Sympathized Class A War Criminal Who Accepted Death Penalty Without Any Defense

HIROTA Koki

The year of 2005 marks 60 years after the end of World War II and the Prime Minister's visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine has become a big issue. China and Korea are opposed to Koizumi's visits since 14 Class A war criminals are enshrined together with ordinary soldiers. Twenty-five people were sentenced as Class A criminals at the Tokyo Tribunal of War Criminals. Among them seven people were sentenced to death, all servicemen except for one civilian. His name was HIROTA Koki, a former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. To oppose to his death sentence, people petitioned for a signature-collecting campaign to save him. It was a time when General Headquarters had absolute authority. For many Japanese, Hirota's death sentence was unexpected because he seemed to have been striving for peace.

After graduating from Tokyo Imperial University, Hirota became a diplomat. YOSHIDA Shigeru, who became Prime Minister after the war, was one of his classmates. Among his classmates, Hirota was the first to reach the position of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs before World War II.

After the Russo-Japan War (1904~5), Japan stepped up its efforts to become a military power. The military was under the command of the Emperor and acted separately as an organization beyond cabinet control. The army's power was divided between the Ministry of the Army and staff officers and who had authority was unclear. This invited the reckless action of the Kanto army in Manchuria (the army stationed in Manchuria) and caused the Sino-Japan War (1937).

Hirota's motto as a diplomat was to solve problems by diplomatic negotiation, not with military power. He made a diplomatic effort in the negotiations with Russia when Japan bought out the East China Railway. As a diplomat, Hirota covered the mistakes of the military and made an effort to avoid war. However, he could not stop the reckless deeds of the Kanto army even though the Emperor also felt misgivings. The Kanto Army built the country of Manchuria by force, but it was condemned by many nations and Japan had to leave the League of Nations.

The notorious Nanking Massacre broke out while he was Minister of Foreign Affairs
After his experience at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hirota was inaugurated as Prime Minister in 1936. Even in the post of Prime Minister, he was bedeviled by the wild actions of the military and he restored the posts of the Military Ministers on active service under pressure from the army. Furthermore, he made a decision on "The Standard of National Policies" and concluded the German-Japan Anticommunist Treaty. However, Military Minister TERAUCHI demanded he dissolve his cabinet and his entire cabinet resigned.

Although Hirota retired from the Prime Ministerial post, he returned to politics as Minister of Foreign Affairs, since organizing the new cabinet did not work well on account of the army's interference. It was unfortunate that the Sino-Japan war broke out while he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the notorious Nanking Massacre occurred. Hirota did his best, including protesting against the Army Minister, but the military operation was not one to be decided in a Cabinet meeting and he couldn't make it any better than that.

In the Tokyo Tribunal, Hirota is actions, including his decision on the standard of national polices, was raised as proof of agitation for war. He had to compromise with the military to hold back their reckless actions, but he did not defend himself at all at the Tokyo Tribunal. He strongly felt responsible for not stopping the resultant war at the time he was Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Some people pointed out that Hirota despised Asian countries and did not comprehend the Chinese resistance or victims' feelings, and that his international cooperation was a by-product of easing policies against the USA and Europe for Japan's invasion of China.

On the contrary, some people say he sacrificed himself in order to shield the Emperor from prosecution. At that time it was a virtue for Japanese to manly take responsibility without making excuses. His way of life deeply impressed the Japanese people. Hirota was also known as a devoted husband and his wife killed herself before Hirota was executed. It is said she committed suicide to avoid Hirota's anxiety over her being left alone.

About 30 years ago, a book called "Rakujitsu Moyu" (The Setting Sun Burning / Published by Shincho Bunko since 1986), written by SHIROYAMA Saburo, made Hirota a hero and became a bestseller as many Japanese sympathized with his tragedy.

Back to List Page