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Hideki Tojo

40quotes

Hideki Tojo


Full Name and Common Aliases


Hideki Tojo was born as Yukiya Fukutome, but is more commonly known by his adopted name, Hideki Tojo.

Birth and Death Dates


Hideki Tojo was born on December 30, 1884, in Tokyo, Japan. He passed away on December 23, 1948, after being executed for war crimes.

Nationality and Profession(s)


Tojo was a Japanese politician and general who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from October 1941 to July 1944. He was also a prominent military leader and member of the Imperial Japanese Army.

Early Life and Background


Hideki Tojo was born into a family of minor samurai descent in Tokyo, Japan. His early life was marked by a strong sense of duty and loyalty to his country, which would shape his future actions as a politician and general. Tojo graduated from the Japanese Military Academy in 1905 and went on to serve in various military roles throughout his career.

Major Accomplishments


Tojo's rise to power began when he became Minister of War in 1940. He implemented several significant policies, including the expansion of Japan's military capabilities and the annexation of Manchuria from China. As Prime Minister, Tojo led Japan into World War II, invading Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Notable Works or Actions


Tojo is perhaps best known for his role in planning and executing the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, which drew the United States into the war. He also oversaw the implementation of the "Three Alls" policy - a brutal campaign to eliminate all resistance from China's civilian population.

Impact and Legacy


Tojo's actions during World War II had far-reaching consequences for Japan and the world at large. The country suffered heavily in the war, with millions killed or displaced. Internationally, Tojo's aggressive expansionism contributed to the rise of the United States as a global superpower.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Hideki Tojo is widely quoted and remembered for his role in planning and executing Japan's military aggression during World War II. His quotes often reflect his nationalist ideology and militaristic worldview, which continue to be studied by historians and scholars today. As a leader who embodied the extremes of Japanese nationalism, Tojo serves as a cautionary figure, reminding us of the dangers of unchecked power and ideological extremism.

As we reflect on Tojo's legacy, it is essential to acknowledge both the atrocities committed under his leadership and the complexities that led to his rise to power. His story offers a sobering reminder of the consequences of blind loyalty and the importance of holding leaders accountable for their actions.

Quotes by Hideki Tojo

From the point of the view of the nation's power, it was obvious that while we were fighting the Sino-Japanese war, every effort was to be made to avoid adding to our enemies and opening additional fronts.
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From the point of the view of the nation's power, it was obvious that while we were fighting the Sino-Japanese war, every effort was to be made to avoid adding to our enemies and opening additional fronts.
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On October 18, 1941, I suddenly received a mandate from His Majesty to form a new cabinet. This was completely unexpected, and when I was summoned to the Imperial Palace I thought I would be questioned on the army's point of view.
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On October 18, 1941, I suddenly received a mandate from His Majesty to form a new cabinet. This was completely unexpected, and when I was summoned to the Imperial Palace I thought I would be questioned on the army's point of view.
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When reflecting upon it today, that the Pearl Harbor attack should have succeeded in achieving surprise seems a blessing from Heaven. It was clear that a great American fleet had been concentrated in Pearl Harbor, and we supposed that the state of alert would be very high.
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When reflecting upon it today, that the Pearl Harbor attack should have succeeded in achieving surprise seems a blessing from Heaven. It was clear that a great American fleet had been concentrated in Pearl Harbor, and we supposed that the state of alert would be very high.
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Despite Japan's desires and efforts, unfortunate differences in the ways that Japan, England, the United States, and China understood circumstances, together with misunderstandings of attitudes, made it impossible for the parties to agree.
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Despite Japan's desires and efforts, unfortunate differences in the ways that Japan, England, the United States, and China understood circumstances, together with misunderstandings of attitudes, made it impossible for the parties to agree.
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Even military ministers have no more than a certain amount of control. It is customary that they have the right and the power to participate, from a political and military point of view, in the planning of actual operations.
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Even military ministers have no more than a certain amount of control. It is customary that they have the right and the power to participate, from a political and military point of view, in the planning of actual operations.
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We now have to see our country surrender to the enemy without demonstrating our power up to 120 percent. We are now on a course for a humiliating peace - or, rather, a humiliating surrender.
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We now have to see our country surrender to the enemy without demonstrating our power up to 120 percent. We are now on a course for a humiliating peace - or, rather, a humiliating surrender.
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The Japanese government has accepted the notion that Japan is the loser, and it appears to be going to accept unconditional surrender. Such a position frustrates the officers and soldiers of the imperial armed forces.
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The Japanese government has accepted the notion that Japan is the loser, and it appears to be going to accept unconditional surrender. Such a position frustrates the officers and soldiers of the imperial armed forces.
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At the Imperial Conference on December 1, it was decided to make war against England and the United States.
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At the Imperial Conference on December 1, it was decided to make war against England and the United States.
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The causes of the China Incident were the exclusion and insult of Japan throughout China, the exclusion of Japanese goods, the persecution of Japanese residents in China, and the illegal violation of Japanese rights.
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The causes of the China Incident were the exclusion and insult of Japan throughout China, the exclusion of Japanese goods, the persecution of Japanese residents in China, and the illegal violation of Japanese rights.
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The reason was the failure of both Japan and China to understand each other and the inability of America and the European powers to sympathize, without prejudice, with the peoples of East Asia.
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The reason was the failure of both Japan and China to understand each other and the inability of America and the European powers to sympathize, without prejudice, with the peoples of East Asia.
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