Sadamu Takahashi (高橋 定, Takahashi Sadamu; December 5, 1912 – December 25, 2015) was a dive bomber pilot officer in the…Sadamu Takahashi (高橋 定, Takahashi Sadamu; December 5, 1912 – December 25, 2015) was a dive bomber pilot officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. He is best known for leading the Zuikaku's dive bomber squadron during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. He survived the war and later served in the Japan Self-Defense Forces retiring in 1970 with the rank of Vice Admiral.
Hideki Shingō (新郷 英城, Shingō Hideki; 10 October 1911 – 27 November 1982) was a fighter pilot officer in the Imperial…Hideki Shingō (新郷 英城, Shingō Hideki; 10 October 1911 – 27 November 1982) was a fighter pilot officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. He participated in various battles and campaigns throughout the Pacific War and survived the war.
Admiral Ryuichi Itaya (板谷 隆一, 20 August 1911 – 1 September 1991) was a Japanese naval officer who served in the…Admiral Ryuichi Itaya (板谷 隆一, 20 August 1911 – 1 September 1991) was a Japanese naval officer who served in the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Second World War. After a brief stint in the post-war Japanese Coast Guard and Safety Security Force he joined the newly formed Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in 1954. During his service in the JMSDF Itaya held a variety of command and staff positions including serving as the seventh Maritime Chief of Staff from 1966 till his appointment as the fifth Chairman of the Joint Staff Council of the Japan Self-Defense Force, a position he held from 1969 till his retirement in 1971.
Terufumi Kofukuda (小福田 晧文, Kofukuda Terufumi; February 1909 – 29 July 1995), born as Mitsugi Kofukuda (小福田 租, Kofukuda…Terufumi Kofukuda (小福田 晧文, Kofukuda Terufumi; February 1909 – 29 July 1995), born as Mitsugi Kofukuda (小福田 租, Kofukuda Mitsugi), was an officer and a fighter pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. He participated in various battles and campaigns throughout the Pacific War. After the war, he served in the new Japanese Self Defence Force (JSDF) as the commander of the Central Air Defense Force.
Masatake Okumiya (奥宮 正武, Okumiya Masatake; July 27, 1909 – February 22, 2007) was a historian and lieutenant general in…Masatake Okumiya (奥宮 正武, Okumiya Masatake; July 27, 1909 – February 22, 2007) was a historian and lieutenant general in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Okumiya graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1930 as a midshipman. He was commissioned an ensign in April 1932, received his wings in November 1933 as a naval aviator, and was promoted to sub-lieutenant in the same month. He entered the Naval Air Corps at Ōmura, receiving promotion to lieutenant in December 1936. In 1937, he participated in the attack on the USS Panay. Promoted to lieutenant-commander in October 1941, Okumiya served throughout World War II, including on the aircraft carrier Ryūjō and with the 2nd Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. During 1942–1943, he served as chief of staff of the 26th Naval Air Squadron, and was appointed to a staff post in August 1944. He was promoted to his final rank of commander in November 1944. At the end of the war, Okumiya was interrogated by Allied intelligence officers, after which he was demobilized. Following the occupation of Japan, he joined the nascent Japan Air Self-Defense Force in 1954. He returned to active duty in July 1957 with the rank of colonel, and was appointed commander of the air base at Utsunomiya. He was promoted to major general in February 1958 and served as deputy head of Personnel and Training from August 1959 to April 1960. He commanded the 3rd Air Wing from Komaki Air Base in 1961, followed by command of the Ichigaya Air Base in 1962. He was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1963 and ended his career as commander of the ATC and Meteorological Group. He retired the following year. Okumiya wrote extensively on Japan's role in World War II. He co-wrote with Mitsuo Fuchida Midway: The Battle that Doomed Japan; the Japanese Navy's Story, published 1955. His remark that "I am firmly convinced that the Pacific War was started by men who did not understand the sea, and fought by men who did not understand the air." is often quoted. He also co-wrote, with Jiro Horikoshi and Martin Caidin, an historical account of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, titled Zero! The book was published in 1956.
Admiral Sugie Ichizo (杉江 一三, Ichizo Sugie; 18 September 1908 – 27 July 1999) was a Japanese naval officer who served in…Admiral Sugie Ichizo (杉江 一三, Ichizo Sugie; 18 September 1908 – 27 July 1999) was a Japanese naval officer who served in both the Imperial Japanese Navy and the post-war Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). A staff officer during the Second World War Ichizo joined the post-war Coastal Security Force in 1953 before transferring to the JMSDF the following year where he most notably served as the second Chairman of Joint Staff Council of the Japan Self-Defense Force, from 1964 until his retirement in 1966.
Iwaichi Fujiwara (藤原 岩市, Fujiwara Iwaichi; March 1, 1908 − February 24, 1986) was an officer in the Imperial Japanese…Iwaichi Fujiwara (藤原 岩市, Fujiwara Iwaichi; March 1, 1908 − February 24, 1986) was an officer in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II, and later a lieutenant general in the post-war Japan Ground Self Defense Force.
Keizō Hayashi (林 敬三, Hayashi Keizō; 8 January 1907 – 12 November 1991) was a Japanese civil servant, general officer…Keizō Hayashi (林 敬三, Hayashi Keizō; 8 January 1907 – 12 November 1991) was a Japanese civil servant, general officer and the first Chairman of Joint Staff Council (JSC), a post equivalent to Chief of the General Staff in other countries, from 1954 to 1964. He was instrumental in founding the post-war Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in 1954. Hayashi began his civil service career in the Home Ministry in 1929. In post-war Japan, he became Governor of Tottori Prefecture from 1945 to 1947 and Director of the Bureau of Local Affairs from 1947 until the Home Ministry was disbanded in the same year. After that, he was appointed Vice-Minister of Imperial Household from 1948 to 1950, during which he became a confidant of Emperor Showa. After the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, Hayashi, who did not have prewar military background, was chosen by Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, with the endorsement of the American occupation authority, to head the newly formed National Police Reserve (NPR) in the capacity as Superintendent-General. Since Japan had been demilitarized after the Second World War, one of his major tasks was to build up the NPR as the foundation of Japan's self-defense power in post-war era. He was also responsible for developing a new mind-set for the NPR so as to adapt to post-war changes. When the NPR was restructured as the National Safety Force (NSF) in 1952, he was appointed Chief of the 1st (Ground) Staff of the First Staff Office, which was the top decision making body of the NSF. Hayashi helped found the JSC and the JSDF after Japan regained its status as a sovereign state under the Treaty of San Francisco in 1954. As Chairman of JSC, he assisted the Director-General of Defense Agency (JDA) in formulating defense plans, reviewing proposals as submitted by the JSDF, carrying out defense-related intelligence and investigation work, as well as fostering closer military ties with the United States and its allies. Having served in the JSC for ten years, he was not only the longest-serving Chairman, but was also the only Chairman with civilian civil service background. In retirement, he took an active part in public affairs, serving as, among others, President of the Japan Housing Corporation from 1965 to 1971, of the Japanese Red Cross from 1978 to 1987, and of the Japan Good Deeds Association from 1983 to 1990.
Vice Admiral Kogoro Yamazaki (山崎小五郎, Yamazaki Kogoro; born 10 November 1905) was a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force…Vice Admiral Kogoro Yamazaki (山崎小五郎, Yamazaki Kogoro; born 10 November 1905) was a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force officer, a former Ministry of Communications and a bureaucrat of the Ministry of Transport. The 24th Vice-Minister of Transportation, Deputy Director of the Japan Coast Guard, and the first Chief of Staff, Maritime Self Defense Force until 1954 when he was succeeded by Ko Nagasawa. As a member of the Y Committee, he contributed to the establishment of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, concluded a Japan-US ship loan agreement based on the MSA agreement, and started domestic production of escort vessels. After completing the bridge from the Coast Guard to Navy, he returned to the Ministry of Transport and became the top office worker.
General Minoru Genda (源田 実, Genda Minoru; 16 August 1904 – 15 August 1989) was an Imperial Japanese Navy…General Minoru Genda (源田 実, Genda Minoru; 16 August 1904 – 15 August 1989) was an Imperial Japanese Navy flight-officer, JASDF general, and politician. Best known for helping to plan the Japanese 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, he served from 1959 to 1962 as the third Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
General Kazushi Sugita (杉田 一次, Sugita Kazushi) was a colonel and later general of the Japanese Imperial Army and Japan…General Kazushi Sugita (杉田 一次, Sugita Kazushi) was a colonel and later general of the Japanese Imperial Army and Japan Ground Self Defense Force, respectively. He was a principal participant during the surrender of Singapore in February 1942.
Vice Admiral Yasumaro Kiguchi (溪口泰麿, Yamaro Taniguchi; 10 March 1904 – 3 November 1992) was a Japanese naval officer…Vice Admiral Yasumaro Kiguchi (溪口泰麿, Yamaro Taniguchi; 10 March 1904 – 3 November 1992) was a Japanese naval officer who served as an officer of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1920 to 1945 and became a Vice Admiral of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), serving from 1954 to 1960. He was the second commander of the Self Defense Fleet succeeding Hidemi Yoshida. In 1956, he was succeeded by Mitsugu Ihara.
Vice Admiral Mitsugu Ihara (庵原貢, Iohara Mitsugu; 3 October 1903 – 31 March 1979) was a Japanese naval officer who…Vice Admiral Mitsugu Ihara (庵原貢, Iohara Mitsugu; 3 October 1903 – 31 March 1979) was a Japanese naval officer who served in both the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1920 to 1945 and the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) from 1954 to 1960. He was the third Chief of Staff of the JMSDF succeeding Yasumaro Kiguchi. In 1961, he was succeeded by Nobuo Fukuchi.
Vice Admiral Hidemi Yoshida (吉田英三, Eizo; 5 March 1902 – 24 April 1978) was a Japanese naval officer who served in the…Vice Admiral Hidemi Yoshida (吉田英三, Eizo; 5 March 1902 – 24 April 1978) was a Japanese naval officer who served in the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1919 to 1945 and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) from 1954 to 1958. He was the first Self Defense Fleet commander in 1954 until being succeeded by Vice Admiral Yasumaro Kiguchi.
