shigenobu
Marquis ; was a statesman in the Empire of Japan and the 8th and 17th Prime Minister of Japan...
administration of 1898, and as Minister of Posts and Communications
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
The ' or Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is a cabinet-level ministry in the Government of Japan. The English name Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications was used prior to 2004...
in the second Yamamoto Gonnohyōe
Yamamoto Gonnohyoe
, also called Gonnohyōe, was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and the 16th and 22nd Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:...
administration.
He was a leading figure in the Shimpotō
Shimpoto
' was a short-lived political party in Meiji period Japan.The Shimpotō was founded by Ōkuma Shigenobu in March 1896, as a merger of the Rikken Kaishintō and minor political parties to offset a temporary alliance between Ōkuma's rival, Itō Hirobumi and the Jiyuto.In June 1898, the Shimpotō merged...
, the Kenseitō
Kenseito
The was a political party in the Meiji period Empire of Japan.The Kenseitō was founded in June 1898, as a merger of the Shimpotō headed by Ōkuma Shigenobu and the Jiyūtō led by Itagaki Taisuke, with Ōkuma as party president. The merger gave the new party an overwhelming majority in the Lower House...
and the Rikken Kokumintō
Rikken Kokuminto
The was a minor political party in the Empire of Japan. It was also known as simply the 'Kokumintō’.The Kokumintō was founded in March 1910, by a merger of the Kensei Hontō with a number of minor political parties and groups within the Lower House of the Japanese Diet, and was dominated by Inukai...
, which eventually toppled the government of Katsura Tarō
Katsura Taro
Prince , was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, politician and three-time Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:Katsura was born into a samurai family from Hagi, Chōshū Domain...
in 1913.
In 1922, the Rikken Kokumintō became the Kakushin Kurabu, which joined forces with other minor parties to form the cabinet during the premiership of Katō Takaaki
Kato Takaaki
Count was a Japanese politician and the 24th Prime Minister of Japan from 11 June 1924 to 28 January 1926. He was also known as Katō Kōmei.- Early life :...
in 1924. During his time, Inukai served on the cabinet again as Minister of Posts and Communications. The Kakushin Kurabu then merged with the Rikken Seiyūkai
Rikken Seiyukai
The was one of the main political parties in the pre-war Empire of Japan. It was also known simply as the ‘Seiyūkai'Founded on September 15, 1900 by Itō Hirobumi , the Seiyūkai was a pro-government alliance of bureaucrats and former members of the Kenseitō. The Seiyūkai was the most powerful...
, and Inukai continued as a senior member. In 1929, after the sudden death of Tanaka Giichi
Tanaka Giichi
Baron was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, politician, and the 26th Prime Minister of Japan from 20 April 1927 to 2 July 1929.-Early life and military career:...
, Inukai became president of the Rikken Seiyūkai.
Prime minister
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
in 1931. At the time, Japan was in a serious economic situation due to the effects of the Great Depression of 1929, and its untimely return to the gold standard
Gold standard
The gold standard is a monetary system in which the standard economic unit of account is a fixed mass of gold. There are distinct kinds of gold standard...
. Inukai's government immediately took steps to inflate the economy and to place an embargo on gold exports. However, Inukai was unable to impose fiscal restraint on the military, nor was he able to control the military’s designs on China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
after the Manchurian Incident. Inukai's struggle against the military led to his assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
during the May 15 Incident
May 15 Incident
The ' was an attempted coup d'état in Japan, on May 15, 1932, launched by radical elements of the Imperial Japanese Navy, aided by cadets in the Imperial Japanese Army and civilian remnants of the League of Blood Incident. Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi was assassinated by 11 young naval officers...
of 1932, which effectively marked the end of civilian political control over government decisions until after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Inukai's third son was writer, politician and post-war Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice (Japan)
The is one of Ministries of the Japanese government.-Meiji Constitution:The Ministry of Justice was established under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan in 1871 as the .-Constitution of Japan:...
Inukai Takeru. His great-granddaughter is Sadako Ogata
Sadako Ogata
, is a Japanese academic, diplomat, author, administrator and professor emeritus at Sophia University.-Early life:Sadako Nakamura was born in 1927...
, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
from 1991 until 2001.