Saito Makoto

Saitō Makoto was a Japanese naval officer and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 1932 to 1934, the Governor-General of Korea from 1919 to 1927 and again from 1929 to 1931, and the Minister of the Navy from 1906 to 1914. He was also the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan from 1935 to 1936. He was assassinated by ultranationalistic Army officers during the February 26 Incident in 1936. Saitō was born in Mizusawa Domain, Mutsu Province (part of present-day Ōshū City, Iwate Prefecture), as the son of a samurai of the Mizusawa Clan. In 1879, he graduated from the 6th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, ranking third out of a class of 17 cadets. He was commissioned an ensign on September 8, 1882, and promoted to sub-lieutenant on February 25, 1884. He served on various ships, such as the corvette Jingei, the ironclad warship Fuso, and the cruiser Naniwa. He also studied naval artillery in France from 1887 to 1890. Upon his return to Japan, he was assigned to the Naval Ministry as a naval attaché. He distinguished himself during his command of two cruisers, the Akitsushima and the Itsukushima, in the First Sino-Japanese War, and rose rapidly to the rank of rear admiral by 1900. He was promoted to vice admiral during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, and commanded the Second Fleet in the Battle of Tsushima. He was also involved in the negotiations for the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the war. After the war, Saitō became the Minister of the Navy in the cabinets of Saionji Kinmochi, Katsura Tarō, and Yamamoto Gonnohyōe. He reformed the naval administration, expanded the naval budget, and promoted the development of naval aviation and submarine warfare. He also advocated for a strong navy to counter the growing threat of the United States in the Pacific. He retired from active service in 1914, but remained a member of the Supreme War Council. In 1919, Saitō was appointed as the Governor-General of Korea, a position he held until 1927, and again from 1929 to 1931. He was known for his moderate and conciliatory policies towards the Korean people, and tried to improve the living conditions and education of the Koreans. He also maintained peace with China, and suppressed the March 1st Movement, a nationwide uprising against Japanese colonial rule. He was criticized by some Japanese nationalists for being too lenient and pro-Korean, and by some Korean nationalists for being too oppressive and pro-Japanese. In 1932, after the assassination of Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi by radical naval officers, Saitō was chosen as his successor. He formed a coalition cabinet with members from various political parties, and tried to deal with the economic and social problems caused by the Great Depression. He also supported the London Naval Treaty, which limited the naval armaments of Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and aimed to reduce the naval tensions among the major powers. He faced strong opposition from the military and the right-wing factions, who accused him of betraying the national interests and compromising Japan's security. In 1934, Saitō resigned as Prime Minister, and was succeeded by Okada Keisuke. He returned to public service as the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan in February 1935, and became a close advisor to Emperor Hirohito. He was also a member of the Jushin, a privy council that had the power to approve or reject the decisions of the cabinet. He continued to advocate for a peaceful and diplomatic approach to the international affairs, and opposed the expansionist and aggressive policies of the Army and the Navy. On February 26, 1936, Saitō was assassinated by ultranationalistic Army officers during a failed coup attempt known as the February 26 Incident. He was shot at his official residence, along with his close friend, Finance Minister Takahashi Korekiyo. He died at the age of 77, and was posthumously awarded the Order of the Chrysanthemum, the highest honor in Japan. He was buried at the Tama Cemetery in Fuchū, Tokyo. He was survived by his wife, Saitō Haruko, and six children.