Kisabur? And? was a career officer and lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army, who served as a politician and cabinet minister in the government of the Empire of Japan during World World War World War II
Education
Born to an ex-samurai family of Sasayama Domain in Hy?go Prefecture, And? graduated from the eleventh class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1899.
Career
In 1901, as a second lieutenant in the infantry, he served in the 10th Brigade of the Taiwan Garrison. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1904, and served as a company commander in the IJA 10th Infantry Regiment, and was subsequently promoted to captain, and to major in 1913. In 1918, And? was sent as a military attache to the United States, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel while on assignment.
On his return, he served in the Personnel Bureau of the Ministry of War from 1921-1922.
In 1922, he was promoted to colonel, and assigned command of the IJA 73rd Infantry Regiment, followed by the IJA 2nd Infantry Regiment. From 1923-1927, he returned to the Personnel Bureau at the Ministry of War.
After And? was promoted to major general in 1927, he commanded the IJA 30th Infantry Brigade until 1929, and was attached to the staff of the IJA 1st Division from 1929-1932. In 1932, And? was promoted to lieutenant general, and became commandant of the Ry?jun Fortress in the Kwantung Leased Territory from 1932-1934.
Although And? went into the reserves in 1934, and quickly retired, he was recalled to active duty in 1937 with the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War and was assigned command of the 9th Depot Division.
He retired again in 1939. He was also the commander of the party’s paramilitary youth wing, the Yokusan Sonendan. In 1942, with the establishment of the T?j? administration, And? joined the cabinet as a Minister without portfolio.
One of his tasks, assigned personally by Emperor Hirohito was to coordinate efforts to suppress news of the Japanese defeat at the Battle of Midway,
The following year, he was asked to assume the post of Home Minister, serving until the fall of the T?j? administration in 1944.
During his tenure, as Home Minister, he was successful in curbing the leadership of the Yokusan Sonendan, which had become politicized, and which had becoming increasing critical of older politicians and bureaucrats and was starting to evolve into a populist political movement independent of the Taisei Yokusankai. He subsequently was appointed to a seat in the upper house of the Diet of Japan.
He was held in Sugamo Prison until December 1948, but was never brought to trial before the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. He died soon afterwards on 10 May 1954.
Politics
In 1940, with the founding of the Taisei Yokusankai political party, And? became active in politics and was made vice-chairman of the party.
Membership
After World World War II, in December 1945, And? was arrested by the American Occupation authorities on Class A war criminal charges along with all other members of the wartime Japanese government.