Hidejirō Nagata
Encyclopedia
, was a politician and cabinet minister in the Empire of Japan
, serving as a member of the House of Peers
of the Diet of Japan
, twice as a cabinet minister, and also serving twice as mayor of Tokyo
.
, Hyōgo prefecture
, in what is now part of the city of Minamiawaji
. After graduating from the predecessor of Kyoto Imperial University and serving as a school principal in Sumoto, Hyōgo
from 1902–1904, he obtained a posting in the Home Ministry
and rose to become head of the Kyoto
Prefectural Police Department. From April – October 1916, Nagata was appointed governor of Mie Prefecture
, returning afterwards to the Home Ministry to head the Public Security Bureau. From December 22, 1920 to May 29, 1923, he served as Deputy Mayor of Tokyo.
From May 29, 1923 to September 8, 1924 Nagata was appointed mayor of Tokyo, and was thus in office during the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake
of September 1, which destroyed most of the city. In 1926, he published a book titled “Return to the Spirit of the Founding of the Japanese State”, to help promote the new national holiday of National Foundation Day
, which he had helped create two years previously through lobbying effects of a right-wing organization which he led.
From May 1929, Nagata became president of Takushoku University
. Nagata returned as mayor of Tokyo again from May 30, 1930 to January 25, 1933. He was a strong supporter for the hosting of the 1940 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo. For Nagata, it was essential that Tokyo host the 1940 Olympics, as the date coincided with the Japanese 2600th Anniversary celebrations. He was forced to resign after a police sweep rounded up 6900 suspected communists in Tokyo.
Nagata subsequently served in the House of Peers
in the Diet of Japan
. From March 9, 1936 to February 2, 1937, Nagata was appointed Minister of Colonial Affairs
under the Kōki administration
. He returned to the cabinet as Railway Minister
under the Abe administration from November 29, 1939 to January 14, 1940.
Nagata was also one of the founders of the Japan Football Association
.
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 House of Peers
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...
, twice as a cabinet minister, and also serving twice as mayor of 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...
.
Biography
Nagata was born in Mihara DistrictMihara District, Hyogo
Mihara was a district located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 53,638 and a density of 234.05 persons per km²...
, Hyōgo prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, in what is now part of the city of Minamiawaji
Minamiawaji, Hyogo
is a city located in the southern part of Awaji Island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.The city was formed on 11 January 2005 from the merger of all four towns of the former Mihara District: Mihara, Midori, Nandan and Seidan...
. After graduating from the predecessor of Kyoto Imperial University and serving as a school principal in Sumoto, Hyōgo
Sumoto, Hyogo
is a city located on Awaji Island, Hyōgo, Japan. The city was founded on February 11, 1940.As of March 31, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 50,087 and a density of 267 persons per km²...
from 1902–1904, he obtained a posting in 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...
and rose to become head of the Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
Prefectural Police Department. From April – October 1916, Nagata was appointed governor of Mie Prefecture
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
, returning afterwards to the Home Ministry to head the Public Security Bureau. From December 22, 1920 to May 29, 1923, he served as Deputy Mayor of Tokyo.
From May 29, 1923 to September 8, 1924 Nagata was appointed mayor of Tokyo, and was thus in office during the 1923 Great Kantō 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...
of September 1, which destroyed most of the city. In 1926, he published a book titled “Return to the Spirit of the Founding of the Japanese State”, to help promote the new national holiday of National Foundation Day
National Foundation Day
is a national holiday in Japan celebrated annually on February 11. On this day, Japanese celebrate the founding of the nation and the imperial line by its legendary first emperor, Jimmu, who according to legend established his capital in Yamato in 660 BC....
, which he had helped create two years previously through lobbying effects of a right-wing organization which he led.
From May 1929, Nagata became president of Takushoku University
Takushoku University
Takushoku University is a private university in Japan. It was founded in 1900 by Prince Taro Katsura . The university is located in Tokyo and has two campuses: the main campus in the Bunkyō district, and a satellite campus in the Hachiōji district...
. Nagata returned as mayor of Tokyo again from May 30, 1930 to January 25, 1933. He was a strong supporter for the hosting of the 1940 Summer Olympics
1940 Summer Olympics
The anticipated 1940 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XII Olympiad and originally scheduled to be held from September 21 to October 6, 1940, in Tokyo, Japan, were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II...
in Tokyo. For Nagata, it was essential that Tokyo host the 1940 Olympics, as the date coincided with the Japanese 2600th Anniversary celebrations. He was forced to resign after a police sweep rounded up 6900 suspected communists in Tokyo.
Nagata subsequently served in the House of Peers
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 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...
. From March 9, 1936 to February 2, 1937, Nagata was appointed 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...
under the Kōki administration
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...
. He returned to the cabinet as Railway Minister
Japanese Government Railways
The Japanese Government Railways was the national railway system directly operated by the central government of Japan until 1949. It is a predecessor of Japanese National Railways and the Japan Railways Group.- Name :...
under the Abe administration from November 29, 1939 to January 14, 1940.
Nagata was also one of the founders of the Japan Football Association
Japan Football Association
The Japan Football Association, sometimes known as the Japan Soccer Association , is the governing body responsible for the administration of association football in Japan. It is responsible for the national team as well as club competitions....
.