Mitsumasa Yonai
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YonaiMitsumasa.jpg
Mitsumasa Yonai
Mitsumasa Yonai (米内 光政 Yonai Mitsumasa; March 2 1880–April 20 1948) was a Japanese politician and the 37th Prime Minister of Japan from January 16 1940 to July 22 1940.
Educated at the Naval Academy at Etajima, he served in Russia from 1915-1917, and was commander of the Imperial Fleet in 1936 and 1937. Yonai served as Minister of the Navy from 1937-1939, and again 1944-1945. In the last few weeks before Japan's surrender, he sided with Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki and Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo in support of acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration; these three were opposed by Minister of War Korechika Anami, along with the Chiefs of Staff Admiral Soemu Toyoda and General Yoshijiro Umezu.
He was born in Iwate Prefecture.
| Preceded by: Nobuyuki Abe | Prime Minister of Japan 1940 | Succeeded by: Fumimaro Konoe |
| Preceded by: (first term) Osami Nagano | Minister of the Navy of Japan Feb 1937 - Aug 1939, Jul 1944 - Dec 1945 | Succeeded by: (first term) Zengo Yoshida |
| Preceded by: (second term) Naokuni Nomura | Succeeded by: (second term) Ministry Abolished |