, was a politician and cabinet minister in the Empire of Japan, serving as a member of the

Lower House A lower house is one of two Debate chamber, chambers of a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has co ...

of the

Diet of Japan The is the national legislature of Japan. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives (, ''Shūgiin''), and an upper house, the House of Councillors (, '' Sangiin''). Both houses are directly elected under a paralle ...

for ten terms, and twice as a cabinet minister. He also served as Speaker of the House from 1932'' The International Who's Who 1943-44''. 8th edition. George Allen & Unwin, London, 1943, p. 9.-1934.

Biography

Akita was born in Miyoshi District,

Tokushima Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Tokushima Prefecture has a population of 728,633 (1 October 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,146 km2 (1,601 sq mi). Tokushima Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the north, E ...

and was a graduate from the predecessor of Nihon University with a graduate degree in law from the predecessor of Chuo University. Akita was a judge in the Tokushima District Court, but left the legal profession to become a journalist for the ''Niroku Shipō'', a newspaper of which he eventually became president. He won a seat in the

of the

in the 1912 General Election with the support of the ''

Rikken Dōshikai The Rikken-Dōshi Kai ( ja, 立憲同志会, , Association of Comrades of the Constitution) was a political party active in the Empire of Japan in the early years of the 20th century. It was also known as simply the Dōshikai. Founded by Prime Mi ...

'' political party. He was subsequently a member of the '' Rikken Kokumintō,'' followed by the ''

Rikken Seiyūkai The was one of the main political parties in the pre-war Empire of Japan. It was also known simply as the ''Seiyūkai''. Founded on September 15, 1900, by Itō Hirobumi,David S. Spencer, "Some Thoughts on the Political Development of the Japane ...

,'' with whose support he became Speaker of the House from March 1932 to December 1934. In 1939, under the Abe administration, Akita was asked to serve in the cabinet as Minister of Welfare. He joined the '' Taisei Yokusankai'' in 1940, and was appointed as Minister of Colonial Affairs in the 2nd Konoe administration from September 1940 – July 1941. Afterwards, he retired from public life and was awarded the 1st class of the Order of the Sacred Treasures. Akita died in 1944.

Family

His son, Daisuke Akita was also a politician, serving in the post-war Diet, and as Minister of Justice (Japan) in the 1970s.

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Akita, Kiyoshi 1881 births 1944 deaths People from Tokushima Prefecture Members of the House of Representatives (Empire of Japan) Government ministers of Japan Nihon University alumni Chuo University alumni Rikken Dōshikai politicians Rikken Kokumintō politicians Rikken Seiyūkai politicians Imperial Rule Assistance Association politicians Recipients of the Order of the Sacred Treasure