Kazuo Aoki
Encyclopedia
, was a bureaucrat and cabinet minister in the Empire of Japan
, serving as Minister of Finance
, and Minister of Greater East Asia
.
, Nagano prefecture
(now part of the city of Nagano
), and was trained as a lawyer, graduating from the Law School of Tokyo Imperial University in 1916. On graduation, he entered the Ministry of Finance
. Rising rapidly through the ranks, Aoki became chief of the Financial Bureau under Takahashi Korekiyo
, who made use of his legal background to have Aoki draft a Foreign Exchange Management Act, which was passed by the Diet of Japan
in 1933. Up until that time, Japan had not attempted to implement comprehensive state control over foreign exchange. Aoki followed up on this law with the Rice Control Act (1933) and the Petroleum Control Act (1934), which set the stage for increasing state control over strategic sectors of the economy. He was also on the committee which drafted the National Service Draft Ordinance
, which placed the Japanese economy on a war economy
footing after the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
. Prime Minister
Fumimaro Konoe
asked Aoki to become deputy director of the Planning Board in 1937, and he became its chairman in 1939. The same year, Aoki was nominated to a seat in the Upper House
in the Diet.
Under Prime Minister Abe, Aoki was Minister of Finance in 1939, while retaining his post as chairman of the Planning Board. After the fall of the Abe administration, Aoki was assigned as a special envoy to the Reorganized National Government of China to guide economic policy. He was recalled to Japan under the Tōjō administration
to the newly-created cabinet post of Minister of Greater East Asia
, in which position he oversaw the Greater East Asia Conference
.
After the end of World War II, Aoki was arrested (as were all former government members) by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
and held in Sugamo Prison
on charges of war crime
s. However, he was released in 1948 without coming to trial. Afterwards, Aoki established a private legal practice. In 1953, he ran for a seat in the House of Councilors with the support of the Liberal Party (Japan, 1945) on a nation-wide ticket. He was subsequently reelected to the same seat three more times as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
. He joined a right-wing faction within the LDP in 1960 which was adamantly opposed to Japan’s normalization of relations with the People’s Republic of China and supported Japan’s continued recognition of the Republic of China
on Taiwan
. He was also a strong supporter of building a nation-wide network of highways in Japan, especially the Chūō Expressway
.
After his retirement from politics, Aoki joined the Board of Directors of Shin-etsu Broadcasting
, and in 1968 was one of the founders of the Nagano Broadcasting Systems
. In 1971, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun
, 1st class. He published his memoirs in 1981, shortly before his death in 1982.
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
, serving as Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (Japan)
The is the member of the Cabinet of Japan in charge of the Ministry of Finance. This position was formerly cited as being Japan's most powerful and one of the world's, because Japan had historically held the largest foreign exchange reserves...
, and Minister of Greater East Asia
Ministry of Greater East Asia
The was a cabinet-level ministry in the government of the Empire of Japan from 1942–1945, established to administer overseas territories obtained by Japan in the Pacific War and to coordinate the establishment and development of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.-History and...
.
Biography
Aoki was born to a farming family in Sarashina DistrictSarashina District, Nagano
Sarashina was a district located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 1,467 and a density of 31.99 persons per km²...
, Nagano prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
(now part of the city of Nagano
Nagano, Nagano
, the capital city of Nagano Prefecture, is located in the northern part of the prefecture near the confluence of the Chikuma and the Sai rivers, on the main Japanese island of Honshū.As of April 1, 2011 the city has a population of 387,146...
), and was trained as a lawyer, graduating from the Law School of Tokyo Imperial University in 1916. On graduation, he entered the Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Japan)
The ' is one of cabinet-level ministries of the Japanese government. The ministry was once named Ōkura-shō . The Ministry is headed by the Minister of Finance , who is a member of the Cabinet and is typically chosen from members of the Diet by the Prime Minister.The Ministry's origin was back in...
. Rising rapidly through the ranks, Aoki became chief of the Financial Bureau under Takahashi Korekiyo
Takahashi Korekiyo
Viscount was a Japanese politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Japan from 13 November 1921 to 12 June 1922. He was known as an expert on finance during his political career.-Early life :...
, who made use of his legal background to have Aoki draft a Foreign Exchange Management Act, which was passed by the Diet of Japan
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 1933. Up until that time, Japan had not attempted to implement comprehensive state control over foreign exchange. Aoki followed up on this law with the Rice Control Act (1933) and the Petroleum Control Act (1934), which set the stage for increasing state control over strategic sectors of the economy. He was also on the committee which drafted the National Service Draft Ordinance
National Mobilization Law
was legislated in the Diet of Japan by Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe on 24 March 1938 to put the national economy of the Empire of Japan on war-time footing after the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War....
, which placed the Japanese economy on a war economy
War economy
War economy is the term used to describe the contingencies undertaken by the modern state to mobilise its economy for war production. Philippe Le Billon describes a war economy as a "system of producing, mobilising and allocating resources to sustain the violence".Many states increase the degree of...
footing after the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. 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...
Fumimaro Konoe
Fumimaro Konoe
Prince was a politician in the Empire of Japan who served as the 34th, 38th and 39th Prime Minister of Japan and founder/leader of the Taisei Yokusankai.- Early life :...
asked Aoki to become deputy director of the Planning Board in 1937, and he became its chairman in 1939. The same year, Aoki was nominated to a seat in the Upper House
House of Peers (Japan)
The ' was the upper house of the Imperial Diet as mandated under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan ....
in the Diet.
Under Prime Minister Abe, Aoki was Minister of Finance in 1939, while retaining his post as chairman of the Planning Board. After the fall of the Abe administration, Aoki was assigned as a special envoy to the Reorganized National Government of China to guide economic policy. He was recalled to Japan under the Tōjō administration
Hideki Tōjō
Hideki Tōjō was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army , the leader of the Taisei Yokusankai, and the 40th Prime Minister of Japan during most of World War II, from 17 October 1941 to 22 July 1944...
to the newly-created cabinet post of Minister of Greater East Asia
Ministry of Greater East Asia
The was a cabinet-level ministry in the government of the Empire of Japan from 1942–1945, established to administer overseas territories obtained by Japan in the Pacific War and to coordinate the establishment and development of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.-History and...
, in which position he oversaw the Greater East Asia Conference
Greater East Asia Conference
was an international summit held in Tokyo, Japan from 5 – 6 November 1943, in which Japan hosted the heads of state of various component members of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere...
.
After the end of World War II, Aoki was arrested (as were all former government members) by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
and held in Sugamo Prison
Sugamo Prison
Sugamo Prison was located in the district of Ikebukuro, which is now part of the Toshima ward of Tokyo, Japan-History:...
on charges of war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s. However, he was released in 1948 without coming to trial. Afterwards, Aoki established a private legal practice. In 1953, he ran for a seat in the House of Councilors with the support of the Liberal Party (Japan, 1945) on a nation-wide ticket. He was subsequently reelected to the same seat three more times as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
. He joined a right-wing faction within the LDP in 1960 which was adamantly opposed to Japan’s normalization of relations with the People’s Republic of China and supported Japan’s continued recognition of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
on Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. He was also a strong supporter of building a nation-wide network of highways in Japan, especially the Chūō Expressway
Chuo Expressway
The is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by Central Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Officially the expressway is designated as the Chūō Expressway Nishinomiya Route , the Chūō Expressway Nagano Route , and the Chūō Expressway Fujiyoshida Route The (lit. Central...
.
After his retirement from politics, Aoki joined the Board of Directors of Shin-etsu Broadcasting
Shin-etsu Broadcasting
, also known as SBC, is a Japanese broadcast network affiliated with the Japan News Network . Their headquarters are located in Nagano Prefecture.-The Headquarters:* 1200 Toigosho-machi Nagano-city, NAGANO 380-8521 JAPAN...
, and in 1968 was one of the founders of the Nagano Broadcasting Systems
Nagano Broadcasting Systems
, also known as NBS, is a Japanese broadcast network affiliated with the FNN. Their headquarters are located in Nagano Prefecture.-Headquarters:* 131-7 Okada-machi Nagano-city, NAGANO 380-8633 JAPAN* Telephone Number:+81-26-227-3000-History:...
. In 1971, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
, 1st class. He published his memoirs in 1981, shortly before his death in 1982.