Hiroshi Saito (diplomat)

Formal photograph of Hiroshi Saito in his early career in the Japanese Diplomatic corp.

Hiroshi Saito (斎藤 博, Saitō Hiroshi, December 24, 1886 – February 26, 1939) was the Japanese ambassador to the United States from 1934 till his death in 1939.^[1][2]

As an envoy, Saito took part in Japan's 1934 renunciation of the Washington Naval Treaty.^[3] Saito worked to maintain good relations with the U.S, even as further global condemnation for the Japanese invasion of Manchuria was mounting. Notable issues that he faced was the USS Panay incident.

Saito, laughing while waiting to record a response to the USS Panay incident.

Personal life[]

Sakiko Saitō being crowned Queen of the Cherry Blossoms.

Hiroshi Saitō was born into a powerful and wealthy family in 1886. At age 32 he returned to Japan from the U.S to marry Miyoko Nagayo, daughter of Baron Sensai Nagayo, a diplomat in the Iwakura Mission. They had two daughters, Sakiko Saitō born in 1927 and Makako Saitō, born in 1930.^[4]

He died from tuberculosis in February, 1939.^[5] Upon his death, his body was returned to Japan via the heavy Cruiser, USS Astoria under the command of Captain Richmond K. Turner.

References[]

External links[]

• Video of Saito addressing the US on matters of a naval treaty
• Sterling Fisher Jr. (March 4, 1934). "JAPAN'S 'AMERICAN DIPLOMAT' IN ACTION; Hiroshi Saito, Trained in the Ways of This Country, Has Taken the Initiative in Clearing Up Many Old Issues". The New York Times Magazine.