<P> The loss of Saipan was a heavy blow to both the military and civilian administration of Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō . According to one Japanese admiral : `` Our war was lost with the loss of Saipan . '' U.S. Marine Corps General Holland Smith said : `` It was the decisive battle of the Pacific offensive ( ... ) it opened the way to the Japanese home islands . '' Shortly after Saipan was taken , a meeting at the Imperial General Headquarters was convened where it was decided that a symbolic change of leadership should be made : Tōjō would step aside and Emperor Hirohito would have less involvement in day - to - day military affairs , even though he was defined as both head of state and the Generalissimo of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces according to the Meiji Constitution of 1889 . The general staff believed it was now time to distance the Imperial family from blame as the tide of war turned against the Japanese . Although Tōjō agreed to resign , Hirohito blocked his resignation because he considered Tōjō to be Japan 's strongest war leader . But after Tōjō failed to shuffle his Cabinet due to excessive internal hostility , he conceded defeat . On 18 July , Tōjō again submitted his resignation , this time unequivocally . His entire cabinet resigned with him . Former IJA General Kuniaki Koiso became Prime Minister on 22 July . However , due to the legacy of Saipan , Koiso was nothing more than a titular Prime Minister , and was prevented by the Imperial General Headquarters from participating in any military decisions . </P>
<P> The loss of Saipan was a heavy blow to both the military and civilian administration of Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō . According to one Japanese admiral : `` Our war was lost with the loss of Saipan . '' U.S. Marine Corps General Holland Smith said : `` It was the decisive battle of the Pacific offensive ( ... ) it opened the way to the Japanese home islands . '' Shortly after Saipan was taken , a meeting at the Imperial General Headquarters was convened where it was decided that a symbolic change of leadership should be made : Tōjō would step aside and Emperor Hirohito would have less involvement in day - to - day military affairs , even though he was defined as both head of state and the Generalissimo of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces according to the Meiji Constitution of 1889 . The general staff believed it was now time to distance the Imperial family from blame as the tide of war turned against the Japanese . Although Tōjō agreed to resign , Hirohito blocked his resignation because he considered Tōjō to be Japan 's strongest war leader . But after Tōjō failed to shuffle his Cabinet due to excessive internal hostility , he conceded defeat . On 18 July , Tōjō again submitted his resignation , this time unequivocally . His entire cabinet resigned with him . Former IJA General Kuniaki Koiso became Prime Minister on 22 July . However , due to the legacy of Saipan , Koiso was nothing more than a titular Prime Minister , and was prevented by the Imperial General Headquarters from participating in any military decisions . </P>
who fell from power after the battle of saipan
who fell from power after the battle of saipan
Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō
Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō