Kiichiro Hiranuma (28 September 1867 – 22 August 1952) was a Prime Minister of Japan from 5 January to 30 August 1939, succeeding Fumimaro Konoe and preceding Nobuyuki Abe.
Biography[]
Kiichiro Hiranuma was born on 28 September 1867 in Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Hiranuma worked with the Ministry of Justice and became Prosecutor-General in 1912, forcing Prime Minister Kanetake Oura to resign in 1915 due to bribery. He created the Tokko secret police to fight against communism and socialism in Japan, supported the Imperial Japanese Army during its wars of aggression against China, and pushed for Japan's withdrawal from the League of Nations. From 5 January to 30 August 1939 he served as Prime Minister, and following the Nomonhan Incident he resigned with his cabinet. In 1945 he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the United States after World War II's end for crimes against humanity, and he died in 1952.