Hideki TojoI was born to be a military leader, but I never imagined that I would have caused so much pain and destruction to so many people, and for that I truly regret to have I did.I was born in Tokyo, Japan, on December 30, 1884. I was always a good student in secondary and elementary school; then I attended a prestigious military college. I attended the Imperial Japanese Army Academy and graduated at the top of my class. After graduating, I married a well-respected woman named Katsuko Ito. I then attended the Military Staff College and it was from there that I built my career. My early adult years were spent very well as I worked hard to improve my ranking in the military. I rose from the rank of captain in 1915 to colonel in 1928. I was also appointed commander of the 1st Infantry Regiment. I returned to Tokyo after being appointed chief of staff of the Guandong Army in Manchuria in 1937. However, in 1938 I became vice minister of War and was one of the leaders of Japan's tripartite pact with Italy and Germany. It was in July 1940 that I was appointed Minister of War in the cabinet of Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro. I succeeded Konoe Fumimaro as Prime Minister on October 18, 1941. This brought me to power and encouraged me to fight many battles during World War II. The Second Sino-Japanese War was one of the first battles I remember. It was July 7, 1937, when we decided to invade China. Our plan to retake Manchuria was actually quite simple. We had come up with a plan to take over all the roads, railways and cities in order to gain more control. There was a railroad along Manchuria that we used to transport raw materials and other goods to Korean docks so we could ship them to Japan. Even though we were in the middle of the paper, I listened. “I’m so sorry it’s taking me so long to die,” I said weakly as each of the reporters focused on me. Even though I wanted to die, I had emergency surgery and recovered from my suicide attempt. I was tried for being a war criminal. They accused me of waging wars of aggression, as well as ordering, authorizing and permitting inhumane treatment of prisoners of war and others. During my trial, I announced that I was personally responsible for the war and tried to divert the emperor's attention. Despite the protests of many citizens opposed to my honor, they felt that I had brought disaster on Japan. My name, along with those of other war criminals, was commemorated at Yasukuni, the Tokyo shrine dedicated to the memory of warriors who fell in the service of the imperial family. I was hanged as a war criminal in December 23, 1948.