Kuniaki Koiso | |
---|---|
小磯 國昭 | |
28th Prime Minister of Japan | |
In office July 22, 1944 – April 7, 1945 |
|
Monarch | Shōwa |
Preceded by | Hideki Tojo |
Succeeded by | Kantarō Suzuki |
Governor General of Korea | |
In office June 15, 1942 – July 22, 1944 |
|
Monarch | Shōwa |
Preceded by | Jirō Minami |
Succeeded by | Nobuyuki Abe |
Personal details | |
Born |
, Japan |
March 22, 1880
Died | November 3, 1950 Tokyo, Japan |
(aged 70)
Resting place | Aoyama Cemetery, Tokyo |
Political party | Imperial Rule Assistance Association |
Other political affiliations |
Sakurakai |
Alma mater |
Imperial Japanese Army Academy Army War College |
Profession | General |
Religion | Shinto |
Signature | |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
Service/branch | Imperial Japanese Army |
Years of service | 1900–1938 |
Rank | General |
Commands |
Kuniaki Koiso (小磯 國昭 Koiso Kuniaki?, March 22, 1880 – November 3, 1950) was a Japanese general in the Imperial Japanese Army, Governor-General of Korea and 41st Prime Minister of Japan from July 22, 1944, to April 7, 1945. He was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Koiso was born in Utsunomiya, on March 22, 1880, as the son of a Samurai family. His father was a policeman.
Koiso graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1900 and went on to attend the Army Staff College. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 30th Infantry Regiment in June 1901, he was promoted to Lieutenant in November 1903. During the Russo-Japanese War, he served as Battalion Adjutant in September 1904, Company Commander in March 1905 and was promoted to captain in June 1905.
In November 1910, Koiso graduated from the Army Staff College and returned to the Imperial Japanese Army Academy as an instructor in December 1910.
Reassigned to the Kwantung Army in September 1912, Koiso was promoted to major and Battalion Commander of the 2d Infantry Regiment in August 1914. He returned to the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Headquarters in June 1915, was promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 1918, and seconded to the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service in July 1921. After his promoted to colonel in February 1922, he was sent as a military attaché to Europe in June 1922, returning to assume command of the IJA 51st Division in August 1923. Returning to the Army General Staff in May 1925, he was promoted to major general in December 1926 and lieutenant general in August 1931.