In the 1930s Hideki Tojo fought in the Sino-Japanese war, leading Japanese forces in occupied Manchuria. He returned to Tokyo in 1940 and held a number of ministerial posts, urging an alliance with Germany and Italy against the Allied forces. Within two months of becoming Prime Minister in 1941, Tojo ordered a surprise attack on U.S. naval forces in Hawaii, the direct result of which was America’s entry into World War II. Tojo served as the political and military leader of Japan until 1944, when it was clear that the Allies would prevail. He was later tried for war crimes, convicted, and hanged on December 23, 1948. Scarce vintage glossy 4 x 5 photo, signed in black ink, “Hideki Tojo,” and also signed by the two other men shown, “Tokyo, Japan, 3 July ’46, A. S. Kenworthy” and “Mike Frisch.” Accompanying the photo is an unsigned letter from the original recipient, Richard K. Benjamin, explaining that he was a member of the Provost Marshal’s office in Tokyo during the American occupation and that he obtained Tojo’s autograph during a specially arranged visit to the holding room during the War Crime Trials. Kenworthy was in charge of security at the trials; Frisch was Commanding Officer of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) attached to the Provost Marshal’s office. In fine condition, with a few scattered dings and light bends, and slight irregularity to ink flow. R&R COA.
