Reading John Toland's The Rising Sun found a few interesting tidbits: that there were two plots to kill Japanese Premier Gen. Hideki Tojo in the Spring and Summer of 1944. One originated in the Japanese Navy, with RADM Sokichi Takagi (brother of VADM Takeo Takagi, who commanded the IJN's submarine force) as the mastermind, while several Majors and Captains in the Army also wanted Tojo to join his ancestors.
Takagi, along with many senior Navy officers, blamed Tojo for the way the war was going, and despised Admiral Shimada, his Navy Minister, for being a yes-man. (some wanted both men dead) Takagi consulted several right-wing political groups (experts in asssassination) and decided that an automobile "accident" would suffice. The plotters had access to captured Tommy guns from the Philippines, and they decided to ambush Tojo's car on the way from his residence to his office. After riddling the car and its occupants, the triggermen would go to a Navy airfield and fly to Formosa to lay low while Takagi picked up the pieces and if necessary took the rap. Prince Takamatsu (one of the Emperor's brothers) was a serving Naval officer and gave sanction to the plot.
The Army plot was in Army aviation, and several hot-headed officers decided to get rid of Tojo by throwing a bomb into his car as it approached the Imperial Palace. However, one of the plotters blabbed after drinking too much at the Tokyo Military District Officers' Club, and word reached Prince Chichibu (another brother who was a serving Army officer). Unlike Takamatsu, Chichibu viewed this plot as treason, and all involved were arrested and condemned to death, but were immediately given stays of execution as Tojo didn't want word of a plot to kill him to circulate and give others ideas.
After Saipan fell in early July, Mrs. Tojo got anonymous phone calls asking why her husband hadn't committed suicide yet, and Admiral Takagi was getting his plan into motion when Tojo resigned on 18 July.
So, WI Tojo had been assassinated in this time frame? It does have implications for how the peace faction in 1945 would have to be careful to avoid having such a violent end visited upon them....
Takagi, along with many senior Navy officers, blamed Tojo for the way the war was going, and despised Admiral Shimada, his Navy Minister, for being a yes-man. (some wanted both men dead) Takagi consulted several right-wing political groups (experts in asssassination) and decided that an automobile "accident" would suffice. The plotters had access to captured Tommy guns from the Philippines, and they decided to ambush Tojo's car on the way from his residence to his office. After riddling the car and its occupants, the triggermen would go to a Navy airfield and fly to Formosa to lay low while Takagi picked up the pieces and if necessary took the rap. Prince Takamatsu (one of the Emperor's brothers) was a serving Naval officer and gave sanction to the plot.
The Army plot was in Army aviation, and several hot-headed officers decided to get rid of Tojo by throwing a bomb into his car as it approached the Imperial Palace. However, one of the plotters blabbed after drinking too much at the Tokyo Military District Officers' Club, and word reached Prince Chichibu (another brother who was a serving Army officer). Unlike Takamatsu, Chichibu viewed this plot as treason, and all involved were arrested and condemned to death, but were immediately given stays of execution as Tojo didn't want word of a plot to kill him to circulate and give others ideas.
After Saipan fell in early July, Mrs. Tojo got anonymous phone calls asking why her husband hadn't committed suicide yet, and Admiral Takagi was getting his plan into motion when Tojo resigned on 18 July.
So, WI Tojo had been assassinated in this time frame? It does have implications for how the peace faction in 1945 would have to be careful to avoid having such a violent end visited upon them....
