World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseSaburo Kurusu was born into a family of high standing in Yokohama, Japan in 1883. He graduated from Tokyo Commercial College (now Hitotsubashi University) in 1909. He passed the test for diplomatic service in 1909 and began his career in 1910. Between 1914 and 1920, he worked in Chicago, Illinois, United States as a member of the Japanese Consul. He met and married the American woman Alice Jay Little, with whom he would have four children. In the 1920s and 1930s, he saw service in Chile, Italy, Germany, Peru, and Belgium, in addition to postings within Japan. On 27 Sep 1940, he signed the Tripartite Pact, an assignment that would seal his reputation for the Americans despite of his own reservations regarding the prospects of Japan being entangled in the conflict in Europe. After being recalled to Japan, was known for his stance against provoking war with western powers. Because Minister of Foreign Affairs Shigenori Togo did not have full trust in Ambassador Kichisaburo Nomura, Togo sent Kurusu to the United States to discuss peace alongside of Nomura. On 26 Nov, US Secretary of State Cordell Hull presented them with a set of non-negotiable demands for Japan to withdraw all troops from China and to sever relations with Germany and Italy, leading to Tokyo firmly embark on the decision to go to war. This decision was not made known to Kurusu and Nomura, but in the Americans perspective they were considered as deceitful for continuing the discussion all the way through the start of the Pacific War. In the afternoon of 7 Dec 1941, Kurusu and Nomura delivered Japan's declaration of war after the Pearl Harbor attack had already taken place, thus further damaging his standing with his American colleagues. He was interned at Hot Springs, Virginia, United States between Dec 1941 and Jun 1942, at which time he was transported to Mozambique aboard passenger liner Gripsholm. He spotted US Ambassador to Japan Joseph Grew at the docks, who was preparing to board Gripsholm for his return to the United States; the two diplomats (along with Nomura) removed their hats in mutual respect to each other. Kurusu was publicly lauded for his attempts to negotiate with the Americans against all odds, even if he had failed to secure peace. Throughout the course of the war, Kurusu continued his work with the Foreign Ministry. In a statement in Nov 1942 he insisted that the war Japan engaged in was one to free Asia of its western colonial empires. He used China as an example: "What I wish to stress especially at this time is that although the U.S. and Britain were always professing friendship to China, but what they are really after is China-that is Chinese territory and resources and not the Chinese people themselves." He insisted that Japan had only gone to war after all means to maintain peace in the Pacific were exhausted. His Chicago-born son Captain Ryo Kurusu, a Japanese Army pilot, died in Feb 1945 when he was struck by aircraft propellers at an airfield; while it was likely to be an accident, some speculated suicide. After the war, Kurusu was not prosecuted by the Allied military tribunal. He became a professor at Tokyo University and lived in a country estate in Karuizawa in central Japan with his wife. He passed away in 1954.

Saburo Kurusu Interactive Map

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Saburo Kurusu Timeline

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