Fumio Gotō

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Fumio Gotō

Role / Field:

Japanese politician and bureaucrat who briefly served as interim Prime Minister of Japan.

Born:

1884-03-07

Died:

1980-05-01

Century / Era:

1884s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Fumio Gotō (後藤 文夫, Gotō Fumio; 7 March 1884 – 13 May 1980) was a Japanese politician and bureaucrat, and briefly served as interim Prime Minister of Japan in 1936. Born in Ōita Prefecture, Gotō was a graduate of the Law School of Tokyo Imperial University in 1909. During his early career in the 1920s, he worked in the Home Ministry, and was Director of Administration within the office of the Governor-General of Taiwan. In 1930, Gotō was appointed to a seat in the House of Peers in the Diet of Japan.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He served as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries between 1932 and 1934 in the cabinet of Prime Minister Makoto Saitō, and was later Home Minister in the cabinet of Keisuke Okada. Immediately after the 26 February Incident, Gotō served as acting Prime Minister while Prime Minister Okada was in hiding from his attempted assassins. He was chairman of the Taisei Yokusankai from 1941–1943, and under the administration of Hideki Tōjō, he served as a Minister of State.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Arrested by the American occupation authorities after the surrender of Japan, he was held in Sugamo Prison in Tokyo awaiting prosecution for war crimes, but was released in 1948 without trial. From April 1953 to June 1959, he served as a member of House of Councillors in the post-war Diet of Japan. He was appointed a Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in November 1971.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1884 (1884-03-07): Birth of Fumio Gotō — Japanese politician and bureaucrat who briefly served as interim Prime Minister of Japan.
2. 1909: 1909 Milestone — Born in Ōita Prefecture, Gotō was a graduate of the Law School of Tokyo Imperial University in 1909.
3. 1930: 1930 Milestone — In 1930, Gotō was appointed to a seat in the House of Peers in the Diet of Japan.
4. 1932: 1932 Milestone — He served as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries between 1932 and 1934 in the cabinet of Prime Minister Makoto Saitō, and was later Home Minister in the cabinet of Keisuke Okada.
5. 1941: 1941 Milestone — He was chairman of the Taisei Yokusankai from 1941–1943, and under the administration of Hideki Tōjō, he served as a Minister of State.
6. 1948: 1948 Milestone — Arrested by the American occupation authorities after the surrender of Japan, he was held in Sugamo Prison in Tokyo awaiting prosecution for war crimes, but was released in 1948 without trial.
7. 1953: 1953 Milestone — From April 1953 to June 1959, he served as a member of House of Councillors in the post-war Diet of Japan.
8. 1971: 1971 Milestone — He was appointed a Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in November 1971.
9. 1980 (1980-05-01): Passing & Historical Legacy — Fumio Gotō passed away on 1980-05-01, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Fumio Gotō

True or False: “Fumio Gotō was never involved in any high-level government roles during the period immediately following World War II.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He was a member of the House of Councillors in the post-war Diet of Japan from April 1953 to June 1959.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Fumio Gotō