Kenkichi Yoshizawa

Diplomat. Born in Niigata Prefecture. Son-in-law of Inukai Tsuyoshi. Graduated from the Department of English Literature at Tokyo Imperial University in 1899 (Meiji 32) and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Became envoy to China in 1923 (Taisho 12), and negotiated with Soviet ambassador to China Karahan to establish diplomatic relations between Japan and the Soviet Union, and concluded the Basic Treaty between Japan and the Soviet Union in January 1925. Became ambassador to France in 1930 (Showa 5). In 1931, as Japan's representative to the League of Nations, he was involved in diplomatic coordination after the Manchurian Incident. In 1932, he became Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Inukai Tsuyoshi cabinet. In July of the same year, he became an Imperially appointed member of the House of Peers. In 1940, he was involved in economic negotiations with the Dutch East Indies government, but the negotiations were terminated the following year in 1941. In 1945, he became a Privy Councilor. After Japan was defeated in the war, he was purged from public office and became the ambassador to Taiwan in 1952. After he resigned, he continued to serve as chairman of the Free Asia Association and defended Taiwan. His books include Sixty Years of Diplomacy (1958).

[Yuji Odabe]

"Autobiography of Yoshizawa Kenkichi" edited by Nakano Keiji (1964, Jiji Press)" ▽ "Sixty Years of Diplomacy" (Chuko Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

外交官。新潟県出身。犬養毅(いぬかいつよし)の女婿。1899年（明治32）東京帝国大学英文科を卒業し、外務省に入る。1923年（大正12）中国公使となり、ソ連のカラハン駐中国大使と日ソ国交樹立を交渉し、1925年1月日ソ基本条約を締結。1930年（昭和5）フランス大使。1931年国際連盟日本代表として、満州事変後の外交調整に携わる。1932年犬養毅内閣外相。同年7月、貴族院勅選議員。1940年オランダ領東インド政府との経済交渉にあたったが、翌1941年交渉打切りとなる。1945年枢密顧問官。敗戦後、公職追放、1952年（昭和27）台湾大使となり、辞任後も自由アジア協会会長などを務め、台湾擁護の立場をとった。著書に『外交六十年』（1958）がある。

［小田部雄次］

『中野敬止編『芳沢謙吉自伝』（1964・時事通信社）』▽『『外交六十年』（中公文庫）』

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