Tojo was born in Tokyo in 1884 and graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1905. He served in the Russo-Japanese War and later rose through the ranks of the military, eventually becoming Minister of War in 1940. In October 1941, he became Prime Minister and quickly moved to expand Japan's empire in Asia and the Pacific.
Tojo's leadership saw Japan launch a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, precipitating the United States' entry into World War II. He also oversaw the brutal Japanese occupations of territories across Asia, including China, Korea, and Indonesia. Tojo and other Japanese leaders were ultimately prosecuted for war crimes following Japan's defeat in 1945, and Hideki Tojo was hanged as a war criminal on December 23, 1948.
Overall, Hideki Tojo is remembered as a key figure in Japanese history due to his prominent role in Japan's aggression and expansionism during World War II. He is one of the most well-known military leaders and political figures associated with that period.