Shigeru Yoshida (bureaucrat)
Encyclopedia
, was bureaucrat and politician in the Empire of Japan
, serving as a member of the Upper House
of the Diet of Japan
, Chief Cabinet Secretary
, governor of Fukuoka Prefecture
and twice as a cabinet minister.
, where his father worked as an official of the Bank of Japan
. He graduated from the Law Department of Tokyo Imperial University in 1911, and also passed the highest level of the civil service examinations. In late 1911, he entered the Home Ministry
, serving as Deputy Mayor of Tokyo in 1923. Following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake
, he was assigned to the Reconstruction Bureau within the Home Ministry, and later to the bureau in charge of regulating Shinto shrines under State Shinto
ism.
From October 1934 to May 1935, Yoshida served as Chief Cabinet Secretary
under the Okada administration
and was also appointed to a seat on the Planning Board. In 1937, he was appointed to the Upper House
of the Diet of Japan
. He was asked to become Minister of Welfare under the Yonai administration
from January to July 1940, and was appointed governor of Fukuoka Prefecture
in July 1943 by Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō
. Under Tōjō’s successor, Kuniaki Koiso
, Yoshida was recalled to Tokyo to serve as Minister of Munitions from December 1944 to April 1945.
Following the end of World War II
, Yoshida, along with all other members of the former Japanese government was purged from public office by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
, but was not arrested. In 1953, after the end of the occupation of Japan
, he became head of the Association of Shinto Shrines
.
served as post-war Foreign Minister and Prime Minister of Japan
. The bureaucrat Shigeru Yoshida was often referred to as "Mejiro Yoshida" from the location of his residence in Mejiro, Tokyo
, whereas the other Yoshida was referred to as "Ōiso Yoshida" after the location of his summer villa in Ōiso, Kanagawa
.
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 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 ....
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...
, Chief Cabinet Secretary
Chief Cabinet Secretary
__notoc__The of Japan is a Minister of State who is responsible for directing the Cabinet Secretariat. The main function of Chief Cabinet Secretary is to coordinate the policies of ministries and agencies in the executive branch...
, governor of Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
and twice as a cabinet minister.
Biography
Yoshida was born in what is now part of the city of Usuki, ŌitaUsuki, Oita
is a city located on the east coast of Ōita Prefecture, Japan. It is famous for its Usuki Stone Buddhas, a national treasure, and its soy sauce production. Recently it has become known for having the look and feel of a Japanese castle town...
, where his father worked as an official of the Bank of Japan
Bank of Japan
is the central bank of Japan. The Bank is often called for short. It has its headquarters in Chuo, Tokyo.-History:Like most modern Japanese institutions, the Bank of Japan was founded after the Meiji Restoration...
. He graduated from the Law Department of Tokyo Imperial University in 1911, and also passed the highest level of the civil service examinations. In late 1911, he entered the Home Ministry
Home Ministry (Japan)
The ' was a Cabinet-level ministry established under the Meiji Constitution that managed the internal affairs of Empire of Japan from 1873-1947...
, serving as Deputy Mayor of Tokyo in 1923. Following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake
1923 Great Kanto earthquake
The struck the Kantō plain on the Japanese main island of Honshū at 11:58:44 am JST on September 1, 1923. Varied accounts hold that the duration of the earthquake was between 4 and 10 minutes...
, he was assigned to the Reconstruction Bureau within the Home Ministry, and later to the bureau in charge of regulating Shinto shrines under State Shinto
State Shinto
has been called the state religion of the Empire of Japan, although it did not exist as a single institution and no "Shintō" was ever declared a state religion...
ism.
From October 1934 to May 1935, Yoshida served as Chief Cabinet Secretary
Chief Cabinet Secretary
__notoc__The of Japan is a Minister of State who is responsible for directing the Cabinet Secretariat. The main function of Chief Cabinet Secretary is to coordinate the policies of ministries and agencies in the executive branch...
under the Okada administration
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...
and was also appointed to a seat on the Planning Board. In 1937, he was appointed to 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 ....
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...
. He was asked to become Minister of Welfare under the Yonai administration
Mitsumasa Yonai
was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and politician. He was the 37th Prime Minister of Japan from 16 January to 22 July 1940.-Early life & Naval career:...
from January to July 1940, and was appointed governor of Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
in July 1943 by Prime Minister 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...
. Under Tōjō’s successor, Kuniaki Koiso
Kuniaki Koiso
- Notes :...
, Yoshida was recalled to Tokyo to serve as Minister of Munitions from December 1944 to April 1945.
Following the end of 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...
, Yoshida, along with all other members of the former Japanese government was purged from public office 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...
, but was not arrested. In 1953, after the end of the occupation of Japan
Occupied Japan
At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. This foreign presence marked the first time in its history that the island nation had been occupied by a foreign power...
, he became head of the Association of Shinto Shrines
Association of Shinto Shrines
The is a religious administrative organization that oversees about 80,000 Shinto shrines in Japan. These shrines take the Ise Shrine as the foundation of their belief.The Association has five major activities:...
.
Another Yoshida
The bureaucrat Shigeru Yoshida was often confused with another politician of similar age with exactly the same name. Shigeru YoshidaShigeru Yoshida
, KCVO was a Japanese diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1946 to 1947 and from 1948 to 1954.-Early life:...
served as post-war Foreign Minister and 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...
. The bureaucrat Shigeru Yoshida was often referred to as "Mejiro Yoshida" from the location of his residence in Mejiro, Tokyo
Mejiro, Toshima, Tokyo
is an upscale residential district of Toshima, Tokyo, Japan, centered at Mejiro Station of Yamanote Line. The district's name is after Mejiro Fudō, which is one of the Goshiki Fudō....
, whereas the other Yoshida was referred to as "Ōiso Yoshida" after the location of his summer villa in Ōiso, Kanagawa
Oiso, Kanagawa
is a town located in Naka District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the town had an estimated population of 32,725 and a density of 1,910 persons per km². The total area was 17.18 km².-Geography:...
.