12 Facts About Rensuke Isogai

Rensuke Isogai was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and Governor of Hong Kong under Japanese occupation from February 20,1942, to December 24,1944.

Rensuke Isogai graduated from the 27th class of the Army War College and was known for his fascination with all things Chinese.

In 1928, Rensuke Isogai was attached to the IJA 3rd Division.

Rensuke Isogai was given command of the IJA 7th Infantry Regiment from 1928 to 1930, and became Chief of Staff of the IJA 1st Division in 1930.

From 1931 to 1937, he held a number of staff positions within the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff; however, with the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Rensuke Isogai volunteered to be a military attache to China.

In 1938, Rensuke Isogai was transferred to Manchukuo as Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army shortly before the disastrous Nomonhan Incident.

Rensuke Isogai was recalled to Japan, and forced into retirement in 1939.

Rensuke Isogai was appointed Governor-General of Japanese-occupied Hong Kong on February 20,1942, at the recommendation of Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, his former superior officer while serving with the Kwantung Army.

Rensuke Isogai based his command post at the Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon.

Also, Rensuke Isogai was responsible for the addition of Japanese elements of architecture on the facade of the Hong Kong Government House.

Rensuke Isogai retired from the post on December 24,1944, and returned to Japan.

Rensuke Isogai was sentenced to life imprisonment, but released in 1952, and allowed to return to Japan.