Shinya Uchida

Businessman and politician. Born in Ibaraki Prefecture. After graduating from Tokyo Higher Commercial School, he joined Mitsui & Co., Ltd. When World War I began, he left the company and founded Uchida Kisen, becoming a shipping magnate. He donated funds to the founding of the old Mito High School in his hometown. In 1921 (Taisho 10), he offered bribery in the hope of canceling general elections, which led to the so-called "rare item scandal." He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1924 and has been re-elected seven times since. He initially belonged to the Seiyukai party, but went against party policy and became Minister of Railways in the Okada Keisuke cabinet, after which he was expelled from the party and formed the Showakai party. In 1936 (Showa 11), he was implicated in the railway scandal, but was found not guilty in 1940. In 1944, he became Minister of Agriculture and Commerce in the Tojo Hideki cabinet. After Japan's defeat in the war, his ban from holding public office was lifted, and in 1952 (Showa 27), he was elected to the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Party. He served as Minister of Agriculture in the fifth Yoshida Shigeru cabinet.

[Yuji Odabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

実業家、政治家。茨城県に生まれる。東京高等商業学校卒業後、三井物産に入社。第一次世界大戦が始まると退社して内田汽船を設立、船成金となる。郷里の旧制水戸高等学校創立に際し寄付金を提供。1921年（大正10）普選中止を望んで贈賄し、いわゆる「珍品問題」を引き起こした。1924年衆議院議員に当選、以来7選。初め政友会に属したが、党議に反し岡田啓介(けいすけ)内閣の鉄道相となり党から除名され、昭和会を結成した。1936年（昭和11）鉄道疑獄に連座するが1940年無罪判決。1944年東条英機(ひでき)内閣の農商相となる。敗戦後は公職追放解除後、1952年（昭和27）自由党から衆議院議員に当選。第五次吉田茂内閣の農相を務めた。

［小田部雄次］

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