The 81st session of the Japanese Diet closed last week after vesting more military, political and economic powers in Premier Hideki Tojo than any premier has held since Japan emerged from feudalism in 1868.
From the assortment of titles he now holds, Tojo ("the Razor") could easily be mistaken for Tojo, the Dictator: he is Premier, War Minister, Home Minister, production chief. Tojo himself halfheartedly dispelled this interpretation when he explained: "I am not speaking of absolute dictatorship but I would like to make this clear: I possess power as Premier by order of the Emperor, and at present I...
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