Kawasaki was born in what is now part of the city of
Kure, Hiroshima as the second son of a local doctor. He graduated from
Tokyo Imperial University’s Law School, continuing on to do post-graduate research in comparative political systems before obtaining a post at the
Home Ministry. In 1916, he was appointed Governor of
Fukushima Prefecture, and in 1919 was sent to
Taiwan as Director-General for Home Affairs, and subsequently Director-General for Agriculture and Commerce. In 1922, Kawasaki was appointed mayor of
Nagoya. Under his administration, the Yagoto Baseball Ground was built, and the first
Japanese High School Baseball Invitational Tournament was held in 1924. Later in 1924, Kawasaki was recalled to Tokyo to assume the post of Director-General of the
National Police Agency under the Home Ministry. He became Deputy Home Minister in 1925. In 1926, he was invited to take a seat in the
House of Peers in the
Diet of Japan. He was recruited by
Osachi Hamaguchi and
Wakatsuki Reijirō to join the
Kenseikai political party, and in 1927 joined the
Rikken Minseitō. In 1929, Kawasaki served in the Hamaguchi administration as Director-General of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau. In 1931, he served in the second Wakatsuki administration as Chief Cabinet Secretary . He was outspoken against the growing influence of
fascism in Japan. In 1935, he became the leader of the
Minseitō party. Kawasaki was then picked to become
Minister of Education by
Prime Minister Keisuke Okada on February 1, 1936. However, the cabinet was forced to resign only a few weeks later due to the
February 26 Incident. Prime Minister
Kōki Hirota then asked that Kawasaki accept the post of Home Minister. This choice was opposed by the
Imperial Japanese Army, who wanted control over that powerful ministry, and Kawasaki was sidelined to become
Minister of Commerce and Industry. However, Kawasaki died before his formal investiture ceremony could even take place. ==References==