1. Shizuichi Tanaka was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and Japanese Military Governor of the Philippines during World War II.
16 Facts About Shizuichi Tanaka
1. 2.
Shizuichi Tanaka graduated from the 19th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1907.
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Shizuichi Tanaka graduated with honors 28th class of the Army Staff College in 1916, specializing in infantry, and was sent on an Army scholarship to England, where he earned a degree in English literature at Oxford University where he studied the works of William Shakespeare.
4.
Shizuichi Tanaka was the flag bearer for the Japanese troops in London's victory parade at the end of World War I in July 1918.
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Shizuichi Tanaka was promoted to lieutenant colonel in March 1927, and from March 1928 headed the North American Bureau within the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff.
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Shizuichi Tanaka was posted as a military attache to Washington DC, where he met Douglas MacArthur while MacArthur was Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
7.
Shizuichi Tanaka remained in the United States until May 1934.
8.
From August 1934 to August 1935, Shizuichi Tanaka was Chief of Staff of the Osaka-based IJA 4th Division.
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Shizuichi Tanaka was promoted to major general in August 1935 and was assigned command of the IJA 5th Infantry Brigade, which as a garrison force based in Manchukuo.
10.
Shizuichi Tanaka was promoted to lieutenant general in July 1938 and commander of the Kempeitai the following month.
11.
Shizuichi Tanaka returned to Japan to resume his post as commandant of the Kempeitai in September 1940.
12.
Shizuichi Tanaka was sent to the Philippines in 1942 as commander of the IJA 14th Army, and subsequently served as Military-Governor of the Philippines from June 1942 to May 1943.
13.
Shizuichi Tanaka spent many months in the hospital, during which time he converted to the Seicho-no-Ie new religion.
14.
Shizuichi Tanaka was promoted to full general in September 1943.
15.
When Shizuichi Tanaka was asked to join the rebellion, he refused, and later mobilized the Eastern District Army against the coup.
16.
At the surrender of Japan, Shizuichi Tanaka told his subordinates to destroy their unit colors, but not to commit suicide; as burning the regiment's banners would be enough, and that he intended to take full responsibility himself, on behalf of all his men.