Signatures of the Suzuki cabinet

The Suzuki cabinet of Japan, established on the 7th of April 1945, was a clear step away from the most extreme elements of Japanese militarism that had guided the nation’s politics since 1937. The new cabinet was dominated by naval officers and bureaucrats, including more moderate figures like Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo. The large majority of cabinet members were chosen for their personal association with and loyalty to Emperor Hirohito. However, the domestic victory of old conservatives over military extremists changed little in regards to the Japanese State’s unwillingness to accept unconditional surrender.
The signatures of the cabinet members that are seen in the photo were attached to Emperor Hirohito’s rescript to the Japanese people, announcing the end of the war on August 15th 1945. They are in order, from right to left: Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki, Minister of the Navy Mitsumasa Yonai, Minister of Justice Matsuzaka Hiromasa, Minister of War Korechika Anami, Minister of Munition Teijiro Toyoda, Minister of Health and Welfare Todahiko Okado, followed by three State Ministers Sakurai Hyogoro, Sakonji Seizo, Hiroshi Shimomura, Minister of Finance Hirose Toyosaku, Minister of Education Ota Kozo, Minister of Agriculture and Commerce Tadaatsu Ishiguro, Minister of the Interior Genki Abe, an unidentified Minister, Minister of State Yasui Toji and Transportation Minister Kobiyama Naoto. (Josef Mlejnek)