Tsūshōgō

The Tsūshōgō (通称号) was the unit code name used by Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

The Tsūshōgō was the combination of Heidan-Mojifu (兵団文字符, 'force cord') and Tūshō-Bangō (通称番号, 'cord number') . Heidan-Mojifu was the kanji code assigned for every division, independent brigade and other larger unit. Each Heidan-Mojifu usually consisted of one kanji, but some units established in the last stages of the war had two-characters codes. Unmobilized units were assigned area codes, such as 東部 (Tōbu, 'east area of Japan'). The Tsūshō-Bangō was the 3-5 figures code number assigned for every IJA unit.

For example, the 116th Division had the Heidan-Mojifu 嵐 (Arashi, 'storm'). The Tsūshōgō of the division units were the following : ^[1]

• 109th Infantry Regiment - Unit Arashi 6213 (嵐第6213部隊, Arashi dai 6213 Butai)
• 120th Infantry Regiment - Unit Arashi 6212
• 133rd Infantry Regiment - Unit Arashi 6214^[2]
• 122nd Field Artillery Regiment - Unit Arashi 6222
• 116th Construction Regiment - Unit Arashi 6225
• 116th Transport Regiment - Unit Arashi 6227
• Division combat medical unit - Unit Arashi 6229

Unit 731 was an example of a tsūshō-bangō. The official unit name was Head Office of Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification Department of the Kwantung Army (関東軍防疫給水部本部) and the full code name was Unit Manshū 731 (満州第731部隊, Manshū dai 731 Butai). ^[3] 満州 (Manshū, meaning 'Manchuria') was the code assigned for some Kwantung Army units.

References

• War History Office of Japan's Ministry of Defense 戦史叢書　陸海軍年表　付　兵語・用語の解説, (Senshi Sōshō No.102), Tokyo, Asagumo-Shimbun, 1980.

Notes

External links

Japanese Wikisource has original text related to this article: 満州、朝鮮ニ於テ動員（臨時編成）セル部隊ノ通称号ニ関スル件

• 帝國陸軍その制度と人事 - List of Heidan-Mojifu of divisions.