Imperial Japanese Army

The Imperial Japanese Army (大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was in existence from the Meiji Reformation to the end of World War II (1867 to 1945). It was created to replace the traditional Japanese samurai with a modern European-style conscript army. It was controlled, at least in theory, from the Imperial General Headquarters and the Ministry of War of Japan.

The Imperial Japanese Army was initially developed with the assistance of American(post Civil War), then French and finally by German advisors(post Franco-Prussian War of 1871); eventually it had grown to become the most modern army in Asia, well-trained, well equipped and high in morale. However, it was at times relatively deficient in artillery , tanks and other armoured vehicles when compared with its European contemporaries. Since Japan had no independent air force, the Imperial Japanese Army also developed a potent air arm, the Army Air Service equipped with modern locally-built aircraft. However, its primary mission was the tactical support of army ground operations.

The Imperial Japanese Army saw combat during the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895), the occupation of Formosa in 1895 and the Russo-Japanese War of 1905; during the occupation of Korea in 1910; at the seizing of the German territory at Qingdao during World War I; at the occupation of Manchukuo in 1931; and throughout the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) beginning with the Nanjing Massacre of 1937. From December 1941 the Imperial Japanese Army served as the main instrument in the Japanese Empire's aggressive expansion across East Asia during World War II. It ceased to exist with the Meiji Declaration in September 1945.

Throughout the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) and World War II the Imperial Japanese Army had gained a reputation both for its fanaticism and for its brutality against POWs and civilians alike. After Japan surrendered in the summer of 1945 many of the Imperial Japanese Army's officers were tried and punished for committing numerous atrocities and war crimes throughout the wars.

Japanese nationalism meant that the military was built around a concept of the time period, a Rich Country has a Strong Military. Japan as a land was sacred, and it's people were special due a combination of Zen Buddhism and Shinto. Service in the Japanese military was seen as service to the Emperor. Each soldier believed it was a great honor to die for the Emperor as the samurai concept "to serve" was deeply ingrained in all the soldiers culture. After the Meiji restoration, Japan built a military with a small part of Bushido, modernized by its industrial revolution.

The concept of Yamato Damashi gave each soldier the concept, no capture, no surrender. To be either was a disgrace to family, community and to the country. This means that each soldier was brought up to fight to the death. Each soldier was expected to die before dishonor. Often Imperial soldier before they die would shout, "Banzai" for the Emperor, so they would die with honor. Each soldier culturally leaves everything at nothing, need nothing but honor.

The Emperor was a concept of investiture of power by the state in a figurehead. In effect the power of the Emperor was in name only, as the real power was held by the bureaucrats underneath him. While the Emperor was in theory the commander in chief, he usually went along with whatever the government "asked" him to do. The IJA had only two Emperor commander in chiefs. Taisho and Showa The Imperial Japanese military was dissolved after World War 2, at the command of the Showa Emperor, Hirohito, at the request of Allied forces in favor of Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Strength

• 1870, consisted of 12,000 men.
• 1885, consisted of of seven divisions including the Imperial Guard Division.
• In the early 1900's, the IJA consisted of 12 divisions and numerous other units. These contained the following:
  • 380,000 active duty and 1st Reserve personnel – former Class A and B(1) conscripts after 2 year active tour with 17 and 1/2 year commitment
  • 50,000 Second line Reserve – Same as above but former Class B(2) conscripts
  • 220,000 National Army
    • 1st National Army – 37 to 40 year old men from end of 1st Reserve to 40 years old.
    • 2nd National Army – untrained 20 year olds and over 40 year old trained reserves.
  • 4,250,000 males available for service and mobilization.
• 1934 – army increased to 17 Divisions
• 1940 – 376,000 active with 2 million reserves in 31 divisions
  • 2 Divisions in Japan (Imperial Guard plus one other)
  • 2 Divisions in Korea
  • 27 Divisions in China and Manchuria
• In late 1941 – 460,000 active in 41 divisions
  • 2 divisions in Japan and Korea
  • 12 divisions in Manchuria
  • 27 divisions in China
• 1945 – 145 Divisions (includes 3 Imperial Guard), plus numerous individual units, with over 5 million men (includes Imperial Japanese Army Air Service).
  • Japan Defense Army in 1945 had 55 divisions with 2 million men.

Casualties

1.7 million killed, wounded, missing and captured.

See also

• List of Armies of the Japanese Army
• Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
• Imperial Japanese Navy
• Greater East Asia War
• Kempeitai
• Strike North Group
• "Strike South" Group
• "Othsu or B" Operation
• Japanese nationalism
• Kwantung Army
• Nobuaki "Warren" Iwatake
• Baron Gichi Tanaka
• Masutatsu Oyama
• Imperial Japanese Army Uniforms
• Japanese military ranks

External Links

• http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/ (over Imperial Japanese Army weapons and armaments in World War II)

Source. "Victory in the Pacific." American Experience. Broadcasted on PBS