Katsuji Debuchi

Katsuji Debuchi (1878–1947) came from Morioka and graduated from Tokyo Higher Commercial School in 1902. His early service included Korea and Germany, responsibility for China in the Foreign Ministry, and a Washington posting as first secretary in 1918. He assisted Japan’s delegation at the Washington Conference, then became Asia Bureau director and vice foreign minister before returning to Washington as ambassador in 1928. ¹

Debuchi represented Japan during the Manchurian crisis. In October 1931, he warned Under Secretary William Castle that American calls for pressure through the League of Nations were being interpreted in Japan as more than pressure of public opinion. He invoked the controversy over Masanao Hanihara’s immigration letter to illustrate the danger of diplomatic language being misunderstood. The following month, Debuchi informed Secretary Henry Stimson of Japan’s proposal for an investigative commission; Stimson insisted that continued military operations could make such an inquiry futile. ^{2, 3}

After a special mission to Australia and New Zealand in 1935, Debuchi left the diplomatic service. He entered the House of Peers the following year and won election to the new House of Councillors in 1947. He died that August, only a few months into the elected term. ¹