1. Takashi Sakai was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, known for his role as Governor of Hong Kong under Japanese occupation.
17 Facts About Takashi Sakai
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Takashi Sakai was educated in military preparatory schools in Kobe and Osaka and graduated from the 20th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1908, whereupon he was assigned to the IJA 28th Infantry Regiment.
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Takashi Sakai graduated from the 28th class of the Army Staff College.
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In 1928, Takashi Sakai was stationed in Jinan, Shandong Province, China with the IJA 12th Infantry Regiment during the Jinan Incident and is believed by some Chinese historians to be responsible for the murder of Kuomintang army emissaries during negotiations on May 4,1928.
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Takashi Sakai was transferred to the Tianjin Garrison from 1929 to 1932.
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In 1932, Takashi Sakai was promoted to colonel and was assigned to the 5th Section military intelligence of the 2nd Bureau of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff from 1932 to 1934.
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Takashi Sakai became commander of the IJA 23rd Infantry Regiment in 1936.
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Takashi Sakai was promoted to major general in 1937 and was appointed commander of the IJA 28th Infantry Brigade.
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Takashi Sakai became a lieutenant general in 1939, and was assigned to the Coordination Bureau, Asia Development Group, Mengjiang Board from 1939 to 1940.
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Takashi Sakai was assigned to the Mongolia Garrison Army at this time.
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Takashi Sakai was commander of the IJA 23rd Army stationed in Canton in November 1941.
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Takashi Sakai was ordered to use the IJA 38th Division, which was normally under the Southern Expeditionary Army Group to capture Hong Kong, and was given a 10-day time limit.
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However, the subsequent Battle of Hong Kong did not proceed as quickly or as smoothly as Takashi Sakai had planned, and he was forced to request an extension to his deadline.
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Takashi Sakai served as Japanese Governor of Hong Kong until February 20,1942.
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Takashi Sakai was recalled to Japan, and retired from active service in 1943.
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Takashi Sakai was recalled to active service in February 1945, and was ordered to go to Beijing; however, the war came to an end before he departed Japan.
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Takashi Sakai was convicted at the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal on August 27,1946 of command responsibility for the extrajudicial murder of Chinese civilians and was executed by firing squad on September 30.