Ministry of War of Japan
Encyclopedia
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
in the Empire of Japan
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...
charged with the administrative affairs of 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...
(IJA). It existed from 1872 to 1945.
History
The Army Ministry was created in April 1872, along with the Navy MinistryMinistry of the Navy of Japan
The was a cabinet-level ministry in the Empire of Japan charged with the administrative affairs of the Imperial Japanese Navy . It existed from 1872 to 1945.-History:...
, to replace the of the early Meiji government.
Initially, the Army Ministry was in charge of both administration and operational command of the Imperial Japanese Army. However, with the creation of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff in December 1878, it was left with only administrative functions. Its primary role was to secure the army budget, weapons procurement, personnel, relations with 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...
and the Cabinet
Cabinet of Japan
The of Japan is the executive branch of the government of Japan. It consists of the Prime Minister and up to fourteen other members, called Ministers of State. The Prime Minister is designated by the Diet, and the remaining ministers are appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister...
and broad matters of military policy.
The post of Army Minister was politically powerful. Although a member of the Cabinet after the establishment of the cabinet system of government in 1885, the Army Minister was answerable directly to the Emperor
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
(the commander-in-chief of all Japanese armed forces under the Meiji Constitution
Meiji Constitution
The ', known informally as the ', was the organic law of the Japanese empire, in force from November 29, 1890 until May 2, 1947.-Outline:...
) and not the 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...
.
The post of Army Minister was usually filled by an active-duty general in the Imperial Japanese Army. This practice was made into law under the in 1900 by Prime Minister Yamagata Aritomo
Yamagata Aritomo
Field Marshal Prince , also known as Yamagata Kyōsuke, was a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and twice Prime Minister of Japan. He is considered one of the architects of the military and political foundations of early modern Japan. Yamagata Aritomo can be seen as the father of Japanese...
to curb the influence of political parties
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...
into military affairs. Abolished in 1913 under the administration of 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:...
, the law was revived again in 1936 at the insistence of the Army General Staff by Prime Minister Hirota Kōki
Koki Hirota
was a Japanese diplomat, politician and the 32nd Prime Minister of Japan from March 9, 1936 to February 2, 1937.-Early life:Hirota was born in what is now part of Chūō-ku, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka Prefecture. His father was a stonemason, and he was adopted into the Hirota family. After attending...
. The ability of the Imperial Japanese Army to refuse to nominate an Army Minister gave it effective veto power over the formation (or continuation) of any civilian administration, and was a key factor in the erosion of representative democracy
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
and the rise of Japanese militarism
Japanese militarism
refers to the ideology in the Empire of Japan that militarism should dominate the political and social life of the nation, and that the strength of the military is equal to the strength of a nation.-Rise of militarism :...
.
After 1937, both the Army Minister and the Chief of the Army General Staff were members of the Imperial General Headquarters
Imperial General Headquarters
The as part of the Supreme War Council was established in 1893 to coordinate efforts between the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during wartime...
.
With the defeat of the Empire of Japan
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...
in 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...
, the Army Ministry was abolished together with the Imperial Japanese Army by the American occupation authorities
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...
in November 1945 and was not revived in the post-war Constitution of Japan.
Organization
- Under-Secretary of the Army (Vice Minister)
- Military Affairs Bureau
- Personnel Bureau
- Weapons Bureau
- Army Service Bureau
- Administration Bureau
- Intendance (Accounts and Supply)
- Medical
- Judicial Bureau
- Economic Mobilization Bureau
- Aeronautical Department
- Economic Mobilization (abolished in April 1945)
The Army Ministry and Imperial General Headquarters
Imperial General Headquarters
The as part of the Supreme War Council was established in 1893 to coordinate efforts between the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during wartime...
were located was located in Ichigaya Heights
Ichigaya
Ichigaya is an area in the eastern portion of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.-Places in Ichigaya:*Hosei University Ichigaya Campus*Chuo University Graduate School...
, in which is now part of Shinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the busiest train station in the world and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration center for the government of Tokyo.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population...
.
Ministers of Army of Japan
| Name | Cabinet | From | To | |
| 1 | Ōyama Iwao | 1st Itō Ito Hirobumi Prince was a samurai of Chōshū domain, Japanese statesman, four time Prime Minister of Japan , genrō and Resident-General of Korea. Itō was assassinated by An Jung-geun, a Korean nationalist who was against the annexation of Korea by the Japanese Empire... |
22 December 1885 | 30 April 1888 |
| 2 | Ōyama Iwao | Kuroda Kuroda Kiyotaka , also known as , was a Japanese politician of the Meiji era. He was the second Prime Minister of Japan from 30 April 1888 to 25 October 1889.-As a Satsuma samurai:... |
30 April 1888 | 24 December 1889 |
| 3 | Ōyama Iwao | 1st Yamagata Yamagata Aritomo Field Marshal Prince , also known as Yamagata Kyōsuke, was a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and twice Prime Minister of Japan. He is considered one of the architects of the military and political foundations of early modern Japan. Yamagata Aritomo can be seen as the father of Japanese... |
24 December 1889 | 6 May 1891 |
| 4 | Ōyama Iwao | 1st Matsukata Matsukata Masayoshi Prince was a Japanese politician and the 4th and 6th Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:... |
6 May 1891 | 17 May 1891 |
| 5 | Takashima Tomonosuke Takashima Tomonosuke - Notes :... |
1st Matsukata Matsukata Masayoshi Prince was a Japanese politician and the 4th and 6th Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:... |
17 May 1891 | 8 August 1892 |
| 6 | Ōyama Iwao | 2nd Itō Ito Hirobumi Prince was a samurai of Chōshū domain, Japanese statesman, four time Prime Minister of Japan , genrō and Resident-General of Korea. Itō was assassinated by An Jung-geun, a Korean nationalist who was against the annexation of Korea by the Japanese Empire... |
8 August 1892 | 18 September 1896 |
| 7 | Ōyama Iwao | 2nd Matsukata Matsukata Masayoshi Prince was a Japanese politician and the 4th and 6th Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:... |
18 September 1896 | 20 September 1896 |
| 8 | Takashima Tomonosuke | 2nd Matsukata Matsukata Masayoshi Prince was a Japanese politician and the 4th and 6th Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:... |
20 September 1896 | 12 January 1898 |
| 9 | Katsura Tarō | 3rd Itō Ito Hirobumi Prince was a samurai of Chōshū domain, Japanese statesman, four time Prime Minister of Japan , genrō and Resident-General of Korea. Itō was assassinated by An Jung-geun, a Korean nationalist who was against the annexation of Korea by the Japanese Empire... |
12 January 1898 | 30 June 1898 |
| 10 | Katsura Tarō | 1st Ōkuma Okuma Shigenobu Marquis ; was a statesman in the Empire of Japan and the 8th and 17th Prime Minister of Japan... |
30 June 1898 | 8 November 1898 |
| 11 | Katsura Tarō | 2nd Yamagata Yamagata Aritomo Field Marshal Prince , also known as Yamagata Kyōsuke, was a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and twice Prime Minister of Japan. He is considered one of the architects of the military and political foundations of early modern Japan. Yamagata Aritomo can be seen as the father of Japanese... |
8 November 1898 | 19 October 1900 |
| 12 | Katsura Tarō | 4th Itō Ito Hirobumi Prince was a samurai of Chōshū domain, Japanese statesman, four time Prime Minister of Japan , genrō and Resident-General of Korea. Itō was assassinated by An Jung-geun, a Korean nationalist who was against the annexation of Korea by the Japanese Empire... |
19 October 1900 | 23 December 1900 |
| 13 | Kodama Gentarō | 4th Itō Ito Hirobumi Prince was a samurai of Chōshū domain, Japanese statesman, four time Prime Minister of Japan , genrō and Resident-General of Korea. Itō was assassinated by An Jung-geun, a Korean nationalist who was against the annexation of Korea by the Japanese Empire... |
23 December 1900 | 2 June 1901 |
| 14 | Kodama Gentarō | 1st Katsura 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... |
2 June 1901 | 27 March 1902 |
| 15 | Terauchi Masatake Terauchi Masatake , GCB was a Japanese military officer and politician. He was a Field Marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and the 18th Prime Minister of Japan from 9 October 1916 to 29 September 1918.-Early period:... |
1st Katsura 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... |
27 March 1902 | 7 January 1906 |
| 16 | Terauchi Masatake | 1st Saionji Saionji Kinmochi Prince was a Japanese politician, statesman and twice Prime Minister of Japan. His title does not signify the son of an emperor, but the highest rank of Japanese hereditary nobility; he was elevated from marquis to prince in 1920... |
7 January 1906 | 14 July 1908 |
| 17 | Terauchi Masatake | 2nd Katsura 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... |
14 July 1908 | 30 August 1911 |
| 18 | Ishimoto Shinroku Ishimoto Shinroku - Notes :... |
2nd Saionji Saionji Kinmochi Prince was a Japanese politician, statesman and twice Prime Minister of Japan. His title does not signify the son of an emperor, but the highest rank of Japanese hereditary nobility; he was elevated from marquis to prince in 1920... |
30 August 1911 | 2 April 1912 |
| 19 | Uehara Yūsaku | 2nd Saionji Saionji Kinmochi Prince was a Japanese politician, statesman and twice Prime Minister of Japan. His title does not signify the son of an emperor, but the highest rank of Japanese hereditary nobility; he was elevated from marquis to prince in 1920... |
5 April 1912 | 21 December 1912 |
| 20 | Kigoshi Yasutsuna Kigoshi Yasutsuna -Notes:... |
3rd Katsura 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... |
21 December 1912 | 20 February 1913 |
| 21 | Kigoshi Yasutsuna | 1st Yamamoto Yamamoto Gonnohyoe , also called Gonnohyōe, was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and the 16th and 22nd Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:... |
20 February 1913 | 24 June 1913 |
| 22 | Kusunose Yukihiko Kusunose Yukihiko - Notes :... |
1st Yamamoto Yamamoto Gonnohyoe , also called Gonnohyōe, was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and the 16th and 22nd Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:... |
24 June 1913 | 16 April 1914 |
| 23 | Oka Ichinosuke Oka Ichinosuke - Notes :... |
2nd Ōkuma Okuma Shigenobu Marquis ; was a statesman in the Empire of Japan and the 8th and 17th Prime Minister of Japan... |
16 April 1914 | 30 March 1916 |
| 24 | Ōshima Ken'ichi Oshima Ken'ichi - Notes :... |
2nd Ōkuma Okuma Shigenobu Marquis ; was a statesman in the Empire of Japan and the 8th and 17th Prime Minister of Japan... |
30 March 1916 | 9 October 1916 |
| 25 | Ōshima Ken'ichi | Terauchi Terauchi Masatake , GCB was a Japanese military officer and politician. He was a Field Marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and the 18th Prime Minister of Japan from 9 October 1916 to 29 September 1918.-Early period:... |
9 October 1916 | 29 September 1918 |
| 26 | 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:... |
Hara Hara Takashi was a Japanese politician and the 19th Prime Minister of Japan from 29 September 1918 to 4 November 1921. He was also called Hara Kei informally. He was the first commoner appointed to the office of prime minister of Japan... |
29 September 1918 | 9 June 1921 |
| 27 | Yamanashi Hanzō | Hara Hara Takashi was a Japanese politician and the 19th Prime Minister of Japan from 29 September 1918 to 4 November 1921. He was also called Hara Kei informally. He was the first commoner appointed to the office of prime minister of Japan... |
9 June 1921 | 13 November 1921 |
| 28 | Yamanashi Hanzō | Takahashi 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 :... |
13 November 1921 | 12 June 1922 |
| 29 | Yamanashi Hanzō | Katō Kato Tomosaburo Viscount was a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy, cabinet minister, and Prime Minister of Japan from 12 June 1922 to 24 August 1923.-Biography:... |
12 June 1922 | 2 September 1923 |
| 30 | Tanaka Giichi | 2nd Yamamoto Yamamoto Gonnohyoe , also called Gonnohyōe, was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and the 16th and 22nd Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:... |
2 September 1923 | 7 January 1924 |
| 31 | Ugaki Kazushige | Kiyoura Kiyoura Keigo was a Japanese politician. He was the 23rd Prime Minister of Japan from 7 January 1924 to 11 June 1924, during the period which historians have called the “Taisho Democracy”.- Early life :... |
7 January 1924 | 11 June 1924 |
| 32 | Ugaki Kazushige | Katō 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 :... |
11 June 1924 | 30 January 1926 |
| 33 | Ugaki Kazushige | 1st Wakatsuki Wakatsuki Reijiro ōBaron was a Japanese politician and the 25th and 28th Prime Minister of Japan. Opposition politicians of the time derogatorily labeled him Usotsuki Reijirō, or "Reijirō the Liar".- Early life :... |
30 January 1926 | 20 April 1927 |
| 34 | Shirakawa Yoshinori | 1st Tanaka 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:... |
20 April 1927 | 2 July 1929 |
| 35 | Ugaki Kazushige | Hamaguchi | 2 July 1929 | 14 April 1931 |
| 36 | Minami Jirō Jiro Minami - Notes :... |
2nd Wakatsuki Wakatsuki Reijiro ōBaron was a Japanese politician and the 25th and 28th Prime Minister of Japan. Opposition politicians of the time derogatorily labeled him Usotsuki Reijirō, or "Reijirō the Liar".- Early life :... |
14 April 1931 | 13 December 1931 |
| 37 | Araki Sadao | Inukai Inukai Tsuyoshi was a Japanese politician and the 29th Prime Minister of Japan from 13 December 1931 to 15 May 1932.-Early life:Inukai was born to a former samurai family of the Niwase Domain, in Niwase village, Bizen Province , and was a graduate of Keio Gijuku in Tokyo. In his early career, he worked as a... |
13 December 1931 | 26 May 1932 |
| 38 | Araki Sadao | Saitō Saito Makoto Viscount was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, two-time Governor-General of Korea from 1919 to 1927 and from 1929 to 1931, and the 30th Prime Minister of Japan from May 26, 1932 to July 8, 1934.-Early life:... |
26 May 1932 | 23 January 1934 |
| 39 | Hayashi Senjūrō | Saitō Saito Makoto Viscount was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, two-time Governor-General of Korea from 1919 to 1927 and from 1929 to 1931, and the 30th Prime Minister of Japan from May 26, 1932 to July 8, 1934.-Early life:... |
23 January 1934 | 8 July 1934 |
| 40 | Hayashi Senjūrō | Okada Keisuke Okada was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, politician and the 31st Prime Minister of Japan from 8 July 1934 to 9 March 1936.-Early life:Okada was born in what is now Fukui Prefecture to an ex-samurai family. He attended the 15th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, graduating 7th out of... |
8 July 1934 | 5 September 1935 |
| 41 | Kawashima Yoshiyuki | Okada Keisuke Okada was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, politician and the 31st Prime Minister of Japan from 8 July 1934 to 9 March 1936.-Early life:Okada was born in what is now Fukui Prefecture to an ex-samurai family. He attended the 15th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, graduating 7th out of... |
5 September 1935 | 9 March 1936 |
| 42 | Terauchi Hisaichi Terauchi Hisaichi |-... |
Hirota Koki Hirota was a Japanese diplomat, politician and the 32nd Prime Minister of Japan from March 9, 1936 to February 2, 1937.-Early life:Hirota was born in what is now part of Chūō-ku, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka Prefecture. His father was a stonemason, and he was adopted into the Hirota family. After attending... |
9 March 1936 | 2 February 1937 |
| 43 | Nakamura Kōtarō | Hayashi Senjuro Hayashi was an Imperial Japanese Army commander of the Chosen Army of Japan in Korea during the Mukden Incident and the invasion of Manchuria, and a Japanese politician and the 33rd Prime Minister of Japan from February 2, 1937 to June 4, 1937.-Biography:... |
2 February 1937 | 9 February 1937 |
| 44 | Sugiyama Hajime | Hayashi Senjuro Hayashi was an Imperial Japanese Army commander of the Chosen Army of Japan in Korea during the Mukden Incident and the invasion of Manchuria, and a Japanese politician and the 33rd Prime Minister of Japan from February 2, 1937 to June 4, 1937.-Biography:... |
9 February 1937 | 4 June 1937 |
| 45 | Sugiyama Hajime | 1st 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 :... |
4 June 1937 | 3 June 1938 |
| 46 | Itagaki Seishirō | 1st 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 :... |
3 June 1937 | 5 January 1939 |
| 47 | Itagaki Seishirō | 1st Hiranuma | 5 January 1939 | 30 August 1939 |
| 48 | Hata Shunroku | Abe | 30 August 1939 | 16 January 1940 |
| 49 | Hata Shunroku | Yonai | 16 January 1940 | 22 July 1940 |
| 50 | Tōjō Hideki | 2nd 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 :... |
22 July 1940 | 18 July 1941 |
| 51 | Tōjō Hideki | 3rd 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 :... |
18 July 1941 | 18 October 1941 |
| 52 | Tōjō Hideki | Tōjō 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... |
18 October 1941 | 22 July 1944 |
| 53 | Sugiyama Hajime | Koiso Kuniaki Koiso - Notes :... |
22 July 1944 | 7 April 1945 |
| 54 | Anami Korechika | Suzuki Kantaro Suzuki Baron was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, member and final leader of the Taisei Yokusankai and 42nd Prime Minister of Japan from 7 April-17 August 1945.-Early life:... |
7 April 1945 | 14 August 1945 |
| 55 | Higashikuni Naruhiko | Higashikuni | 17 August 1945 | 23 August 1945 |
| 56 | Shimomura Sadamu | Higashikuni | 23 August 1945 | 9 October 1945 |
| 57 | Shimomura Sadamu | Shidehara Kijuro Shidehara Baron was a prominent pre–World War II Japanese diplomat and the 44th Prime Minister of Japan from 9 October 1945 to 22 May 1946. He was a leading proponent of pacifism in Japan before and after World War II, and was also the last Japanese prime minister who was a member of the kazoku... |
9 October 1945 | 1 December 1945 |