Naruhiko Higashikuni: Difference between revisions
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'''Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni''' (1887 – 1990) was | '''Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni''' (1887 – 1990) was an extremely influential Japanese aristocrat, usually known as Prince Higashikuni, active in many of the secret political plots leading to [[World War Two in the Pacific]]. He was considered the uncle of, and an advisor to Emperor [[Hirohito]], He was a field marshal in the [[Imperial Japanese Army]], who commanded an army in the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] and had headed aeronautical defelopment. | ||
"Between 1930 and 1936, as part of the terror that had silenced Japanese moderates, he had been involved in not less than eight fake coups d'etat. four assassination, two religious hoaxes, and countless threats and of murder and blackmail.", <ref>{{citation | |||
| title= Japan's Imperial Conspiracy | |||
| author = David Bergamini | |||
| date = 1971 | publisher = Morrow}}, p. 117</ref> | |||
In 1945, he took on various senior posts and was briefly [[Prime Minister of Japan]] for the "surrender cabinet". | In 1945, he took on various senior posts and was briefly [[Prime Minister of Japan]] for the "surrender cabinet". | ||
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He accompanied the young Prince Hirohito on his 1921 trip to Europe. Also in 1921, while it has never been absolutely confirmed he was physically present, he definitely sponsored the meeting of [[Three Crows]], a group of influential military attaches that named eleven more officers, the "[[Eleven Reliables]]", for further clandestine work. | He accompanied the young Prince Hirohito on his 1921 trip to Europe. Also in 1921, while it has never been absolutely confirmed he was physically present, he definitely sponsored the meeting of [[Three Crows]], a group of influential military attaches that named eleven more officers, the "[[Eleven Reliables]]", for further clandestine work. | ||
==Showa Period== | ==Showa Period== | ||
On a strategic level, he was associated, in the low-key way of the Palace, with the [[Control Faction]] and [[Strike-South Faction]]. He may have had involvement in the [[Prayer Meeting Plot]] of 11 July 1933, in which the rebels were arrested before they could attack, with swords, the residence of [[Sadao Araki]]. In its aftermath, Araki agreed to restore some [[Strike-North Faction]] members to their posts, purge all Marxists from the palace and some academic posts. Two of Higashikuni's [[Three Crows]] allies, [[Tetsuzan Nagata]] and [[Toshiro Obata]], were moved from the Army staff to field commands. [[Hideki Tojo]] formed a Committee for Investigations to monitor Army discipline and morale. <ref> | In 1927, he encouraged Hirohito to prepare the exploitation of Manchuria. | ||
On a strategic level, he was associated, in the low-key way of the Palace, with the [[Control Faction]] and [[Strike-South Faction]]. He may have had involvement in the [[Prayer Meeting Plot]] of 11 July 1933, in which the rebels were arrested before they could attack, with swords, the residence of [[Sadao Araki]]. In its aftermath, Araki agreed to restore some [[Strike-North Faction]] members to their posts, purge all Marxists from the palace and some academic posts. Two of Higashikuni's [[Three Crows]] allies, [[Tetsuzan Nagata]] and [[Toshiro Obata]], were moved from the Army staff to field commands. [[Hideki Tojo]] formed a Committee for Investigations to monitor Army discipline and morale. <ref>Bergamini, pp. 556-561</ref> This was a blow to Higashikuni's allies. | |||
==World War II== | ==World War II== | ||
He was realistic about the conflict, telling Hirohito, after the American victory at Guadalcanal, that the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] was going to learn a lesson as harsh as they had learned in the [[Nomohan Incident]].ref>{{citation | He participated in the Supreme War Council meeeting of 4 November 1941, which unanimously recommended war. | ||
===Decision for war=== | |||
During the Supreme War Council meeting, he said, disagreeing with [[Hideki Tojo]] who did not feel the objectives were well stated, <blockquote>It goes without saying that we must andicipate a long war. Also, however, we must start thinking right now about concluding the war at an appropriate time. Indeed we must consider the possibility of using our commanding position under His Imperial Majesty to settle not only the differences between the United States and Japa, but also those which disturb the world at large.<ref>Bergamini, pp. 810-811</ref></blockquote> | |||
Tojo responded, <blockquote>The possibility of a long war is 80 percent. A short war is conceivable,however, under the following circumstances: destruction of most of the U.S. fleet — especially if the United States tries to retake the Philippines after whe have occupied it; loss in America of the will to fight — a result that might follow a German declaration of war on the United States and German landings in England; control of England's lifeline — control, that is, of the shipping lanes which keep her from starving; finally, occupation and closing of the sources in the Far East of many of the military raw materials of the United States.</blockquote> | |||
The Council endorsed the war decision unanimously, which Hirohito heard, nodded, and withdrew. | |||
===War progress=== | |||
He was realistic about the conflict, telling Hirohito, after the American victory at Guadalcanal, that the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] was going to learn a lesson as harsh as they had learned in the [[Nomohan Incident]].<ref>{{citation | |||
| title = Soldiers of the Sun: the Rise and Fall of the Imperial Japanese Army | | title = Soldiers of the Sun: the Rise and Fall of the Imperial Japanese Army | ||
| author = Merion and Susie Harris | | author = Merion and Susie Harris | ||
| publisher = Random House | year = 1991}}, p. 451</ref> | | publisher = Random House | year = 1991}}, p. 451</ref> | ||
===China=== | |||
He commanded the army air force at the time of the [[Rape of Nanking]]. The significance was not so much that the air force had an operational role, but that he was one of the members of the Imperial Family, including the actual commander, Prince Asaka<ref name=WPart>Wikipedia has an [[Wikipedia:Prince Yasuhiko Asaka|article about Prince Yasuhiko Asaka.]]</ref>, and the [[Chief of Staff (Imperial Japanese Army)|Army Chief of Staff]], [[Prince Kanin]], who were aware of atrocities. <ref name=Bix>{{citation | |||
| title = Hirohito and the making of modern Japan | |||
| author = Herbert P. Bix | |||
| publisher = Harper Perennial | |||
| year = 2001 | isbn = 978-0060931308 | |||
}}, p. 336</ref> | |||
==Postwar== | |||
Higashikuni was named [[Prime Minister of Japan]] shortly after the surrender, and the resignation of the [[Kantaro Suzuki|Suzuki cabinet]]. Hirohito, who considered him a trustworthy novice in general political affairs. <ref>Bix, p. 537</ref> He was unable to solve problems of the black market, and indeed may have reestablished an alliance among politicians, the civil service, and the underworld. His greatest priority, however, was the preservation of ''[[kokutai]]'', and, to focus on that problem, he appointed the retired [[Kanji Ishiwara]].<ref>Bix, p. 540</ref> | |||
It was reported that he was one of the Palace leaders who wanted Hirohito to abdicate. <ref>{{citation | |||
| title = Embracing defeat: Japan in the wake of World War II | |||
| author= John W. Dower | |||
| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=hae0dC_NaiUC&pg=PA321&lpg=PA321&dq=%22Prince+Higashikuni%22+Peace&source=bl&ots=wvz4YZ_kXy&sig=IkkYO6_jNf9wCM8OzDws3evbUEY&hl=en&ei=eNN6TJYQg_3wBp60icsG&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CDAQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=%22Prince%20Higashikuni%22%20Peace&f=false | |||
| publisher = W.W. Norton | year = 2000 | |||
}}, p. 321</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
Latest revision as of 08:13, 10 October 2024
| This article may be deleted soon. | ||
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 Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni (1887 – 1990) was an extremely influential Japanese aristocrat, usually known as Prince Higashikuni, active in many of the secret political plots leading to World War Two in the Pacific. He was considered the uncle of, and an advisor to Emperor Hirohito, He was a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army, who commanded an army in the Second Sino-Japanese War and had headed aeronautical defelopment. "Between 1930 and 1936, as part of the terror that had silenced Japanese moderates, he had been involved in not less than eight fake coups d'etat. four assassination, two religious hoaxes, and countless threats and of murder and blackmail.", [1] In 1945, he took on various senior posts and was briefly Prime Minister of Japan for the "surrender cabinet". MilitaryHis military assignments were:[2]
Under Emperor TaishoHe accompanied the young Prince Hirohito on his 1921 trip to Europe. Also in 1921, while it has never been absolutely confirmed he was physically present, he definitely sponsored the meeting of Three Crows, a group of influential military attaches that named eleven more officers, the "Eleven Reliables", for further clandestine work. Showa PeriodIn 1927, he encouraged Hirohito to prepare the exploitation of Manchuria. On a strategic level, he was associated, in the low-key way of the Palace, with the Control Faction and Strike-South Faction. He may have had involvement in the Prayer Meeting Plot of 11 July 1933, in which the rebels were arrested before they could attack, with swords, the residence of Sadao Araki. In its aftermath, Araki agreed to restore some Strike-North Faction members to their posts, purge all Marxists from the palace and some academic posts. Two of Higashikuni's Three Crows allies, Tetsuzan Nagata and Toshiro Obata, were moved from the Army staff to field commands. Hideki Tojo formed a Committee for Investigations to monitor Army discipline and morale. [3] This was a blow to Higashikuni's allies. World War IIHe participated in the Supreme War Council meeeting of 4 November 1941, which unanimously recommended war. Decision for warDuring the Supreme War Council meeting, he said, disagreeing with Hideki Tojo who did not feel the objectives were well stated,Tojo responded,
The Council endorsed the war decision unanimously, which Hirohito heard, nodded, and withdrew. War progressHe was realistic about the conflict, telling Hirohito, after the American victory at Guadalcanal, that the Imperial Japanese Army was going to learn a lesson as harsh as they had learned in the Nomohan Incident.[5] ChinaHe commanded the army air force at the time of the Rape of Nanking. The significance was not so much that the air force had an operational role, but that he was one of the members of the Imperial Family, including the actual commander, Prince Asaka[6], and the Army Chief of Staff, Prince Kanin, who were aware of atrocities. [7] PostwarHigashikuni was named Prime Minister of Japan shortly after the surrender, and the resignation of the Suzuki cabinet. Hirohito, who considered him a trustworthy novice in general political affairs. [8] He was unable to solve problems of the black market, and indeed may have reestablished an alliance among politicians, the civil service, and the underworld. His greatest priority, however, was the preservation of kokutai, and, to focus on that problem, he appointed the retired Kanji Ishiwara.[9] It was reported that he was one of the Palace leaders who wanted Hirohito to abdicate. [10] References
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