Yuko Tojo (東條 由布子, Tōjō Yūko, May 20, 1939 – February 13, 2013) was a Japanese ultra-nationalist politician, Imperial Japanese apologist, and brief political hopeful.[1] She was the granddaughter of General Hideki Tojo, the Japanese wartime prime minister who was convicted as a Class A war criminal and hanged after World War II[1] in 1948.
Yuko Tojo | |
|---|---|
東條 由布子 | |
 | |
| Born | Yoshie Tojo 20 May 1939 |
| Died | 13 February 2013 (aged 73) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Other names |
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| Alma mater | Kokushikan University |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, Insurance agent |
| Employer | Dai-Ichi Insurance Company |
| Known for | granddaughter of Hideki Tojo |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives |
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Politics
editIn May 2007, Tojo revealed her intention to run in the House of Councillors election at the age of 68. She ran on a far-right platform. Tojo denied Japanese war crimes during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.
Tojo was a patron of The Truth about Nanjing, a movie made with the intention to expose what the filmmaker Satoru Mizushima saw as propagandistic aspects of the Nanjing Massacre. Mizushima alleges that the 1937 Nanjing Massacre was a politically motivated fabrication by China and numerous western eyewitnesses.[citation needed]
Japan's nationalists, including the late former Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, distanced themselves from her. Political commentator Minoru Morita has said of her, “Tojo’s nationalistic attitude might appeal to certain elements of the population, but most Japanese do not sympathize with her views. She has no chance at all at the elections."[2]
Death
editTojo died on February 13, 2013, from interstitial pneumonia at the age of 73, ten years after her entry into politics.[3]
Quotes
edit"Japan did not fight a war of aggression. It fought in self-defense. Our children have been wrongly taught that their ancestors did evil things, that their country is evil. We need to give these children back their pride and confidence".[2]
"In Japan, there are no war criminals. Every one of those enshrined at Yasukuni died fighting for their country, and we should honor them".[2]
"Many people, including Kyuma, believe that the atomic bombs stopped Japan's 'aggression,' but Japan did not fight a war of aggression". "If there was one mistake, however, it was the fact that we lost. And if my grandfather is to blame, it's not because he started the war but because we lost".[4]
"People think I'm a hawk, but I'm actually a dove on the torii of Yasukuni Shrine".[5]
References
edit- ^ a b Jun Hongo (February 15, 2013). "Tojo's granddaughter, Yuko, dies at 73". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
- ^ a b c Associated Press (June 11, 2007). "Tojo's granddaughter runs for office". NBC News. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
- ^ Jun Hongo (February 16, 2013). "Tojo's granddaughter, Yuko, dies at 73". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ Kamiya, Setsuko (July 4, 2007). "Candidate Tojo seeks resolution against A-bombings". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ Kamiya, Setsuko (July 4, 2007). "Candidate Tojo seeks resolution against A-bombings". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
