Yasuji Okamura
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| Yasuji Okamura | |
|---|---|
| 15 May 1884 - 2 September 1966 | |
 Yasuji Okamura |
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| Place of birth | Tokyo, Japan |
| Place of death | Tokyo, Japan |
| Allegiance | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Years of service | 1905 - 1945 |
| Rank | Colonel General |
| Commands | China Expeditionary Army North China Expeditionary Force |
| Battles/wars | Russo-Japanese War |
| Awards | Order of the Golden Kite |
Yasuji Okamura (岡村 寧次 Okamūra Yasūji) (15 May 1884 - 2 September 1966) was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army, and commander-in-chief of the China Expeditionary Army from November, 1944 to Japan's surrender on August 15.
Okamura began his military career after graduating from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1904. From 1932 to 1933, he was the vice chief-of-staff of the Shanghai Expeditionary Army and Kantogun. In 1936, Okamura was promoted to lieutenant general, commanding the 2nd Division.
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[edit] Early life
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Okamura enrolled in Sakamachi elementary and graduated 8 years later. In 1897, he entered Waseda University.
In 1898, he was transfered to Tokyo Junior Army School, and was transfered to Army Central Junior School later. Okamura entered the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1899, and graduated in 1904. There were three future generals among these graduates: Itagaki Seishiro, Kenji Doihara and Anto Rikichi.
[edit] Second Sino-Japanese War
In 1938, a year after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, Okamura was assigned as the commander of the 11th Army which participated in various battles such as the Battles of Wuhan, Nanchang and Changsha. According to historians Yoshiaki Yoshimi and Seiya Matsuno, Okamura was authorized by Hirohito to use chemical weapons during those battles (Dokugasusen kankei shiryô II, Kaisetsu, 1997, p.25-29).
In April 1940, he was promoted to the rank of general. Three months later, he was appointed the commander-in-chief of the Northern China Area Force.
In December 1941, Okamura received by Imperial Headquarters army order number 575 the authorization for implementation of the sanko sakusen operation. The first attacks began on may 1942 in Heipei and Shantung. According to Mitsuyochi Himeta, 2,7 millions chinese died during this operation.
In 1944, Okamura commanded Operation Ichigo. The same year in August, he commanded the 6th Army to participate as part of the operation. Few months later, he was appointed the commander-in-chief of the China Expeditionary Army.
On August 15, 1945, Japan announced their acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation. Okamura represented the Japanese Army in China Burma India Theater, and officially surrendered in Nanjing on September 9, 1945.
[edit] Postwar life
After the war was over, Okamura was retained as the military advisor for the Kuomintang. He was not charged with any war crimes. Okamura then returned to Japan later in 1955 and died in 1966.
[edit] Reference
- 『岡村寧次大将資料（上） 戦場回想篇』（稲葉正夫編、原書房 なお、（下）は刊行されていない）
- 『支那派遣軍総司令官 岡村寧次大将』（舩木繁著、河出書房新社）
