was a Japanese statesman in the Meiji and Taishō periods.
Shōda was born in Matsuyama Domain, Iyo Province on October 19 1869, as the 5th son of a poor samurai. The poet Masaoka Shiki and admiral Akiyama Saneyuki were his friends from childhood. He graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1895, and obtained a position at the Ministry of Finance.[1] In 1915, he rose to the position of director of the Bank of Chosen. [2] He was appointed Finance Minister under the Terauchi[3] and Kiyoura administrations, [4] and Education Minister under the Tanaka administration. In 1938, he was considered for the post of Home Minister under the 2nd Konoe administration, a somewhat surprising choice, given his age and lack of experience in the Home Ministry, and the nomination was rejected by Emperor Hirohito.
He died on October 10, 1948.