Hideki Tojo (December 30, 1884 - December 23, 1948) was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army, the leader of the Taisei Yokusankai and the Prime Minister of Japan during World War II. As Prime Minister he was responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbor which led to the war between the United States and Japan although it was planned before he entered office. At the end of the war he tried to commit suicide but failed (something which outraged the Japanese people) and he was arrested, tried for war crimes and hanged.