Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
Encyclopedia
The was the highest organ within the Imperial Japanese Navy
. In charge of planning and operations, it was headed by an Admiral headquartered in Tokyo
.
. It was responsible for the planning and execution of national defense strategy, and reported directly to the Emperor
, not to the Prime Minister
, Diet of Japan
or even the Navy Ministry. It was always headed by an admiral on active duty, and was based in Tokyo.
"The ministry was responsible for the naval budget, ship construction, weapons procurement, personnel, relations with the Diet and the cabinet and broad matters of naval policy. The General Staff directed the operations of the fleet and the preparation of war plans".
After the Washington Naval Conference
of 1921-22, where Japan agreed to keep the size of its fleet smaller than that of the United Kingdom
and the United States
, the Imperial Japanese Navy became divided into the mutually hostile Fleet Faction
and Treaty Faction
political cliques. The Navy Ministry tended to be pro-Treaty Faction and was anxious to maintain the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
. However the Navy General Staff came to be dominated by the Fleet faction, and gradually gained ascendancy in the 1930s with increasing Japanese militarism
.The Navy General Staff pushed through the attack on Pearl Harbor
against the wishes of the more diplomatic Navy Ministry.
After 1937, both the Navy Minister and the Chief of the Navy General Staff were members of the Imperial General Headquarters
.
With the defeat of the Empire of Japan
in World War II
, the Navy General Staff was abolished together with the Imperial Japanese Navy by the American occupation authorities
in November 1945 and was not revived by the post-war Constitution of Japan.
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
. In charge of planning and operations, it was headed by an Admiral headquartered in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
History
Created in 1893, the Navy General Staff took over operational (as opposed to administrative) authority over the Imperial Japanese Navy from the Navy MinistryMinistry of the Navy of Japan
The was a cabinet-level ministry in the Empire of Japan charged with the administrative affairs of the Imperial Japanese Navy . It existed from 1872 to 1945.-History:...
. It was responsible for the planning and execution of national defense strategy, and reported directly to the Emperor
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
, not to the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
, Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
or even the Navy Ministry. It was always headed by an admiral on active duty, and was based in Tokyo.
"The ministry was responsible for the naval budget, ship construction, weapons procurement, personnel, relations with the Diet and the cabinet and broad matters of naval policy. The General Staff directed the operations of the fleet and the preparation of war plans".
After the Washington Naval Conference
Washington Naval Conference
The Washington Naval Conference also called the Washington Arms Conference, was a military conference called by President Warren G. Harding and held in Washington from 12 November 1921 to 6 February 1922. Conducted outside the auspices of the League of Nations, it was attended by nine nations...
of 1921-22, where Japan agreed to keep the size of its fleet smaller than that of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Imperial Japanese Navy became divided into the mutually hostile Fleet Faction
Fleet Faction
The was an unofficial and informal political faction within the Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1920s-1930s of officers opposed to the conditions imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty.-Background:...
and Treaty Faction
Treaty Faction
The was an unofficial and informal political faction within the Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1920s-1930s of officers supporting the Washington Naval Treaty.-Background:...
political cliques. The Navy Ministry tended to be pro-Treaty Faction and was anxious to maintain the Anglo-Japanese Alliance
Anglo-Japanese Alliance
The first was signed in London at what is now the Lansdowne Club, on January 30, 1902, by Lord Lansdowne and Hayashi Tadasu . A diplomatic milestone for its ending of Britain's splendid isolation, the alliance was renewed and extended in scope twice, in 1905 and 1911, before its demise in 1921...
. However the Navy General Staff came to be dominated by the Fleet faction, and gradually gained ascendancy in the 1930s with increasing Japanese militarism
Japanese militarism
refers to the ideology in the Empire of Japan that militarism should dominate the political and social life of the nation, and that the strength of the military is equal to the strength of a nation.-Rise of militarism :...
.The Navy General Staff pushed through the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
against the wishes of the more diplomatic Navy Ministry.
After 1937, both the Navy Minister and the Chief of the Navy General Staff were members of the 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...
.
With the defeat of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Navy General Staff was abolished together with the Imperial Japanese Navy by the American occupation authorities
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
in November 1945 and was not revived by the post-war Constitution of Japan.
Organization
The General Staff was organized as follows:- 1st Section: Operations Bureau
- 2nd Section: Weapons and Mobilization Bureau
- 3rd Section: Intelligence Bureau
- 4th Section: Communications Bureau
Chiefs of the Naval General Staff
| # | Date | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 Mar 1889 - 17 May 1889 | Rear Admiral Itō Toshiyoshi Ito Toshiyoshi Baron was an admiral in the early Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as the first Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff in the late 19th century.-Biography:Itō was born in Tanabe Domain, in what is now part of Maizuru city, Kyoto prefecture... |
| 2 | 17 May 1889 - 17 Jun 1891 | Rear Admiral Arichi Shinanojo Arichi Shinanojo Baron was an admiral in the early Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff in the late 19th century.-Biography:... |
| 3 | 17 Jun 1891 - 12 Dec 1892 | Rear Admiral Inoue Yoshika Inoue Yoshika - Notes :... |
| 4 | 12 Dec 1892 - 18 Jul 1894 | Vice Admiral Nakamuta Kuranosuke Nakamuta Kuranosuke -External links:*- Notes :... |
| 5 | 18 Jul 1894 - 11 May 1895 | Vice Admiral Kabayama Sukenori |
| 6 | 11 May 1895 - 20 Dec 1905 | Vice Admiral Itoh Sukeyuki Itoh Sukeyuki - Notes :... |
| 7 | 20 Dec 1905 - 1 Dec 1909 | Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō Togo Heihachiro Fleet Admiral Marquis was a Fleet Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and one of Japan's greatest naval heroes. He was termed by Western journalists as "the Nelson of the East".-Early life:... |
| 8 | 1 Dec 1909 - 22 Apr 1914 | Vice Admiral Ijuin Gorō Ijuin Goro -External links:... |
| 9 | 22 Apr 1914 - 1 Dec 1920 | Vice Admiral Shimamura Hayao Shimamura Hayao Baron was a Japanese admiral during the First Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars as well as one of the first prominent staff officers and naval strategists of the early Imperial Japanese Navy.-Biography:... |
| 10 | 1 Dec 1920 - 15 Apr 1925 | Admiral Yamashita Gentarō |
| 11 | 15 Apr 1925 - 22 Jan 1929 | Admiral Suzuki Kantarō |
| 12 | 22 Jan 1929 - 11 Jun 1930 | Admiral Kato Hiroharu |
| 13 | 11 Jun 1930 - 2 Feb 1932 | Vice Admiral Taniguchi Naomi |
| 14 | 2 Feb 1932 - 9 Apr 1941 | Admiral Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu was a scion of the Japanese imperial family and was a career naval officer who served as chief of staff of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1932 to 1941.-Early life:... |
| 15 | 9 Apr 1941 - 21 Feb 1944 | Admiral Nagano Osami |
| 16 | 21 Feb 1944 - 2 Aug 1944 | Admiral Shimada Shigetarō |
| 17 | 2 Aug 1944 - 29 May 1945 | Admiral Oikawa Koshirō Koshiro Oikawa was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and Naval Minister during World War II.-Biography:Oikawa was born into a wealthy family in rural Koshi County, Niigata Prefecture, but was raised in Morioka city, Iwate prefecture in northern Japan.... |
| 18 | 29 May 1945 - 15 Oct 1945 | Admiral Toyoda Soemu |
External links
- "Foreign Office Files for Japan and the Far East". Adam Matthew Publications. Accessed 2 March 2005.