Naoki Inose

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Naoki Inose

Role / Field:

Japanese politician, historian, and social critic known for his work on modern Japanese history.

Born:

1946-11-20

Century / Era:

1946s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Naoki Inose (猪瀬 直樹, Inose Naoki; born 20 November 1946) is a Japanese politician, journalist, historian, social critic and biographer of literary figures such as Yukio Mishima and Osamu Dazai. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Tokyo from June 2007 until becoming Acting Governor on 1 November 2012 following the resignation of Shintaro Ishihara. He was elected Governor in a historical landslide victory in December 2012, but announced his resignation on December 19, 2013, following a political funds-related scandal; his resignation was approved and became effective December 24, 2013. Inose was born in Nagano Prefecture; his father died of angina when Inose was three years old. He attended elementary and junior high schools affiliated with Shinshu University, and ultimately enrolled at Shinshu in 1966.

Career & Major Achievements

He graduated from Shinshu University in 1970 and moved to Tokyo, where he was married later in the year. He enrolled in graduate school for political science at Meiji University in 1972, and had two children, born in 1974 and 1978. Inose's 1983 book Shōwa 16-nen Natsu no Haisen (昭和16年夏の敗戦; literally, "Defeated in War in the Summer of 1941") describes the findings of the Total War Research Institute (総力戦研究所, Sōryokusen Kenkyūjo). During the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, the Institute would be accused of being part of Japan's militaristic machine, but Inose asserts that it was little more than a think-tank, of which the purpose was to examine dispassionately the consequences of a total war. Its conclusion was that "there [would] be no way for Japan to win the war because of its clear material inferiority.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The war [would] be drawn out. The Soviet Union [would] butt in, and Japan [would] be defeated. Therefore, going to war with the United States must absolutely be avoided." This book was followed in 1987 by The Mikado's Portrait (帝の肖像, Mikado no Shōzō), concerning the development of the image of the Emperor, and the biographies of Yukio Mishima, Osamu Dazai and Kikuchi Kan: Persona (Perusona, 1995), Picaresque (Pikaresuku, 2000), and The Realm of Heart (心の王国, Kokoro no Ōkoku,; 2004). In 2009, his 1993 book "The Century of Black Ships" (黒船の世紀, Kurofune no Seiki) was published in English. In 2012, Inose's 1995 biography of Mishima was published in English under the title Persona: A Biography of Yukio Mishima, edited and adapted by Hiroaki Sato and published by Stone Bridge Press.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1946 (1946-11-20): Birth of Naoki Inose — Japanese politician, historian, and social critic known for his work on modern Japanese history.
2. 1966: 1966 Milestone — He attended elementary and junior high schools affiliated with Shinshu University, and ultimately enrolled at Shinshu in 1966.
3. 1970: 1970 Milestone — He graduated from Shinshu University in 1970 and moved to Tokyo, where he was married later in the year.
4. 1972: 1972 Milestone — He enrolled in graduate school for political science at Meiji University in 1972, and had two children, born in 1974 and 1978.
5. 1983: 1983 Milestone — Inose's 1983 book Shōwa 16-nen Natsu no Haisen (昭和16年夏の敗戦; literally, "Defeated in War in the Summer of 1941") describes the findings of the Total War Research Institute (総力戦研究所, Sōryokusen Kenkyūjo).
6. 1987: 1987 Milestone — " This book was followed in 1987 by The Mikado's Portrait (帝の肖像, Mikado no Shōzō), concerning the development of the image of the Emperor, and the biographies of Yukio Mishima, Osamu Dazai and Kikuchi Kan: Persona (Perusona, 1995), Picaresque (Pikaresuku, 2000), and The Realm of Heart (心の王国, Kokoro no Ōkoku,; 2004).
7. 2007: 2007 Milestone — He served as Lieutenant Governor of Tokyo from June 2007 until becoming Acting Governor on 1 November 2012 following the resignation of Shintaro Ishihara.
8. 2009: 2009 Milestone — In 2009, his 1993 book "The Century of Black Ships" (黒船の世紀, Kurofune no Seiki) was published in English.
9. 2012: 2012 Milestone — He was elected Governor in a historical landslide victory in December 2012, but announced his resignation on December 19, 2013, following a political funds-related scandal; his resignation was approved and became effective December 24, 2013.

Notable Quotes by Naoki Inose

“any reform can be implemented if people share more accurate and objective data than that (initially) released by authorities.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Naoki Inose

True or False: “Naoki Inose's initial criticism of rival bids during the 2020 Olympics bid was entirely compliant with International Olympic Committee rules.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): His comments were seen as a criticism of the Muslim world and violated IOC rules regarding criticizing rival bids.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Naoki Inose