Ministry of War of Japan

Encyclopedia : M : MI : MIN : Ministry of War of Japan

Imperial Japanese Military

Components

Japanese Navy

Japanese Army
Rank insignia
Naval rank insignia
Army rank insignia
History of the Japanese Military
Military History of Japan during World War II

The Ministry of War of Japan (陸軍省 Rikugun shó) was established in the late 19th century, alongside many other Ministries, as part of the creation of the first modern Japanese government. Japan modernized its military might into a force trained in modern (Western) technology, tactics, and discipline in a very short time, allowing it to win the Russo-Japanese War and First Sino-Japanese War. It was the administrative, supply and mobilization agency of the Imperial Japanese Army (the Imperial Japanese Navy had its own Navy Ministry). It was headed by the War Minister, who was a member of the Cabinet and provided communications between the Army and Imperial Diet. Militarization began anew in the 1930s, leading up to Japan's involvement in World War II, during which the War Ministry held much political influence.

The WWII wartime structure of the War Ministry included eight bureaus:

Economic Mobilization (abolished in April 1945)
Judicial
Medical
Intendance (Accounts and Supply)
Military Administration
Military Affairs
Personnel
Ordnance (became a part of the Ordnance Administrative Headquarters in October 1942).

Japanese Army official information Organ

Kaikosha Kiji (Army Officers' Journal),the Army Review as the official information organ of the Japanese Army for present the official opinion and informations provided by your press public relations offices.

The Ministry was abolished in December of 1945 with the end of the war and the beginning of the American Occupation of Japan.

Organization

The Secretariat (Daijin Kambó)
Personnel Bureau (Jinji Kyoku)
Military Affairs Bureau (Gummu Kyoku)
Military Administration Bureau (Heimu Kyoku)
*Provost Marshal General
**Kempeitai - the Military Police
Economic Mobilization Bureau (Seibi Kyoku)
Ordnance Bureau (Ileiki Kyoku)
Intendence Bureau (Keiri Kyoku)
Medical Bureau (Imu Kyoku)
Judicial Bureau (Homu Kyoku)
Aeronautical Department

Ministers of War of Japan, 1900-1945

The War Minister(陸軍大臣 Rikugun Daijin) had to be an active duty General or Lieutenant-General who was directly responsible to the Emperor. For most of World War II, Tojo Hideki served as War Minister. The Minister was assisted by a Parliamentary Vice-Minister, a Parliamentary Councillor, and the Vice Minister of War who served as Deputy War Minister and as the Chief of Staff to him.

Katsura Tarō; Oct 1900 - Dec 1900
Kodama Gentarō; Dec 1900 - Mar 1902
Terauchi Masatake; Mar 1902 - Aug 1911
Ishimoto Shinroku; Aug 1911 - Apr 1912
Uehara Yūsaku; Apr 1912 - Dec 1912
Kigoshi Yasutsuna; Dec 1912 - Jun 1913
Kusunose Yukihiko; Jun 1913 - Apr 1914
Oka Ichinosuke (Army); Apr 1914 - Mar 1916
Oshima Ken'ichi (Army); Mar 1916 - Oct 1916
Yasuhiro Rokurō (Navy); Apr 1914 - Aug 1915
Katō Tomosaburō (Navy); Aug 1915 - Oct 1916
Oshima Ken'ichi; Oct 1916 - Sep 1918
Tanaka Giichi; Sep 1918 - Jun 1921
Yamanashi Hanzō; Jun 1921 - Sep 1923
Tanaka Giichi; Sept 1923 - Jan 1924
Ugaki Kazushige; Jan 1924 - Apr 1927
Shirakawa Yoshinori; Apr 1927 - Jul 1929
Ugaki Kazushige; Jul 1929 - Jun 1930
Abe Nobuyuki; Jun 1930 - Dec 1930
Ugaki Kazushige; Dec 1930 - Apr 1931
Minami Jirō; Apr 1931 - Dec 1931
Araki Sadao; Dec 1931 - Jan 1934
Hayashi Senjūrō; Jan 1934 - Sep 1935
Kawashima Yoshiyuki; Sep 1935 - Mar 1936
Terauchi Hisaichi; Mar 1936 - Feb 1937
Nakamura Kōtarō; - Feb 1937
Hajime Sugiyama; Feb 1937 - Jun 1938
Itagaki Seishirō; Jun 1938 - Aug 1939
Hata Shunroku; Aug 1939 - Jul 1940
Tōjō Hideki; Jul 1940 - Jul 1944
Hajime Sugiyama; Jul 1944 - Apr 1945
Anami Korechika; Apr 1945 - Aug 1945
Higashikuni Naruhiko; Aug 1945
Shimomura Sadamu; Aug 1945 - Dec 1945

Ministries of Japan
Cabinet
Cabinet Secretariat > Cabinet Office (National Public Safety Commission \| Defense Agency)
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References

"Foreign Office Files for Japan and the Far East". [Adam Matthew Publications]. Accessed 2 March 2005.

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