Mitsumasa Yonai (2 Mar. 1880 - 20 Apr. 1948)
Formerly the Navy Minister, Yonai became Prime Minister of Japan in January of 1940. He was opposed to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy and opposed the signing of the Tripartite Pact with them, favouring peace with Britain and the United States. However, with German invasions of Western Europe, elements of the Imperial Japanese Army called for Yonai’s removal for his stance against Germany, and he resigned in July 1940.
This was not the end of his career though. He was Deputy Prime Minister and Navy Minister under Koiso’s government beginning in July 1944, and continued as Navy Minister in the government of Suzuki, favouring peace and the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration with the Prime Minister. He continued as Navy Minister after the war.
For more information on Mitsumasa Yonai:
Sims, Richard. Japanese Political History Since the Meiji Renovation 1868 – 2000 (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), 2001.
This was not the end of his career though. He was Deputy Prime Minister and Navy Minister under Koiso’s government beginning in July 1944, and continued as Navy Minister in the government of Suzuki, favouring peace and the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration with the Prime Minister. He continued as Navy Minister after the war.
For more information on Mitsumasa Yonai:
Sims, Richard. Japanese Political History Since the Meiji Renovation 1868 – 2000 (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan), 2001.