Daily Almanac for
Jul 24, 2008
Info search tips
Bio search tips

Encyclopedia

Tanaka, Giichi

Tanaka, Giichi (gē-ē'chē tä'näkä) [key], 18631929, Japanese statesman and general. He is famous as the alleged author of the so-called Tanaka Memorial (1927), purporting to set forth Japan's plans for foreign conquest. Although proven to be a forgery, its similarity in part to the subsequent course of Japanese military expansion convinced many of its authenticity. He was war minister (1918–21, 1923–24) and backed the Siberian expedition. He became president of the Seiyukai party in 1925. As prime minister and foreign minister (1927–29) he pursued an aggressive policy in China, including military intervention in Shandong in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Chiang Kai-shek from unifying China. At home, his cabinet suppressed radicals and manipulated an election. Although it failed to win a majority, it remained in office. The downfall of Tanaka was hastened by his failure to control army extremists who assassinated the Manchurian warlord Chang Tso-lin, and by the charge that signing the Kellogg-Briand Pact “in the name of the people” infringed the sovereignty of the emperor.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

    • Cite
    • Print
    • Bookmark

More on Giichi Tanaka from Infoplease:

  • Seiyukai - Seiyukai Seiyukai , Japanese political party, founded in 1900. It was derived, via the Kenseito ...
  • Recent Rulers of Japan - Recent Rulers of Japan Name Date rule began Date rule ended Born Died Yamato dynasty Mutsuhito ...

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Japanese History: Biographies


Premium Partner Content
HighBeam Research

Related content from HighBeam Research on: Giichi Tanaka

Advent of Shishi - TIME (Time Magazine)

Untimely Death - TIME (Time Magazine)

- TIME (Time Magazine)

Penitent Premier - TIME (Time Magazine)

"No Retreat" - TIME (Time Magazine)

"In the Name of. . .' - TIME (Time Magazine)

Ronoto - TIME (Time Magazine)

(book reviews) (Canadian Journal of History)

Barb and Weasel - TIME (Time Magazine)

Powers on the Alert - TIME (Time Magazine)

Additional search results provided by HighBeam Research, LLC. © Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.