11 Facts About Tsuneo Matsudaira

Tsuneo Matsudaira was a Japanese diplomat and politician who served as the first President of the House of Councillors from 1947 to 1949.

Tsuneo Matsudaira previously served as Ambassador to the United States from 1924 to 1928, to Britain from 1929 to 1936, and Minister of the Imperial Household from 1936 to 1945.

Tsuneo Matsudaira was born on 17 April 1877, as the sixth son of Katamori Matsudaira, former daimyo of Aizu.

Tsuneo Matsudaira graduated in 1902 and entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Tsuneo Matsudaira was promoted to Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1923, before being appointed Ambassador to the United States the following year.

Tsuneo Matsudaira was then sent to London as Ambassador to Britain from 1929.

Tsuneo Matsudaira was appointed to take over as Minister of the Imperial Household.

Tsuneo Matsudaira served in this position until June 1945, when he resigned to take responsibility for the destruction of a part of the Imperial Palace in the American firebombing of Tokyo.

In 1946 Tsuneo Matsudaira was appointed to the Privy Council, but this body was abolished when the 1947 constitution came into effect.

Tsuneo Matsudaira formed the Ryokufukai with other independents and was elected as the first President of the House.

Tsuneo Matsudaira died of a heart attack on November 14,1949, at the age of 72.