- Tetsu Katayama
Infobox Prime Minister
name = Tetsu Katayama
width = 150px
height = 150px
caption =
birth_date =July 28 ,1887
birth_place = flagicon|Japan Tanabe, Wakayama,Japan
death_date = death date and age|1978|05|30|1887|07|28
death_place =
spouse =
office = 46thPrime Minister of Japan
term_start =May 24 ,1947
term_end =March 10 ,1948 .
monarch =
predecessor =Shigeru Yoshida
successor =Hitoshi Ashida
party =Japan Socialist Party
religion =Tetsu Katayama (片山 哲 "Katayama Tetsu",
July 28 ,1887 -May 30 ,1978 ) was aJapan esepolitician and the 46th Prime Minister fromMay 24 1947 toMarch 10 1948 .Early life
He was born in Tanabe,
Wakayama Prefecture , and attendedTokyo Imperial University . Raised in theChristian faith, he was strongly influenced by theChristian Socialism ofAbe Iso . After graduating, he opened a law office in a rentedYMCA dormitory, and worked as anattorney .Early political life
Katayama joined the
Japan Socialist Party and was elected to the House of Representatives, representingKanagawa Prefecture , in 1930. He became known as a leader of the "social democratic wing" of the party, and joinedAbe Iso andNishio Suehiro in opposing the expulsion ofSaitō Takao .Prime Minister and later life
In 1945, Katayama became secretary general and committee chairman of the party. Following the 1947 elections, in which the Socialist Party came in first, Katayama formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party and the
Citizens' Cooperation Party . However, the influence of left-wing socialists such asSuzuki Mosaburo forced Katayama to resign early in his term.After his resignation, Katayama became a member of the Democratic Socialist Party and advocated the maintenance of the pacifist constitution, election reform, and formation of a global commonwealth.
He bears the distinction of having been the first socialist, and first Christian, to serve as Prime Minister of Japan.
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