Yoshitsugu Tatekawa

Yoshitsugu Tatekawa
Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Tatekawa
Nickname(s) Peerless Pimp
Born October 3, 1880
Niigata Prefecture, Japan
Died September 9, 1945(1945-09-09) (aged 64)
Fuchū, Tokyo
Allegiance Empire of Japan
Service/branch Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service 1901–1936
Rank Lieutenant General
Unit
  • 9th Rgt. Cavalry IJA
  • 1st Rgt. Cavalry IJA
  • 5th Rgt. Cavalry IJA
Commands held
Battles/wars
Other work
  • Military Attaché in China
  • Ambassador to the Soviet Union

Yoshitsugu Tatekawa (建川 美次, Tatekawa Yoshitsugu, 3 October 1880 – 9 September 1945) was a Lieutenant General in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. He played an important role in the Mukden Incident in 1931 as Major General and he concluded the Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact in 1941 as ambassador to the Soviet Union.

Biography

Yoshitsugu Tatekawa (美次建川, born as the third son of local officials in Niigata city, which lies in the Niigata Prefecture), was a Lieutenant General of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). He went to Niigata Takada Junior High School and graduated from the 13th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. After having served with distinction as a young officer in the Russo-Japanese War, he worked as an instructor at the Cavalry school for a short amount of time. After that he studied at the Army Staff College for three years. He became part of the General Staff of the Imperial Japanese army in 1909. Two years later, in 1911, he started working as a military observer in the United Kingdom until 1913. He then worked as a Military Sciences instructor at the Army War College for a year. After that he became a military observer in Europe until 1918. When World War I was over, he worked for the Ministry of War for two more years. He was part of the Japanese military delegation to the League of Nations between 1920 and 1922. Back in Japan he became a part of the 1st Regiment Cavalry of the IJA and from 1924 onwards he was the commanding officer of the 5th Regiment Cavalry of the IJA. He kept occupying higher ranks within the army: in 1923 he was promoted to Colonel, in 1928 to Major General and in 1932 to Lieutenant General. From 1924 until 1928 he was the Head of the 2nd Bureau, 4th Department (European and American Intelligence Service) of the General Staff of the IJA as well as an instructor of military sciences at the Army War College. As a Major General he played an important role in the Mukden Incident of 1931. On top of that he also became a military attaché in China after he returned to Japan as the head of 1st and 2nd Department of the General Staff of the IJA. He was sent to Mukden in Manchuria to control the behavior of the Kwantung Army in 1931. After the Mukden Incident he returned to Tokyo where he worked at the intelligence service of the IJA in 1932. In that same year Tatekawa was part of the Japanese military delegation sent to Switzerland to attend the Geneva Disarmament Conference. Starting from 1932 he was permanent representative to the League of Nations until Japan officially retreated from it on 27 March 1933 because of the Manchurian Incident. From 1933 until 1936 Lieutenant General Tatekawa was commanding officer of, subsequently, the 10th Division and 4th Division of the IJA. During his career he played a key-role in several important military operations. His military career ended when he was forced to pull back from military service because of the February 26 Incident. He was appointed as ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1940. He returned to Japan in 1942 where he passed away at the age of 64 on 9 September 1945. Not much is known about his private life, only that he was married. He was buried on the Tama Cemetery in Fuchu, Tokyo.

Timeline

Military Ranks

Date Officer Ranks
23/06/1902Second Lieutenant
22/11/1904Lieutenant
19/06/1909Captain
02/05/1916Major
25/07/1919Lieutenant Colonel
06/08/1923Colonel
08/03/1928Major General
08/08/1932Lieutenant General

Professional career

Date Event
22/11/1901graduated from the 13th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy (Rikugun Shikan Gakko)
23/06/1902-11/12/1905Lieutenant, 9th Cavalry Regiment IJA
11/12/1905-03/12/1906Instructor, Cavalry School
03/12/1909graduated from the 21st class of the Army War College (Rikugun Daigakko)
03/12/1906-10/12/1909Lieutenant and later Captain, 9th Cavalry Regiment IJA
10/12/1909-08/1911attached to the General Staff of the IJA
08/1911-01/07/1913stationed in the United Kingdom
15/02/1915-24/07/1918attached to the General Staff of the IJA
15/02/1915-21/01/1916Military Science Instructor at the Army War College
21/01/1916-24/07/1918Military Observer to Europe
24/07/1918-16/07/1920Secretary of Army Minister, general Tanaka Giichi
13/09/1920-09/12/1922Member of the Japanese Military Delegation to the League of Nations
09/12/1922-17/03/1923Cavalry Officer, 1st Cavalry Regiment IJA
17/03/1923-15/12/1924Commanding Officer, 5th Cavalry Regiment IJA
15/12/1924-08/03/1928Head of the 2nd Bureau, 4th Section (European and American Intelligence) at the General Staff Office IJA
23/01/1925-08/03/1928Military Science Instructor at the Army War College
08/03/1928-01/08/1929Military Attaché in China
01/08/1929-01/08/1931Head of the 2nd Bureau (Intelligence) at the General Staff Office IJA
01/08/1931-05/02/1932Head of the 1st Bureau at the General Staff Office IJA
05/02/1932-05/07/1932Member of the Japanese Military Delegation in Geneva (Switzerland) at the World Disarmament Conference
05/02/1932-27/03/1933Permanent Representative of the Japanese Army to the League of Nations
18/03/1933-02/12/1935Commander of the 10th Division IJA[1]
02/12/1935-01/08/1936Commander of the 4th Division IJA
01/08/1936reserve – forced to retire from military service for involvement in the February 26 Incident of 1936
14/09/1940-03/1942Ambassador to the Soviet Union

Awards

Date Award
1/4/1906Order of the Golden Kite 4th Class
1/11/1920Order of the Rising Sun Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, 3rd Class
1/11/1930Order of the Sacred Treasure 2nd Class
29/4/1934Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun 1st Class

Military Operations

The Russo-Japanese war (1904-1905)

Yoshitsugu Tatekawa distinguished himself when he, as a young Cavalry Lieutenant, took part in risky reconnaissance patrols during the Russo-Japanese war. He led a command unit of five cavalry soldiers far behind the hostile Russian lines in South-Manchuria to gather important information. In a period of 23 days they travelled about 1200 kilometres through bad circumstances. On their return they were welcomed as heroes for realising this superhumanly achievement. The actions and courage of Tatekawa were described in a graphic novel and later it was filmed.

During this war he also worked together with the Chinese warlord Zhang Zuolin for diverse skirmishes with Russian troops. Later, Tatekawa would be part of an organisation plotting the assassination of Zhang Zuolin.

The assassination of Zhang Zuolin (张作霖) (4 June 1928)

Zhang Zuolin (张作霖)

To strengthen the Japanese influence in Manchuria, Chinese warlord Zhang Zuolin received support from the Japanese government against the nationalists of Chiang Kai-shek (江苏宜兴).[2] Zhang Zuolin seemed to be unable to control Manchuria and for Japan it was strategically unacceptable that Manchuria would get under Russian reign. In officer circles within the Kwantung Army, positioned in Manchuria, they suspected Zhang Zuolin wasn't compliant enough and the idea that Japanese interests in Manchuria were only safe if they replaced him, grew. Without prior consent of the General Staff of the IJA and the Japanese government, they autonomously operated and decided to assassinate Zhang Zuolin.

In 1916 the first attempt to kill Zhang Zuolin happened. Doihara Kenji [3] came up with the initiative to assassinate Zhang Zuolin for which he ordered one of his officers, Yoshitsugu Tatekawa. On October 15, 1916 Tatekawa awaited together with a gang of hitmen, the convoy of Zhang Zuolin, who would be attending a party to celebrate the visit of the Japanese Prince Kan'in Kotohito. However the attack failed and Zhang Zuolin managed to escape.

In 1928 they attempted it a second time. The organisation of the assassination was again trusted to Major General Yoshitsugu Tatekawa who at that time was military attaché in Peking. The fact they chose Tatekawa was not coincidental as his function meant he could observe Zhang without any problems.

Komoto Daisaku[4] did the practical execution but Tatekawa remained closely involved with the plan and was the ultimate supervisor.

Huanggutun Incident

The retreat of Zhang's army to Manchuria offered a golden opportunity to strike. When Tatekawa was absolutely sure of the concrete travel plans of Zhang, Colonel Komoto Daisaku placed explosives on the railway bridge a few kilometres east of the station of Huanggutun, located near Shenyang. This was the only location positioned along the railway that was not under Zhang's control. Zhang left Peking on June 3, 1928. He had heard rumours about the assassination plot and had tried to escape by sending a false train ahead of him. Zhang took a private train accompanied by three Japanese military advisors. However, Tatekawa monitored the entire thing attentively. Zhang's train got blown up on June 4, 1929 at exactly 05:23. He died several hours later. The assassination became known as the Huanggutun Incident.

The news of the assassination was officially announced two weeks later by Zuolin's son, Zhang Xueliang fearing a conflict with Japan.

Major General Tatekawa, who showed remorse for the incident, had burned all relevant information. The Kwantung Army tried denying the assassination but the rumors of the Japanese plot spread quickly.

The assassination had big consequences in Japan and lead to the dismissal of the Tanaka-cabinet in July 1929. This happened because Prime Minister Tanaka Giichi (田中 義一) was not able to punish the guilty. Tatekawa was never punished for the assassination of Zhang Zuolin. The assassination weakened the position of Japan in Manchuria because Zhang Zuolin's son, Zhang Xueliang, performed reconciliation with the Nationalists of Chiang Kai-shek.

The March Incident (1931)

The growing dissatisfaction of mostly young officers about the corruption and maladministration of the government in Japan formed the basis of the foundation for reform-minded groups within the army. Especially the Sakurakai (桜会) (Cherry Blossom Society), established in 1930 by Lieutenant Colonel Kingoro Hashimoto (橋本 欣五郎), was very keen on achieving radical political reforms and installing a military government, using force if required. The program of the Sakurakai could count on the sympathy and support of officers of the General Staff of the IJA, under which General Major Yoshitsugu Tatekawa acted as patron of the Sakurakai.

With the tacit support of patrons within the General Staff, the Sakurakai drew up the plan of a military coup d'état on March 20, 1931 (the March Incident), to overthrow the Hamaguchi cabinet and to bring the Minister of War, Governor Kazushige Ugaki (宇垣 一成) to power. However, Kazushige Ugaki had to be convinced to partake in this plan. General Major Tatekawa discussed with Ugaki on February 11, 1931 the political condition of that time, trying to convince Ugaki that even Emperor Hirohito was convinced the political situation was bad and due for change. Ugaki would be accepted as the perfect candidate of a head of government. Ugaki was expected to lead the army during the coup d'état. The first reaction of Ugaki on Tatekawa's proposal was enthusiasm. If Tatekawa revealed the precise details of the plan to Ugaki is unclear, however we know for sure that Ugaki declined at the last moment which lead Tatekawa proposing the Sakurai to suspend the plan. Ugaki made sure that the conspirators received mild punishments, what to them was but an encouragement to try again in October of that same year (October incident).

The Mukden Incident (18 September 1931)

Mukden Incident railway sabotage

Tatekawa acted as a key-player in the Mukden incident.

Because of the increasing tension between the Kwantung Army in Manchuria and the Chinese troops, Emperor Hirohito ordered on September 11, 1931 the Minister of War, General Jiro Minami (南 次郎), to intervene and prevent the Kwantung Army from making any precipitous movement that would involve Japan in a war with China. Minami gathered the General Staff to discuss the situation in Manchuria. General Major Tatekawa was also present. He stated that the Kwantung Army was intelligent enough not to commit such action on their own initiative. It was decided that Tatekawa would be sent to Mukden to curb the militarist behavior of the Kwantung Army. Two letters would be delivered in person by Tatekawa to the head commander of the Kwantung Army, Lieutenant General Shigeru Honjo (本庄 繁). One letter was written by General Jiro Minami, another by General Kanaya Hanzo.[5] These letters contained a warning for the Kwantung Army not to take any actions without consulting Tokyo.

Tatekawa's assistant, Colonel Kingoro Hashimoto (橋本 欣五郎), announced the mission of Tatekawa's visit by a secret message to Colonel Seishiro Itagaki (板垣 征四郎) of the Kwantung Army. Informed of the arrival of Tatekawa, Colonel Itagaki and Lieutenant Colonel Kanji Ishiwara (石原 莞爾) decided to act earlier on their plot and kindly welcoming Tatekawa at the same time. Colonel Itagaki waited for Tatekawa. Tatekawa immediately informed the Colonel about the concern Tokyo had about the reckless behavior of the young Kwantung officers but he added that he would wait until the next day to discuss further matters. Tatekawa's train arrived in Mukden on September 18, 1931, where he got escorted to a Japanese restaurant. He spent the night with geisha, sake and was fast asleep by 9pm. That same night at 10:22 PM a part of the railway near Liutiaogou,[6] property of and exploited by Japan, got blown up by a Japanese commando. The explosion's damage was minimal, however the effects had major consequences. The Japanese military command immediately blamed the Chinese army for the sabotage and took over Mukden City the next day. Five months later the Kwantung Army occupied the whole of Manchuria.

The speed at which the occupation took place proved it was planned precisely beforehand. By blaming China for the incident, the Kwantung Army had all the reasons to begin the wished conflict and to expand its power in China. The order of Tokyo to not take action was ignored in a sly way and later on, Tatekawa justified his failure by stating that he did not arrive on time and was unable to stop the plot. Tatekawa's behavior can be considered as peculiar. Overall it is assumed he had known about the plot and had taken the deliberate decision not to prevent it. Tatekawa was known as a patron of the Sakurakai and was advocate of military action in Manchuria.

Diplomatic career

Signing of the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact

In September 1940, Tatekawa was appointed as ambassador to the Soviet Union by the minister of Foreign Affairs Yosuke Matsuoka (松岡洋右). He was ambassador until March 1942 when he had to return to Japan because of health problems. He was succeeded by Naotake Sato (佐藤尚武).

As ambassador he played a crucial role during the negotiations of the Neutrality Pact between Japan and the Soviet Union. The treaty was signed in Moscow on April 13, 1941, only two years after the Soviet-Japanese border conflicts, on behalf of Japan by Ambassador Yoshitsugu Tatekawa and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Yosuke Matsuoka and on behalf of the Soviet Union by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov. This pact was of vital concern for Japan because more troops could be deployed for the Japanese expansion of South-East Asia.

The pact was valid for five years with the automatic renewal for a same period unless one of the two parties terminated it. On April 5, 1945 the Soviet Union stated that they did not wish for a renewal of the pact on the day of expiry. The Soviet Union violated the treaty on August 8, 1945 by declaring war on Japan.

Furthermore, on April 31, 1941 the same people signed the declaration concerning Mongolia and Manchuria. The Soviet Union pledged to respect the territorial integrity and inviolability of the Japanese marionette state Manchuria (Manzhuoguo) while Japan did the same concerning Mongolia.

Preceded by
Shigenori Tōgō		 Ambassador of Japan to the Soviet Union
1940–1942		 Succeeded by
Naotake Satō

Literature

The actions and courage of Yoshitsugu Tatekawa in his reconnaissance patrols during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) were immortalized in a very popular children's book titled Tekichi Odan Sambyaku-ri (敵地横断３００り　300 Miles Behind Enemy Lines) written by Yamanaka Minetaro[7] in 1931. It was published in 1936 in the children's magazine Boys' Club (Shonen Kurabu 少年クラブ).[8]

Film

The story written by Yamanaka Minetaro was turned into a movie. In 1941, the Japanese movie director and screenwriter Akira Kurosawa wrote the script for the movie Tekichi Odan Sambyaku-ri (Advance patrol). The movie went into production in 1957 and was directed by Kazuo Mori.[9]

The story takes place in Manchuria in 1905 where Lieutenant Tatekawa together with 5 soldiers get sent on a reconnaissance mission behind the Russian lines to gather information about their plans. The six find what they seek but the most difficult part of their mission is to return safely.

Anime

Night Raid 1931 (閃光のナイトレイド ) is a 13 episodes Japanese anime which takes place in Shanghai and Manchuria in 1931. Episode 7 specifically talks about the Mukden Incident. The anime was broadcast on TV Tokyo starting from April 5, 2010. It was directed by Matsumoto Jun. The anime was released by Sentai Filmworks on Blu-Ray and DVD in August 2011.

Because of controversy surrounding the Mukden Incident, Episode 7 titled "Jihen" (事変 - The Incident) was only available to watch via online streaming. It shows the incidents leading up to the Mukden Incident from the point of view of the Japanese officers of the Kwantung Army stationed in Manchuria and the intervention of Yoshitsugu Tatekawa in the incident. In the episode it is shown how the Japanese officers planned the bombardment so Japan could attack Manchuria out of 'self-defense'.

Tatekawa is voiced by Takaya Hashi[10] in Japanese and by Rob Mungle[11] in English.

Notes

  1. ↑ from 18/03/1933-28/06/1934: commander 10th Depot Division and from 28/06/1934-02/12/1935: commander 10th Division
  2. ↑ Chiang Kai-shek was supported by the communists and the Soviet Union.
  3. ↑ In 1916 Kenji Doihara was military attaché in China, later he was appointed General of the IJA.
  4. ↑ Officer of the Kwantung Army specialised in explosives
  5. ↑ Head of the General Staff
  6. ↑ Liutiaogou is a place near Mukden. The bomb attack is also known as the "Liutiaogou incident"
  7. ↑ Japanese writer of children's books (born 1885-deceased 1966)
  8. ↑ published by Kodansha
  9. ↑ released 28 December 1957
  10. ↑ Japanese voice actor born 8 September 1952
  11. ↑ American voice actor born 16 May 1968

References

Books

  • DUUS, HALL & SHIVELY. (1988). The Cambridge history of Japan, volume 6, The twentieth century. Cambridge University Press, p. 288-295.
  • FETHERLING, G. (2006). The Book of Assassins. Castle Books, 391 p.
  • HOYT, E. (2001). Japan's War : The Great Pacific Conflict. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 78-85.
  • LAURINAT, M. (2004). Kita Ikki (1883 – 1937) und der Februarputsch 1936. Tübinger interkulturelle und linguistische Japanstudien, volume 13. Tübingen. Univ. Diss. p. 123-125.
  • MARKLAND, A. (2015). Black Ships to Mushroom Clouds : A story of Japan's Stormy Century 1853-1945. E-book, Lulu.com, 189 p.
  • NASH, J. (2015). Spies: A Narrative Encyclopedia of Dirty Tricks and Double Dealing from Biblical Times to Today. E-book, M. Evans & Company. p. 178-180.
  • OGATA, S.N. (1964). Defiance in Manchuria : the Making of Japanese Foreign Policy, 1931-1932. University of California Press. p. 30-32 and p. 56-60.
  • PALMER, N. (1958). The Journal of Asian Studies, 1 May 1958, Vol. 17(3), p. 447-448.
  • RYOTARO, S. & BIRNBAUM, P. (2014). Clouds Above the Hill : A historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War. Vol. 3. New York : Publisher Routledge, p. 168 and p. 179.
  • SHILLONY, B.-A. (1973). Revolt in Japan : The Young Officers and the February 26, 1936 Incident. Princeton University Press. p. 25-27.
  • VANDE WALLE, W. (2014). Een geschiedenis van Japan. Van samurai tot soft power. Leuven : Publisher Acco.

Internet resources

Source of translation

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