Jinzaburō Masaki | |
|---|---|
 General Jinzaburō Masaki | |
| Born | November 27, 1876 Saga Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | August 31, 1956(1956-08-31) (aged 79) |
| Allegiance |  Empire of Japan |
| Service |  Imperial Japanese Army |
| Years of service | 1897–1935 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | IJA 8th Division, IJA 1st Division |
Jinzaburō Masaki (真崎 甚三郎,Masaki Jinzaburō, 27 November 1876 – 31 August 1956) was a general in theImperial Japanese Army inWorld War II. He was regarded as a leader of theImperial Way Faction within the Japanese military.
Born inSaga Prefecture in 1876, Masaki graduated from the 9th class of theImperial Japanese Army Academy in 1897 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the IJA 46th Infantry Regiment in June 1898.[1] He was assigned toTsushima Guard Battalion from May 1899 until November 1900, when he was promoted to lieutenant in the IJA 46th Infantry Regiment. He was sent to the front during theRusso-Japanese War in February 1904, and served inManchuria until December 1905. During this period, he was promoted to captain in June 1904; however, he found the war a highly traumatizing experience, and after his return to Japan, Masaki wrote that he had considered resigning from the Army and entering the Buddhist priesthood.
Instead, Masaki entered the 19th class of theArmy Staff College and graduated with honors at the top of his class in December 1905. Aninfantry officer, he was promoted to the rank ofmajor in 1909 before being sent abroad as amilitary attaché toGermany from 1911 to 1914. He was promoted tolieutenant colonel in November 1914.
After his return to Japan, Masaki was appointed as a staff officer in theInspectorate General of Military Training where he served from 1916 to 1920, becoming acolonel in 1918. Appointed chief of Military Administration Bureau of theWar Ministry in 1920, he was given command of the1st Imperial Guards Regiment the following year. Upon his promotion tomajor general in 1922, Masaki served as a Brigade commander until becoming director of curriculum at the Japanese Army Academy, eventually becoming commandant by 1925.
Promoted tolieutenant general in 1927, Masaki was placed in command of theIJA 8th Division and posted atHirosaki, Aomori for two years before being transferred toIJA 1st Division inTokyo until 1931. Serving as vice chief of theImperial Japanese Army General Staff, Masaki won promotion to fullgeneral in 1933 and appointed Inspector General of Military Education between 1934 and 1936. He retired from active military service in 1936.[2][page needed]
Masaki was active in the internal political factions within the Japanese Army. He was an early member of the radicalImperial Way Faction led bySadao Araki. WithHeisuke Yanagawa andHideyoshi Obata, the group merged with the rivalTōseiha faction underKazushige Ugaki to dominate the Japanese army throughout the 1930s untilWorld War II. A supporter of an alliance withNazi Germany andFascist Italy, Masaki continued his involvement with the Imperial Way Faction until his forced retirement though political maneuvers by GeneralTetsuzan Nagata. Dissatisfaction with Masaki's forced retirement resulted in the assassination of Nagata the following year which, in turn, led to theFebruary 26 Incident of 1936. Masaki was arrested and court-martialed for his alleged participation, but was acquitted.
Masaki returned to his native Saga Prefecture to serve on the Prefectural Board of Education in 1941. Following the end ofWorld War II, Masaki was arrested as a suspected war criminal. He was released from prison due to a lack of evidence in 1947.
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