Konoe << koh noh yeh or koh noh eh >>, Prince Fumimaro (1891-1945) was premier of Japan from 1937 to 1939 and from 1940 to 1941. His name is also spelled Konoye. He favored a “new order” in East Asia with Japan as the major power. He cooperated with military extremists and allowed Japanese war activity to grow sharply.
Konoe was born in Tokyo on Oct. 12, 1891, into one of Japan’s oldest aristocratic (upper-class) families. After Konoe became premier in 1937, war erupted between Japan and China (see Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945). He resigned in 1939 when the war did not end quickly. After Konoe became premier again in 1940, Japanese moves into Southeast Asia led to confrontation with the United States. Konoe failed to resolve the standoff and resigned in 1941. General Hideki Tojo became premier and led Japan into World War II (1939-1945).
In 1944, seeing Japan’s defeat as inevitable, Konoe began working behind the scenes to end the war. He hoped that he and Japan’s royal family would escape harsh treatment by the Allies. But after the war, he was charged with war crimes. To avoid arrest, he took poison on Dec. 16, 1945, and died.
