Keisuke Okada

A naval officer and politician during the Taisho and Showa periods. Born on January 20, 1868 in Wakasa Province (Fukui Prefecture). Graduated from the Naval Academy in 1889 (Meiji 22). After graduating from the Naval War College, he served in the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, and World War I. In 1924 (Taisho 13), he became an admiral, and served as commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet from that year until 1926. He joined the Tanaka Giichi Cabinet in 1927 (Showa 2) and then the Saito Makoto Cabinet as Minister of the Navy in 1932. In 1934, he was appointed Prime Minister. He was attacked during the February 26 Incident in 1936, and narrowly escaped danger thanks to his brother-in-law, Colonel Matsuo Denzo, who was from the same hometown, taking his place, but the cabinet resigned en masse. He was placed under house arrest afterwards, but in April 1937 he was given the honorary rank of former official and joined the ranks of senior vassals. He showed a negative attitude towards the outbreak of war between Japan and the United States, and after the war he became the center of the movement to overthrow the Tojo Hideki cabinet. His son-in-law was Sakomizu Hisatsune, chief secretary of the Suzuki Kantaro cabinet. He died on October 17, 1952.

[Yokoseki Itaru]

"Baba Tsunego, 'Political Figures Commentary' (1935, Chuokoron-Shinsha)" ▽ "Okada Keisuke's 'Okada Keisuke Memoirs' (1950, Mainichi Shimbun)" ▽ "Okada Keisuke, compiled and published by the General Okada Record Compilation Committee (1956, not for sale)" ▽ "Sengoku Susumu, 'The Giant Tree Shook - The Life of Okada Keisuke' (1994, Kindai Bungeisha)" ▽ "Uesaka Norio, 'The Life of Prime Minister Okada Keisuke - From the February 26 Incident to the Work to End the War' (2001, Tokyo Shimbun Publishing Bureau)" ▽ "Mikkuriya Takashi, editor, 'Biographies of Prime Ministers Series 22: Okada Keisuke' (2006, Yumani Shobo)" ▽ "Okada Keisuke Memoirs' revised edition, written by Okada Keisuke and edited by Okada Sadahiro (Chuko Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大正・昭和時代の海軍軍人、政治家。慶応(けいおう)4年1月20日若狭国(わかさのくに)（福井県）に生まれる。1889年（明治22）海軍兵学校卒業。海軍大学校を経て日清(にっしん)、日露の両戦争、第一次世界大戦に従軍。1924年（大正13）海軍大将となり、同年より1926年まで連合艦隊司令長官。1927年（昭和2）には田中義一(たなかぎいち)内閣の、ついで1932年には斎藤実(さいとうまこと)内閣の海軍大臣として入閣。1934年に内閣総理大臣に任命された。1936年の二・二六事件で襲撃され、同郷人で義弟の松尾伝蔵大佐の身代りによりからくも難を逃れたが、内閣は総辞職した。その後謹慎していたが、1937年4月前官礼遇となり重臣の列に加わった。日米開戦には消極的姿勢を示し、開戦後は東条英機(とうじょうひでき)内閣打倒運動の中心となった。鈴木貫太郎内閣の書記官長迫水久常(さこみずひさつね)は女婿である。昭和27年10月17日死去。

［横関　至］

『馬場恒吾著『政界人物評論』（1935・中央公論社）』▽『岡田啓介述『岡田啓介回顧録』（1950・毎日新聞社）』▽『岡田大将記録編纂会編・刊『岡田啓介』（1956・非売品）』▽『仙石進著『巨木は揺れた――岡田啓介の生涯』（1994・近代文芸社）』▽『上坂紀夫著『宰相岡田啓介の生涯――2・26事件から終戦工作』（2001・東京新聞出版局）』▽『御厨貴監修『歴代総理大臣伝記叢書22　岡田啓介』（2006・ゆまに書房）』▽『岡田啓介著、岡田貞寛編『岡田啓介回顧録』改版（中公文庫）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例