Kiyoshi Akita
Encyclopedia
, was a politician and cabinet minister in the Empire of Japan
, serving as a member of the Lower House
of the Diet of Japan
for ten terms, and twice as a cabinet minister. He also served as Speaker of the House from 1932-1934.
, Tokushima Prefecture
and was a graduate from the predecessor of Nihon University
with a graduate degree in law from the predecessor of Chuo University
.
Akita was a judge in the Tokushima District Court, but left the legal profession to become a journalist for the Niroku Shipō, a newspaper of which he eventually became president. He won a seat in the Lower House
of the Diet of Japan
in the 1912 General Election with the support of the Rikken Dōshikai
political party. He was subsequently a member of the Rikken Kokumintō
, followed by the Rikken Seiyūkai
, with whose support he became Speaker of the House from March 1932 to December 1934.
In 1939, under the Abe administration, Akita was asked to serve in the cabinet as Minister of Welfare. He joined the Taisei Yokusankai
in 1940, and was appointed as Minister of Colonial Affairs
in the 2nd Konoe administration
from September 1940 – July 1941. Afterwards, he retired from public life and was awarded the 1st class of the Order of the Sacred Treasures
. Akita died in 1944.
His son, Daisuke Akita was also a politician, serving in the post-war Diet, and as Minister of Justice (Japan)
in the 1970s.
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 a member of the Lower House
House of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
of 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...
for ten terms, and twice as a cabinet minister. He also served as Speaker of the House from 1932-1934.
Biography
Akita was born in Miyoshi DistrictMiyoshi District, Tokushima
is a district located in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the district has an estimated population of 14,935 and a density of 122 persons per km². The total area is 122.55 km².- Mergers :...
, Tokushima Prefecture
Tokushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is the city of Tokushima.- Tokushima Prefecture and Myodo Prefecture :Long ago, Tokushima City belonged to a region known as Myōdō-gun...
and was a graduate from the predecessor of Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
with a graduate degree in law from the predecessor of Chuo University
Chuo University
Chuo University is a one of the Japanese leading universities. Thus it is competitive in several rankings such as shown below.-General Rankings:The university has been ranked 27th, 25th, 34th during 2008-2010 respectively in the ranking "Truly Strong Universities" by Toyo Keizai.-Research...
.
Akita was a judge in the Tokushima District Court, but left the legal profession to become a journalist for the Niroku Shipō, a newspaper of which he eventually became president. He won a seat in the Lower House
House of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
of 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 the 1912 General Election with the support of the Rikken Dōshikai
Rikken Doshikai
The was a political party active in the Empire of Japan in the early years of the 20th century. It was also known as simply the Dōshikai.Founded by Prime Minister Katsura Tarō on February 7, 1913, the Rikken Dōshikai largely served to support his cabinet against criticism by the Rikken Seiyūkai...
political party. He was subsequently a member of 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...
, followed by 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...
, with whose support he became Speaker of the House from March 1932 to December 1934.
In 1939, under the Abe administration, Akita was asked to serve in the cabinet as Minister of Welfare. He joined the Taisei Yokusankai
Taisei Yokusankai
The was Japan's para-fascist organization created by Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe on October 12, 1940 to promote the goals of his Shintaisei movement...
in 1940, and was appointed as Minister of Colonial Affairs
Ministry of Colonial Affairs
The was a cabinet-level ministry in the government of the Empire of Japan from 1923-1942.-History:The original Ministry of Colonial Affairs was the short-lived Hokkaidō Colonization Office, established in the early Meiji period by Prime Minister Kuroda Kiyotaka to protect Japan's sparely populated...
in the 2nd Konoe administration
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 :...
from September 1940 – July 1941. Afterwards, he retired from public life and was awarded the 1st class of the Order of the Sacred Treasures
Order of the Sacred Treasures
The is a Japanese Order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan as the Order of Meiji. It is awarded in eight classes . It is generally awarded for long and/or meritorious service and considered to be the lowest of the Japanese orders of merit...
. Akita died in 1944.
His son, Daisuke Akita was also a politician, serving in the post-war Diet, and as Minister of Justice (Japan)
Minister of Justice (Japan)
The is the member of the Cabinet of Japan in charge of the Ministry of Justice. The post has been held by Hideo Hiraoka since 2 September 2011.- Ministers of Justice :...
in the 1970s.