20 Facts About Keisuke Okada

Keisuke Okada was a Japanese admiral and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1934 to 1936.

Keisuke Okada was appointed prime minister to succeed Saito in 1934.

Keisuke Okada narrowly survived, but resigned in the aftermath of the incident.

Keisuke Okada was born on 20 January 1868, in Fukui Prefecture, the son of a samurai of the Fukui Domain.

Keisuke Okada attended the 15th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, graduating 7th out of a class of 80 cadets in 1889.

Keisuke Okada served as a midshipman on the ironclad warship Kongo and the cruiser Naniwa.

Keisuke Okada was commissioned an ensign on 9 July 1890.

Keisuke Okada later served as lieutenant on the Itsukushima and Takachiho as well as the corvette Hiei.

Keisuke Okada was promoted to lieutenant on 9 December 1894, to lieutenant commander on 29 September 1899 and to commander on 13 July 1904.

Keisuke Okada was promoted to captain on 25 September 1908 and given his own command, the Kasuga on 25 July 1910.

Keisuke Okada was promoted to vice admiral on 1 December 1917 and to full admiral on 11 June 1924.

Keisuke Okada assumed the post of commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet in 1924.

Keisuke Okada was one of the few supporters within the upper ranks of the Imperial Japanese Navy of the arms reduction treaty resulting from the London Naval Treaty of 1930, which he helped negotiate and worked hard for its ratification.

Keisuke Okada again served as Navy Minister in the Saito Makoto cabinet of 1932.

Keisuke Okada entered the reserves on 21 January 1933 and retired five years later.

In July 1934, Keisuke Okada was named Prime Minister of Japan holding simultaneously the portfolio of Minister of Colonial Affairs.

Keisuke Okada was one of the democratic and moderate voices against the increasing strength of the militarists, and was therefore a major target for extremist forces pushing for a more totalitarian Japan.

Keisuke Okada narrowly escaped assassination in the February 26 Incident of 1936, largely because rebel troops killed Colonel Denzo Matsuo, brother-in-law as well as personal secretary of Okada's, by misidentifying him as the prime minister.

Keisuke Okada was adamant in his opposition to the war with the United States.

Keisuke Okada died in 1952, and his grave is at the Tama Reien Cemetery, in Fuchu, Tokyo.