Yoshiaki Hatta
Encyclopedia
, was an engineer, entrepreneur, politician and cabinet minister in the Empire of Japan
, serving as a member of the Upper House
of the Diet of Japan
, and five times as a cabinet minister.
, and was a graduate from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in civil engineering
. He was employed by the San'yō Railway from 1903. However, he was recruited into the government bureaucracy, and transferred a position within the Railroad Bureau of the Ministry of Communications
in 1906. After the Railway Ministry
was created, Hatta was appointed a Director in 1926. He was further awarded with a seat in the House of Peers from 1929.
With the creation of the South Manchurian Railway Company, Hatta was appointed Vice President in 1932. In 1934, under the Hiranuma administration
, Hatta was asked to serve as both Minister of Commerce
and as Minister of Colonial Affairs
. He was also made head of the The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In 1941, many small private railway companies were merged under government pressure into the Tobu Railway
, as per the syndicalist economic policies
of the Taisei Yokusankai
. Hatta was appointed Chairman of the Board of the expanded company. In 1943, he was asked to serve again as Minister of Communications and Railroad Minister, this time under the Tōjō administration
. During this administration, the two cabinet-level posts were merged into the new Ministry of Transport and Communications in 1943, and Hatta became the first head of the combined ministry. In 1945, Hatta became president of the North China Development Company, a subsidiary of the South Manchurian Railway dedicated to the economic development of the areas of northern China under occupation by Japan.
Following the surrender of Japan
and the end of World War II
, Hatta was purged from public office by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
. In 1953, he became president of Takushoku University
, a post which he held to September 1954. In 1955, he became president of Nippei Kōsan Corporation, and Chairman of the Japan Science Foundation. In 1956, he founded the Nippon Gijustu Kyōwa Kaihatsu Corporation, and in 1957 he was named chairman of the forerunner to the Japan Highway Public Corporation
. Hatta died in 1964.
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...
, and five times as a cabinet minister.
Biography
Hatta was born in TokyoTokyo
, ; 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 was a graduate from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
. He was employed by the San'yō Railway from 1903. However, he was recruited into the government bureaucracy, and transferred a position within the Railroad Bureau of the Ministry of Communications
Ministry of Communications
Ministry of Communications may refer to:* Ministry of Communications * Ministry of Communications * Ministry of Communications * Ministry of Communications of Morocco...
in 1906. After the Railway Ministry
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 :...
was created, Hatta was appointed a Director in 1926. He was further awarded with a seat in the House of Peers from 1929.
With the creation of the South Manchurian Railway Company, Hatta was appointed Vice President in 1932. In 1934, under the Hiranuma administration
Kiichiro Hiranuma
Baron was a prominent pre–World War II right-wing Japanese politician and the 35th Prime Minister of Japan from 5 January 1939 to 30 August 1939. The modern Japanese politician, Takeo Hiranuma, is his adopted son.- Early life :...
, Hatta was asked to serve as both Minister of Commerce
Ministry of Commerce
Ministry of Commerce may refer to:*Ministry of Commerce *Ministry of Commerce * Ministry of Commerce and Industry *Ministry of Commerce *Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China...
and 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...
. He was also made head of the The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In 1941, many small private railway companies were merged under government pressure into the Tobu Railway
Tobu Railway
is a Japanese commuter railway company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional operator in the Kantō region. It operates in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Tochigi, and Gunma Prefectures...
, as per the syndicalist economic policies
Syndicalism
Syndicalism is a type of economic system proposed as a replacement for capitalism and an alternative to state socialism, which uses federations of collectivised trade unions or industrial unions...
of 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...
. Hatta was appointed Chairman of the Board of the expanded company. In 1943, he was asked to serve again as Minister of Communications and Railroad Minister, this time under the Tōjō administration
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...
. During this administration, the two cabinet-level posts were merged into the new Ministry of Transport and Communications in 1943, and Hatta became the first head of the combined ministry. In 1945, Hatta became president of the North China Development Company, a subsidiary of the South Manchurian Railway dedicated to the economic development of the areas of northern China under occupation by Japan.
Following the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
and 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...
, Hatta 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...
. In 1953, he 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...
, a post which he held to September 1954. In 1955, he became president of Nippei Kōsan Corporation, and Chairman of the Japan Science Foundation. In 1956, he founded the Nippon Gijustu Kyōwa Kaihatsu Corporation, and in 1957 he was named chairman of the forerunner to the Japan Highway Public Corporation
Japan Highway Public Corporation
, or JH, was a public company established after World War II to construct and manage highway networks in Japan, founded in 1956.On October 1, 2005, JH was divided into three private enterprises, East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd. , Central Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd. , and West Nippon Expressway...
. Hatta died in 1964.