Nobusuke Kishi
Nobusuke Kishi
Nobusuke Kishi (\u5cb8 \u4fe1\u4ecb, Kishi Nobusuke; 13 November 1896 – 7 August 1987) was a prominent Japanese bureaucrat and politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 1957 to 1960, a period marked by significant political upheaval and international pressure.
Early Life and Family Background
Nobusuke Kishi was born Nobusuke Satō in Tabuse, Yamaguchi Prefecture, into a family with a rich samurai heritage. His father was a sake brewer from a once-illustrious samurai family that had fallen on hard times. His great-grandfather, Satō Nobuhiro, was a retainer of the Chōshū Domain and the first governor of Shimane Prefecture after the Meiji Restoration.
Kishi's early education took place in Okayama and later in Yamaguchi. Upon his middle school graduation, he was adopted by his father's older brother, Nobumasa Kishi, adopting their family name.
Career in Manchukuo
Before his political career in Japan, Kishi played a crucial role in the economic management of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo in China. His approach to the economic exploitation of resources in Manchukuo was heavily criticized but also demonstrated his capacity for economic management, which laid the foundation for his later political roles.
Political Career
Kishi rose through the ranks of the Japanese government during a time when Japan was navigating its post-war recovery and redefining its position on the global stage. He became the Prime Minister following a successful career within the bureaucratic system and was associated with conservative policies.
Prime Ministership
During Kishi's tenure as Prime Minister, Japan was marked by significant political unrest, especially related to the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, which led to mass protests known as the Anpo protests. These protests were so severe that they eventually forced Kishi to resign from office.
Legacy and Family
Nobusuke Kishi is remembered as a controversial figure in Japanese history. His policies have been both criticized and praised for shaping modern Japan's economic landscape. He belonged to the Satō–Kishi–Abe family, a prominent political dynasty that has produced several Japanese Prime Ministers, including his grandson Shinzō Abe.