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Wakatsuki ReijiroPolitical and statesman
Date of Birth: 21.03.1886
Country:  Japan |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Career in Government
- First Ministerial Positions
- Rise to Prime Ministership
- First Term as Prime Minister
- Naval Diplomacy and Second Term
- Second Term as Prime Minister
- Manchurian Incident and Resignation
- End of Political Career
Early Life and Education
Reijiro Wakatsukiwas born in Matsue, Izumo Province (present-day Shimane Prefecture), into a samurai family of the Matsue clan. He graduated from the Law College of Tokyo Imperial University in 1892.
Career in Government
Entry into PoliticsWakatsuki joined the Ministry of Finance and rose through the ranks, serving as Director of the Tax Bureau and later as Vice Minister of Finance. In 1911, he was appointed to the House of Peers.
First Ministerial Positions
In 1912, Wakatsuki joined the Rikken Doshikai party and became Minister of Finance in Katsura Taro's third cabinet. He later joined the Kenseikai party and again served as Finance Minister in Okuma Shigenobu's second cabinet.
Rise to Prime Ministership
Minister of Home Affairs and Electoral ReformIn 1924, Wakatsuki was appointed Minister of Home Affairs in Kato Takaaki's cabinet, where he played a key role in passing the universal male suffrage bill and the Peace Preservation Law in 1925.
First Term as Prime Minister
Following Kato's sudden death in January 1926, Wakatsuki became Chairman of the Kenseikai and assumed the office of Prime Minister. His first term ended in April 1927 due to the onset of a financial crisis and intrigues within the Privy Council.
Naval Diplomacy and Second Term
London Naval ConferenceWakatsuki led the Japanese delegation at the London Naval Conference in 1930, where he advocated for naval disarmament. This stance drew criticism from the military and nationalist groups.
Second Term as Prime Minister
In April 1931, after the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Hamaguchi Osachi, Wakatsuki became Prime Minister and Chairman of the Rikken Minseito, the successor party to the Kenseikai.
Manchurian Incident and Resignation
Escalation of ConflictDuring his second term, the Manchurian Incident occurred, in which the Japanese army staged a railway explosion as a pretext for attacking Chinese barracks in Mukden. Wakatsuki's cabinet initially aimed to contain the conflict, but Korean-based units crossed the border into Manchuria without imperial approval. The government lost control over the Kwantung Army, and Wakatsuki was forced to sanction their actions.
End of Political Career
The Manchurian Incident marked the end of Wakatsuki's political career. He resigned on December 13, 1931, and retired from politics. However, he remained a vocal opponent of the war with the United States and advocated for peace after its outbreak.
