Hideki Tojo was the wartime leader of Japan’s government. He was one of the most aggressive militarists in Japanese leadership. He built up a personal power base and used his position as the leader of the military police to reign in their influence before he was the Kwantung Army’s chief of staff in 1937. He was born on December 30th, 1884 and was the third son of Hidenori Tojo, a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army. In october 1941, Hideki Tojo became a prime minister. He was popular and was supported in the early years of the war because of his victories. His opposition in the government and military was increasing. After Saipan, which was occupied by the Japanese, fell to American forces, Hideki Tojo was forced out of power in 1944.…show more content… On september 11, 1945, Hideki Tojo shot himself, in an attempt to commit suicide. He shot himself in the chest trying to get his heart. The bullet missed his heart but hit his stomach. He said he wished to commit suicide but it failed. He survived the shot and was nursed back to health. Visits by Japanese government officials caused protests in China, South Korea, and other countries under Japanese occupation. After the war, he was arrested and was sentenced to death. He was sentenced to death for Japanese war crimes. He was hanged on December 23, 1948. Before his execution, he gave his ribbons to Private First Class Kincaid, who was one of his guards. His ribbons are now in display in the National Museum for Naval Aviation in Florida. Hideki Tojo’s tomb is located in a shrine in Nishio Aichi. His ashes are divided between Yasukuni Shrine and Zoshigaya Cemetery in Toshima ward,
