Saitō Takao

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For the Japanese manga artist, see Takao Saito.

For the Japanese cinematographer, see Takao Saito (cinematographer).

Saitō Takao (Japanese: 斎藤隆夫) (September 13, 1870 - October 7, 1949) was a Japanese politician and longtime member of the Imperial Diet from Hyōgo Prefecture. He was a member of the Rikken Minseito party. On February 2, 1940, he made a speech in which he sharply questioned the prosecution and justification of Japan's "holy war" in China. For this, he was expelled from the Diet on March 7, 1940. His speech also led to the creation of the League of Diet Members Believing the Objectives of the Holy War by Fumimaro Konoe. Takao would be re-elected to the Diet in 1942. After the surrender of Japan in 1945, he enjoyed some attention as one of the few really clean politicians for the Allied Occupation's efforts to democratize Japan.

[edit] See also

• Opposition at home to the Japanese government (World War II)

[edit] References

• Kinmonth, Earl H. (Summer 1999). "The Mouse That Roared: Saito Takao, Conservative Critic of Japan's "Holy War" in China". Journal of Japanese Studies 25 (2): 331-360. University of Washington: Society for Japanese Studies.