Inukai Takeru
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese politician and author active in Shōwa period
Japan
. He was the third son of Prime Minister of Japan
Inukai Tsuyoshi
.
district of Tokyo
, and graduated from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in philosophy
. Interested in literature from his student days, he gravitated to the Shirakaba ("White Birch") literary society due to its liberal humanistic
outlook. His works were influenced by Mushanokoji Saneatsu
and Nagayo Yoshiro
, and he became a member of the Japanese chapter of the International PEN
.
He ran for a seat in the lower house of the Japanese Diet, under the Rikken Seiyūkai
party in 1930, after his father's death. He was later a press secretary
under the first Konoe Fumimaro administration. He split with the Rikken Seiyūkai in 1939. Although arrested under suspicion in the Sorge Spy Incident
, he returned to Diet in the Japanese general election, 1942
.
As his father, Inukai Tsuyoshi, had always supported friendly relations with China
, he had contacts and good relations with Chinese politicians during the pre-war period. After his father's assassination in the May 15 Incident
, he continued to strive for restoration of good Sino-Japanese relations, and especially provided support to the Wang Jingwei
government in hopes that it would bring the stability that would allow Japan to withdraw its troops from the China quagmire.
After World War II
in 1945, Inukai helped organize the Japan Progressive Party, of which he became chairman. The party merged with the forerunner of the Liberal Democratic Party
in 1948. In 1952, under the 4th Yoshida Shigeru cabinet, Inukai became Minister of Justice
. He continued in the same position in the 5th Yoshida cabinet in 1953. However, in the Shipbuilding Scandal of 1954 (under pressure from Prime Minister Yoshida), Inukai refused to approve of the prosecution of ex-Prime Minister Sato Eisaku, who had been indicted for corruption and misuse of public funds. Afterwards, he resigned as Justice Minister in protest.
Inukai died in 1960 at the age of 64. His son, Inukai Yasuhiko (b.1928) was president of Kyodo News
.
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He was the third son of 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...
Inukai Tsuyoshi
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...
.
Biography
Inukai was born in the UshigomeUshigome
is the name of a neighborhood in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and a former ward in the now-defunct Tokyo City.-Places named after Ushigome:* Ushigome bridge, adjacent to Iidabashi Station...
district 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...
, and graduated from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. Interested in literature from his student days, he gravitated to the Shirakaba ("White Birch") literary society due to its liberal humanistic
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
outlook. His works were influenced by Mushanokoji Saneatsu
Mushanokoji Saneatsu
was the pen name of a Japanese novelist, playwright, poet, artist and philosopher active during the late Taishō and Shōwa periods of Japan. He was also sometimes known as Mushakōji Saneatsu, other pen-names included Musha and Futo-o.-Early life:...
and Nagayo Yoshiro
Nagayo Yoshiro
was a novelist and playwright active during the Shōwa period in Japan.-Biography:Nagayo was born in Tokyo, as the 5th son of the famous doctor, Nagayo Sensai. He attended the Gakushūin Peers' School, and went on to graduate from Tokyo Imperial University...
, and he became a member of the Japanese chapter of the International PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
.
He ran for a seat in the lower house of the Japanese Diet, under 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...
party in 1930, after his father's death. He was later a press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
under the first Konoe Fumimaro administration. He split with the Rikken Seiyūkai in 1939. Although arrested under suspicion in the Sorge Spy Incident
Richard Sorge
Richard Sorge was a German communist and spy who worked for the Soviet Union. He has gained great fame among espionage enthusiasts for his intelligence gathering during World War II. He worked as a journalist in both Germany and Japan, where he was imprisoned for spying and eventually hanged....
, he returned to Diet in the Japanese general election, 1942
Japanese general election, 1942
The 21st General Election of Japan of the House of Representatives took place in Japan on April 30, 1942. It was the only election in wartime Japan. At this time, the lower house no longer had any significant executive and legislative power, and power went to the military since 1936...
.
As his father, Inukai Tsuyoshi, had always supported friendly relations with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, he had contacts and good relations with Chinese politicians during the pre-war period. After his father's assassination in the May 15 Incident
May 15 Incident
The ' was an attempted coup d'état in Japan, on May 15, 1932, launched by radical elements of the Imperial Japanese Navy, aided by cadets in the Imperial Japanese Army and civilian remnants of the League of Blood Incident. Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi was assassinated by 11 young naval officers...
, he continued to strive for restoration of good Sino-Japanese relations, and especially provided support to the Wang Jingwei
Wang Jingwei
Wang Jingwei , alternate name Wang Zhaoming, was a Chinese politician. He was initially known as a member of the left wing of the Kuomintang , but later became increasingly anti-Communist after his efforts to collaborate with the CCP ended in political failure...
government in hopes that it would bring the stability that would allow Japan to withdraw its troops from the China quagmire.
After 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...
in 1945, Inukai helped organize the Japan Progressive Party, of which he became chairman. The party merged with the forerunner of the Liberal Democratic Party
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...
in 1948. In 1952, under the 4th Yoshida Shigeru cabinet, Inukai became Minister of Justice
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 :...
. He continued in the same position in the 5th Yoshida cabinet in 1953. However, in the Shipbuilding Scandal of 1954 (under pressure from Prime Minister Yoshida), Inukai refused to approve of the prosecution of ex-Prime Minister Sato Eisaku, who had been indicted for corruption and misuse of public funds. Afterwards, he resigned as Justice Minister in protest.
Inukai died in 1960 at the age of 64. His son, Inukai Yasuhiko (b.1928) was president of Kyodo News
Kyodo News
is a nonprofit cooperative news agency based in Minato, Tokyo. It was established in November 1945 and it distributes news to almost all newspapers, and radio and television networks in Japan. The newspapers using its news have about 50 million subscribers. K. K. Kyodo News is Kyodo News' business...
.