Hirota Koki

Background

Hirota Koki was born in 1878. He was the eldest son of Tokuhei Hirota.

Education

He was trained at the Genyosha, a nationalist political group led by Mitsuru Toyama and graduated from the Law School, Tokyo University.

Career

Joined the diplomatic service and served as a probationary diplomat in China, and later as embassy secretary and counsellor. Appointed Deputy Chief of the Information Bureau, Foreign Office (1922). Chief of the European and American Affairs Bureau (1923), Minister to the Netherlands (1930) and Ambassador to Soviet Russia (1930). Was appointed Foreign Minister (1933). Intervened in the Soviet Union’s transfer of the Chinese Eastern Railway to Manchu-kuo. Upon the collapse of the Okada Cabinet due to the February 26 Incident in 1936, he was appointed Prime Minister.

Considered as a promoter of fascism in Japan, he was hanged (1948), after having been convicted by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East.

Connections

Father:

Tokuhei Hirota