Jirō Shirasu (白洲 次郎, Shirasu Jirō, 17 February 1902 – 28 November 1985) was a Japanese bureaucrat and businessman.
Jirō Shirasu - Jirō Datoshi | |
|---|---|
| 白洲 次郎 | |
 Jirō Shirasu (From Shūkan Asahi, 1953) | |
| Born | 17 February 1902 |
| Died | 28 November 1985 (aged 83) |
| Spouse | Masako Shirasu |
| Children | Katsurako Makiyama |
Biography edit
He was born in Ashiya in Hyogo Prefecture and studied at Clare College, Cambridge.
During the Occupation he was a member of Shigeru Yoshida's government. He is particularly remembered in Japan for an incident in Christmas 1945 where he delivered a present from Hirohito, Emperor of Japan to General Douglas MacArthur. When MacArthur told him to place it on the floor, Shirasu demanded a table to show respect.[1] In 2009 he was the subject of an NHK drama.
His wife Masako Shirasu was a collector and expert of fine Japanese art, on which she published a number of books. Their house Buaisō became a museum.
References edit
- ^ Corkill, Edan (6 March 2009). "Redefining defiance for a modern Japan - The Japan Times". The Japan Times.