Zembei Horikiri (堀切 善兵衛; 4 May 1882 – 25 November 1946) was a Japanese politician and economist who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1929 to 1930 and Ambassador to Italy from 1940 to 1942. He belonged to the Rikken Seiyukai party, and held several ranks in the Japanese imperial court. While ambassador, he worked to foster cooperation among the Tripartite Pact powers alongside Hiroshi Oshima, Japan's Ambassador to Germany. His brother, Zenjirō Horikiri, served as Minister for Home Affairs under Prime Minister Kijūrō Shidehara. In 1946, Horikiri died at home in Iizaka aged 64.
Early life and education Born as the eldest son of Ryohei Horikiri in Kami-Iizaka, Fukushima Prefecture (now Fukushima City), he graduated in 1903 from the Faculty of Commerce, Keio University. He studied abroad at Harvard University, Oxford University, and Humboldt University of Berlin in Germany, then returned to teach at Keio University. He was an economist, specializing in economic theory, public finance, commercial policy, and colonial policy. His younger brothers were Zenjiro Horikiri, who held posts including Minister of Home Affairs, and Hisagoro Uchiike, also a member of the House of Representatives.
Political career He was elected consecutively 10 times from the 11th general election in 1912 to the 20th general election in 1937. In 1912, in his campaign for the 11th general election, he ran as a Rikken Seiyukai candidate from Fukushima Prefecture 1st District and was elected. He served as party secretary and general secretary. In 1918, he became secretary to Finance Minister Korekiyo Takahashi. In 1921, he concurrently served as Counselor at the Ministry of Finance and secretary to Prime Minister Takahashi. In 1924, he was appointed Commerce and Agriculture Ministry Counselor in the Kato Cabinet. In 1925, he became Commerce Ministry Counselor under Kato Cabinet.
In March 1927, he was investigated and charged with assault related to a parliamentary brawl.Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun, 30 March 1927; Showa News Encyclopedia, vol. 1 p. 238Tokyo Asahi Shimbun, 7 April 1927; Showa News Encyclopedia, vol. 1 p. 238 On 16 December 1927, he was fined 50 yen.Tokyo Nichinichi Shimbun, 17 Dec 1927; Showa News Encyclopedia, vol. 1 p. 240
In 1929, he was elected the 27th Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1931, he was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Finance under the Inukai Cabinet. In 1939, he joined the Reform Alliance faction of the Seiyukai party. In 1940, at the request of Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka, he became Ambassador to Italy. On 11 December 1941, he stood alongside Benito Mussolini on the balcony of the Piazza Venezia in Rome as Italy's declaration of war on the United States was announced.Nihon Gaikoshi Jiten, appendix (1979). pp. 353-354.
He worked to bolster Tripartite Pact cooperation along with Ambassador Hiroshi Oshima. In 1941, he received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st class. In 1942, he resigned as Ambassador and served as Special Envoy in Europe for two years. He returned to Japan in 1944. On 24 February 1945, he was appointed Imperial Appointed Member of the House of Peers.House of Peers Directory, 1947, p. 53 In 1946, he was purged from public office, resigned from the House of Peers on 15 June 1946,Official Gazette No.5827, 19 June 1946 and died of a peptic ulcer at home in Iizaka on 25 November 1946, aged 64.Asahi Shimbun, 27 Nov 1946
Honors
Japanese court ranks
30 October 1918 - Junior Fifth RankOfficial Gazette No.1874, 1 Nov 1918 10 December 1921 - Senior Fifth RankOfficial Gazette No.2809, 12 Dec 1921 16 April 1934 - Junior Fourth RankOfficial Gazette No.2191, 24 Apr 1934 15 July 1942 - Senior Fourth RankOfficial Gazette No.4701, 9 Sep 1942 30 November 1944 - Junior Third RankOfficial Gazette No.5378, 16 Dec 1944 Orders and decorations Year of AwardRibbonOrder / Medal10 November 1915Taishō Enthronement Commemorative Medal‘Kanpō’ No. 1311, Appendix “Appointments,” December 14, 1916.1 April 1916Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th Class‘Kanpō’ No. 1218, “Appointments and Orders,” August 21, 1916.1 November 1920Order of the Rising Sun, Small Badge‘Kanpō’ No. 2640, “Appointments and Orders,” May 21, 1921.1 July 1921First National Census Commemorative Medal‘Kanpō’ No. 2860, Appendix “Appointments,” February 16, 1922.25 December 1923Order of the Sacred Treasure, 3rd Class‘Kanpō’ No. 3404, “Appointments and Orders,” December 26, 1923.10 November 1928One Gold Cup‘Kanpō’ Extra Edition, “Titles, Appointments and Orders,” November 10, 1928.12 February 1930Order of the Sacred Treasure, 2nd Class‘Kanpō’ No. 935, “Appointments and Orders,” February 13, 1930.1 May 1931Capital Reconstruction Commemorative Medal‘Kanpō’ No. 1499, Appendix “Appointments II,” December 28, 1931.29 April 1934Order of the Rising Sun, Second Class‘Kanpō’ No. 2696, Appendix “Appointments II,” December 27, 1935.10 November 19402600th Anniversary of the Imperial Era Commemorative Medal‘Kanpō’ No. 4438, Appendix “Appointments II,” October 23, 1941.9 August 1941Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st Class‘Kanpō’ No. 4379, “Appointments and Orders,” August 12, 1941. Foreign decorations
DateCountryRibbonOrder1 March 1934 ManchukuoImperial Visit to Japan Commemorative MedalOfficial Gazette No.2493, 27 Apr 193521 September 1935 ManchukuoEmperor's Visit Commemorative MedalOfficial Gazette No.2866, 22 Jul 19367 June 1941 Kingdom of ItalyOrder of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Grand CrossOfficial Gazette No.4326, 11 Jun 1941
Family
Wife: Misuzu Horikiri (daughter of Shutaro Yoshino) Eldest daughter: Ryoko Jūmonji (wife of Toshio Jūmonji) Brothers: Zenjiro Horikiri (Home Ministry official), Hisagoro Uchiike (House of Representatives member)
See also House of Representatives (Japan)
References
Bibliography Keio University ed., 'Keio University General Register Taisho 3', Keio University, 1914