Suzuki Bunji (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum)

Suzuki Bunji
スズキ ブンジ
Timeline: Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum

Portrait of Suzuki Bunji
Prime Minister of Japan April 12, 1923 – April 17, 1925
Predecessor	Inukai Tsuyoshi
Successor	Nakano Seigo
Prime Minister of Japan June 9, 1933 – August 8, 1937
Predecessor	Nakano Seigo
Successor	Nakano Seigo
Minister of Labor Affairs August 6, 1919 – April 12, 1923
Predecessor	office established
Successor	Nishio Suehiro
Minister of Labor Affairs April 17, 1925 – June 9, 1933
Predecessor	Nishio Suehiro
Successor	Nishio Suehiro
Minister of Labor Affairs August 8, 1937 – March 12, 1946
Predecessor	Nishio Suehiro
Successor	Nishio Suehiro
Member of the National Congress of Japan August 2, 1919 – March 12, 1946
Constituency	Rikuzen At-large
Born	September 4, 1885 Kurihara, Rikuzen Province, Empire of Japan
Died	March 12, 1946 Tokyo, Republic of Japan
Political Party	Japanese Nationalist Party
Religion	Christianity (Unitarianism)
Profession	Politician; labor activist

Suzuki Bunji (スズキ ブンジ; Kurihara, Rikuzen Province, September 4, 1885 – Tokyo, March 12, 1946) was a Japanese politician, labor activist, cabinet minister, and served twice as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Japan (equally to the office of Prime Minister) in the periods between April 12, 1923 to April 17, 1925 and between June 9, 1933 to August 8, 1937. He was also served as first Minister of Labor Affairs of the Republic of Japan on Inukai Government from August 6, 1919 to April 12, 1923. He then served again on those position on First Nakano Government from April 17, 1925 to June 9, 1933 and on Second Nakano Government from August 8, 1937 to his death on March 12, 1946.

Suzuki was one of the early primary organizers of the labour movement in Japan. In 1912, with the aid of the banker Shibusawa Eiichi, he established Yuaikai, an organization that its objectives are deliberately limited to social assistance and the harmonization of relations between labor and capital. Following the Second Civil War, Suzuki at first opposed the revolution, but with his disappointment toward Imperial Japan's labor policy on the Paris Peace Conference, Suzuki switched his side and became the first Minister of Labor Affairs of the Republic of Japan on August 6, 1919. The Yuaikai then merged into the Japanese Nationalist Party and became the Nationalist-affiliated National Labor Federation.