For Americans during World War II. Hideki Tojo (1884-1948) became a symbol of Japanese fanaticism and militarism. "Defeating Tojo became synonymous with defeating itself. Nicknames the Razor by his supporters, Tojo was the son of a samurai. He was loyal to the ancient Japanese code of honor and believed that the Japanese were superior to other peoples. In the late 1930's Tojo led a group of Japanese militarists who wanted to see Japan aggressively expand into Asia and the Pacific. In 1940, he became war minister and in October 1941, premier of Japan. He had nearly total control of the Japanese war effort until his resignation in 1944. Captured by the Americans after the war, Tojo tried to commit hara-kiri but failed and was later executed for his role in waging the war. Hideki Tojo was a fierce and ruthless Japanese military leader. He saw America as a treat to his country's expansionist goals.