Hideki Tojo

Tojo, Hideki (1884–1948), Japanese military and political leader. He became minister of war in 1940, premier in Oct. 1941, and approved the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, leading Japan into World War II against the United States. Assuming totalitarian control over Japan during the early years of the war, Tojo was responsible for atrocities and the torture of Allied prisoners of war. He was forced to resign as premier in 1944 but continued to advocate a “no surrender” policy. After the war he was captured, tried as a war criminal, and hanged on Dec. 23, 1948.

See also: World War II.