Who became Japan’s first postwar prime minister after Emperor Hirohito announced surrender in August 1945?
Answer
Naruhiko Higashikuni
Naruhiko Higashikuni became Japan’s first postwar prime minister after Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender in August 1945.
Prince Higashikuni formed a cabinet on August 17, 1945, two days after Hirohito’s surrender broadcast. He was a member of the imperial family and a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, making his appointment useful to officials seeking continuity during the transition from wartime rule to occupation.
His government oversaw the immediate surrender period, including demobilization and the first stage of Allied occupation. Higashikuni resigned in October 1945 after disagreements with the occupation authorities over political reform and the removal of wartime officials. He was succeeded by Kijūrō Shidehara.