Hayao Kinugasa
Encyclopedia
Hayao Kinugasa had formerly served in the Imperial Japanese Army
and was one of the few ex-Imperial Army officers who joined up with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces
. In the course of his career, he had served in the JSDF's Joint Staff Council and has been the 1st commander of the 1st Airborne Brigade
before retiring to private life.
, he attended the army's military academy in Narashino in 1936 before graduating in 1941. In 1942, Hayao was an instructor in the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. He was then promoted to Major in 1943 and was later assigned to the Imperial Japanese Army
's Imperial General Headquarters
from 1944 to 1945.
After the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Army
with the rest of the Imperial Military, Hayao joined up with the National Police Reserve in 1951. In 1954, he was instrumental in the eventual formation of the 1st Airborne Brigade
and continued to enhance the brigade until 1955. In 1957, he was made captain of this brigade and was eventually made the unit's first commanding officer in 1958. Later, Hayao was assigned to the JSDF's Ground Staff office from 1959-1960. He was then appointed as an instructor in the JGSDF's Aviation School and was an infantry commander of the JGSDF's 3rd Infantry Division in the JGSDF's Middle Army. In 1969, he was made Vice Chief of Staff before appointed as the 9th Chief of Staff after his predecessor resigned due to Yukio Mishima
's actions after invading the former Defense Agency in 1970. In 1971, Hayao was appointed as the 9th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff before retiring to private life in 1973.
for his services in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces
. After living years of obscurity in Japanese society, he eventually died on February 11, 2007 of heart failure. He was 91 years old.
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and was one of the few ex-Imperial Army officers who joined up with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The , or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post–World War II Allied occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed...
. In the course of his career, he had served in the JSDF's Joint Staff Council and has been the 1st commander of the 1st Airborne Brigade
1st Airborne Brigade (Japan)
The , also known as the Narashino Airborne Brigade , is stationed in the Narashino Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces Base in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. It is part of the Eastern Army in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force...
before retiring to private life.
History
Born on February 2, 1915 in the Hyōgo PrefectureHyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, he attended the army's military academy in Narashino in 1936 before graduating in 1941. In 1942, Hayao was an instructor in the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. He was then promoted to Major in 1943 and was later assigned to the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
's Imperial General Headquarters
Imperial General Headquarters
The as part of the Supreme War Council was established in 1893 to coordinate efforts between the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during wartime...
from 1944 to 1945.
After the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
with the rest of the Imperial Military, Hayao joined up with the National Police Reserve in 1951. In 1954, he was instrumental in the eventual formation of the 1st Airborne Brigade
1st Airborne Brigade (Japan)
The , also known as the Narashino Airborne Brigade , is stationed in the Narashino Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces Base in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. It is part of the Eastern Army in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force...
and continued to enhance the brigade until 1955. In 1957, he was made captain of this brigade and was eventually made the unit's first commanding officer in 1958. Later, Hayao was assigned to the JSDF's Ground Staff office from 1959-1960. He was then appointed as an instructor in the JGSDF's Aviation School and was an infantry commander of the JGSDF's 3rd Infantry Division in the JGSDF's Middle Army. In 1969, he was made Vice Chief of Staff before appointed as the 9th Chief of Staff after his predecessor resigned due to Yukio Mishima
Yukio Mishima
was the pen name of , a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor and film director, also remembered for his ritual suicide by seppuku after a failed coup d'état...
's actions after invading the former Defense Agency in 1970. In 1971, Hayao was appointed as the 9th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff before retiring to private life in 1973.
Private life
In 1985, Hayao was awarded the Order of the Sacred TreasuresOrder of the Sacred Treasures
The is a Japanese Order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan as the Order of Meiji. It is awarded in eight classes . It is generally awarded for long and/or meritorious service and considered to be the lowest of the Japanese orders of merit...
for his services in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The , or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post–World War II Allied occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed...
. After living years of obscurity in Japanese society, he eventually died on February 11, 2007 of heart failure. He was 91 years old.