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{{Short description|Japanese prince and general (1865–1945)}} {{Short description|Japanese prince and general (1865–1945)}}
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{{Infobox officeholder {{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = ''']''' | honorific_prefix = ]
| name = Kan'in Kotohito | name = Kan'in Kotohito
| native_name = 閑院宮載仁親王 | native_name = {{No bold|閑院宮載仁親王}}
| native_name_lang = jpn | native_name_lang = ja
| image = HIH Prince Kotohito, Kan-in-Nomiya (cropped).jpg | image = HIH Prince Kotohito, Kan-in-Nomiya (cropped).jpg
| order = ] | order = ]
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}} }}
| unit = | unit =
| battles = ] | battles =
{{tree list}}
* ]
] * ]
] * ]
*] ** ]
{{tree list/end}}
| awards = {{plainlist| | awards = {{plainlist|
*] (2nd Class) *] (2nd Class)
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{{nihongo|'''] Kan'in Kotohito'''|閑院宮載仁親王| Kan'in-no-miya Kotohito-shinnō|extra=November 10, 1865 – May 21, 1945}} was the sixth head of a ] of the ], and a career army officer who served as Chief of the ] from 1931 to 1940. During his tenure as the Chief of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, the Imperial Japanese Army committed numerous war crimes against Chinese civilians including the ] and the systemic use of chemical and bacteriological weapons. Prince Kan'in Kotohito died several months before the end of the ] and was not tried for war crimes. {{nihongo|'''] Kan'in Kotohito'''|閑院宮載仁親王| Kan'in-no-miya Kotohito-shinnō|extra=November 10, 1865 – May 21, 1945}} was the sixth head of a ] of the ], and a career army officer who served as Chief of the ] from 1931 to 1940. During his tenure as the Chief of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, the Imperial Japanese Army committed numerous ] against Chinese civilians including the ] and the systemic use of ] and ]. Prince Kan'in Kotohito died several months before the end of the ].


==Early years== ==Early years==
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Prince Kan'in entered the ] in 1877 and graduated in 1881. Emperor Meiji sent him as a ] to France in 1882 to study ]s and technology. He graduated from the ] in 1894, specializing in ]. He commanded the 1st Cavalry Regiment from 1897 to 1899. Prince Kan'in entered the ] in 1877 and graduated in 1881. Emperor Meiji sent him as a ] to France in 1882 to study ]s and technology. He graduated from the ] in 1894, specializing in ]. He commanded the 1st Cavalry Regiment from 1897 to 1899.


Kan'in became a veteran of both the ] (1894–1895) and the ] (1904–1905). He was appointed to command the 2nd Cavalry Brigade in 1901. He rose to the rank of ] in 1905 and became the commander of the ] in 1906, and the ] in 1911. He was promoted to the rank of full ] and became a ] in 1912. He was further promoted to become the youngest ] in the Imperial Japanese Army in 1919.<ref>Ammenthorp, The Generals of World War II.</ref> In 1921, he accompanied then-] ] on his tour of Europe. Kan'in became a veteran of both the ] (1894–1895) and the ] (1904–1905). He was appointed to command the 2nd Cavalry Brigade in 1901. He rose to the rank of ] in 1905 and became the commander of the ] in 1906, and the ] in 1911. He was promoted to the rank of full ] and became a ] in 1912. He was further promoted to become the youngest ] in the Imperial Japanese Army in 1919.<ref>Ammenthorp, The Generals of World War II.</ref> In 1921, he accompanied then-] ] on his tour of Western Europe.


==Career in the Imperial General Headquarters== ==Career in the Imperial General Headquarters==
] ]
On December 1, 1931, Prince Kan'in became Chief of the ], replacing General Kanaya Hanzo. During his tenure, the ] committed many war crimes against Chinese civilians including the ] and the systemic use of ]. Chemical weapons, such as tear gas, were used only sporadically in 1937, but in the spring of 1938, the ] began full-scale use of sneeze and ] (red), and from summer 1939, ] (yellow) was used against both Kuomintang and Communist Chinese troops.<ref>Yuki Tanaka, ''Poison Gas, the Story Japan Would Like to Forget'', Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, October 1988, p. 16-17</ref> Prince Kan'in transmitted to the Army the emperor's first directive (''rinsanmei'') authorizing the use of chemical weapons on July 28, 1937. He transmitted a second order on September 11 authorizing the deployment of special chemical warfare units to ].<ref>], '']'', 2001, p.361.</ref> On April 11, 1938, Directive Number 11 was issued in his name, authorizing further use of poison gas in ].<ref>] and S. Matsuno, ''Dokugasusen Kankei shiryo II, Kaisetsu'', Jugonen senso gokuhi shiryoshu 1997, p.27–29.</ref> On December 1, 1931, Prince Kan'in became Chief of the ], replacing General Kanaya Hanzo. During his tenure, the ] committed many war crimes against Chinese civilians including the ] and the systemic use of ].

⚫ Kan'in, among others within the army, opposed ] ]'s efforts to improve relations with the United States and the United Kingdom.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} He forced the resignation of ] General ] (1879–1962), thus bringing down the Yonai cabinet in July 1940. The Prince was a participant in the liaison conferences between the military chiefs of staff and the second cabinet of Prince ] (June 1940–July 1941). Both he and Lieutenant General ], the newly appointed War Minister, supported the ] and ] between the Empire of Japan, ], and ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Boyd |first=Carl |date=28 November 2008 |title=The Berlin-Tokyo Axis and Japanese Military Initiative |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/312095 |journal=Modern Asian Studies |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=319 |jstor=312095 |issn=0026-749X}}</ref>

== Final years and death ==


As ], Kotohito authroized the use of chemical weapons in China, such as ], which were used sporadically in 1937, but in the spring of 1938, he further authorized the use of ], and from summer 1939, he approved the use of ] against both Kuomintang and Communist Chinese troops.<ref name = toshiya1>{{Cite book| url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110659054-008/html?lang=en | chapter=Japanese War Crimes and War Crimes Trials in China| title=Genocide and Mass Violence in Asia| publisher=De Gruyter Oldenbourg|pages=147-148 |year=2019 | last1=Toshiya | first1=Iko | isbn=9783110645293 }}</ref><ref>Yuki Tanaka, ''Poison Gas, the Story Japan Would Like to Forget'', Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, October 1988, p. 16-17</ref> Prince Kan'in transmitted to the Army the emperor's first directive (''rinsanmei'') authorizing the use of chemical weapons on July 28, 1937. He transmitted a second order on September 11 authorizing the deployment of special chemical warfare units to ].<ref>], '']'', 2001, p.361.</ref> On April 11, 1938, Directive Number 11 was issued in his name, authorizing further use of poison gas in ].<ref>] and S. Matsuno, ''Dokugasusen Kankei shiryo II, Kaisetsu'', Jugonen senso gokuhi shiryoshu 1997, p.27–29.</ref>
Kan'in retired as Chief of the General Staff on October 3, 1940, and was succeeded by ]. He remained a member of the Supreme War Council and a senior advisor to the emperor on army matters.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} Field Marshal Prince Kan'in died in ] at the Kan'in summer residence, possibly due to an infection caused by inflamed ] on May 21, 1945, and was accorded a ].


In Shanxi Province, poisonous gases were used to counter the guerilla warfare of the 8th Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army.<ref name = toshiya1/> Large amounts of sneezing gas were utilized against the Chinese National Revolutionary Army at the ] and in the Central China region. Lethal ], such as ] and ], were deployed by Japanese forces after 1939.<ref name = toshiya1/>
The Prince was a strong supporter of ]; with ] he set up the '']''{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} to research all ancient Shinto rites and practices. Other associates were ], Lieutenant General ], who directed the ] and Chikao Fujisawa, member of the ], who proposed a law that Shinto should be reaffirmed as Japan's ].


⚫ He forced the resignation of ] General ] (1879–1962), thus bringing down the Yonai cabinet in July 1940. The Prince was a participant in the liaison conferences between the military chiefs of staff and the second cabinet of Prince ] (June 1940–July 1941). Both he and Lieutenant General ], the newly appointed War Minister, supported the ] and ] between the Empire of Japan, ], and ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Boyd |first=Carl |date=28 November 2008 |title=The Berlin-Tokyo Axis and Japanese Military Initiative |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/312095 |journal=Modern Asian Studies |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=319 |jstor=312095 |issn=0026-749X}}</ref>{{additional citations needed|date=November 2024}}
His only son, ], succeeded him as the seventh and last head of the Kan'in-no-miya ({{nihongo2|閑院宮}}) household.


== Honours == == Honours ==
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Latest revision as of 03:11, 10 December 2024

Japanese prince and general (1865–1945)
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PrinceKan'in Kotohito
閑院宮載仁親王
Kotohito in 1936
Chief of the Imperial Japanese Army
General Staff
In office
December 23, 1931 – October 3, 1940
MonarchShōwa
Prime Minister
Preceded byKanaya Hanzo
Succeeded byHajime Sugiyama
Personal details
Born(1865-11-10)November 10, 1865
Kyoto, Tokugawa shogunate
(present-day Japan)
DiedMay 21, 1945(1945-05-21) (aged 79)
Odawara, Kanagawa, Empire of Japan
RelationsPrince Kan'in Haruhito
Awards
NicknamePrince messenger
Military service
Allegiance Empire of Japan
Branch/service Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service1881–1945
RankField Marshal (Gensui)
Commands
Battles/wars

Prince Kan'in Kotohito (閑院宮載仁親王, Kan'in-no-miya Kotohito-shinnō, November 10, 1865 – May 21, 1945) was the sixth head of a cadet branch of the Japanese imperial family, and a career army officer who served as Chief of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff from 1931 to 1940. During his tenure as the Chief of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, the Imperial Japanese Army committed numerous war crimes against Chinese civilians including the Nanjing massacre and the systemic use of chemical and bacteriological weapons. Prince Kan'in Kotohito died several months before the end of the Second World War.

Early years

Prince Kotohito was born in Kyoto on November 10, 1865, as the sixteenth son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye (1802–1875). His father was the twentieth head of the Fushimi-no-miya, one of the four shinnōke, branches of the Imperial Family which were eligible to succeed to the throne if the main line should die out. Since the infant mortality rate in the main imperial household was quite high, Emperor Kōmei, the father of Emperor Meiji, adopted Prince Kotohito as a potential heir. Prince Kotohito was thus the adopted brother of Emperor Meiji and a great uncle to both Emperor Shōwa and his consort, Empress Kōjun.

Prince Kotohito was initially sent to Sambō-in monzeki temple at the age of three to be raised as a Buddhist monk, but was selected in 1872 to revive the Kan'in-no-miya, another of the shinnōke households, which had gone extinct upon the death of the fifth head, Prince Naruhito.

Marriage and family

On December 19, 1891, Prince Kotohiko married Sanjō Chieko (January 30, 1872 – March 19, 1947), a daughter of Prince Sanjō Sanetomi. The couple had seven children: five daughters and two sons.

  1. Prince Kan'in Atsuhito (篤仁王, Atsuhito-ō, 1894–1894)
  2. Princess Kan'in Yukiko (恭子女王, Yukiko Joō, 1896–1992)
  3. Princess Kan'in Shigeko (茂子女王, Shigeko Joō, 1897–1991)
  4. Princess Kan'in Sueko (季子女王, Sueko Joō, 1898–1914)
  5. Prince Kan'in Haruhito (閑院宮春仁王, Kan’in-no-miya Haruhito-ō, 1902–1988)
  6. Princess Kan'in Hiroko (寛子女王, Hiroko Joō, 1906–1923)
  7. Princess Kan'in Hanako (華子女王, Hanako Joō, 1909–2003)

Early military career

Prince Kan'in Kotohito in 1907

Prince Kan'in entered the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1877 and graduated in 1881. Emperor Meiji sent him as a military attaché to France in 1882 to study military tactics and technology. He graduated from the Army Staff College in 1894, specializing in cavalry. He commanded the 1st Cavalry Regiment from 1897 to 1899.

Kan'in became a veteran of both the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905). He was appointed to command the 2nd Cavalry Brigade in 1901. He rose to the rank of lieutenant general in 1905 and became the commander of the IJA 1st Division in 1906, and the Imperial Guard Division in 1911. He was promoted to the rank of full general and became a Supreme War Councilor in 1912. He was further promoted to become the youngest field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army in 1919. In 1921, he accompanied then-Crown Prince Hirohito on his tour of Western Europe.

Career in the Imperial General Headquarters

Prince Kan'in Kotohito (c.1937)

On December 1, 1931, Prince Kan'in became Chief of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, replacing General Kanaya Hanzo. During his tenure, the Imperial Japanese Army committed many war crimes against Chinese civilians including the Nanjing massacre and the systemic use of chemical and bacteriological weapons.

As Chief of the General Staff, Kotohito authroized the use of chemical weapons in China, such as tear gas, which were used sporadically in 1937, but in the spring of 1938, he further authorized the use of sneezing gas, and from summer 1939, he approved the use of mustard gas against both Kuomintang and Communist Chinese troops. Prince Kan'in transmitted to the Army the emperor's first directive (rinsanmei) authorizing the use of chemical weapons on July 28, 1937. He transmitted a second order on September 11 authorizing the deployment of special chemical warfare units to Shanghai. On April 11, 1938, Directive Number 11 was issued in his name, authorizing further use of poison gas in Inner Mongolia.

In Shanxi Province, poisonous gases were used to counter the guerilla warfare of the 8th Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army. Large amounts of sneezing gas were utilized against the Chinese National Revolutionary Army at the Battle of Wuhan and in the Central China region. Lethal blister gases, such as yperite and lewisite, were deployed by Japanese forces after 1939.

He forced the resignation of War Minister General Hata Shunroku (1879–1962), thus bringing down the Yonai cabinet in July 1940. The Prince was a participant in the liaison conferences between the military chiefs of staff and the second cabinet of Prince Konoe Fumimaro (June 1940–July 1941). Both he and Lieutenant General Hideki Tojo, the newly appointed War Minister, supported the Tripartite Pact and Anti-Comintern Pact between the Empire of Japan, Nazi Germany, and Fascist Italy.

Honours

Prince Kan'in Kotohito
Prince Kan'in
Reign1872-1945
PredecessorPrince Kan'in Naruhito
SuccessorPrince Kan'in Haruhito
FatherPrince Fushimi Kuniie
Emperor Kōmei (adoptive father)

He received the following orders and decorations:

Gallery

  • Princess Kan'in Chieko Princess Kan'in Chieko
  • Prince Kan'in Kotohito with Princess Yukiko and Prince Haruhito Prince Kan'in Kotohito with Princess Yukiko and Prince Haruhito
  • Prince Kan'in Haruhito Prince Kan'in Haruhito
  • Princess Kan'in Chieko with Princesses Shigeko, Sueko and Hiroko Princess Kan'in Chieko with Princesses Shigeko, Sueko and Hiroko
  • Princess Kan'in Hanako Princess Kan'in Hanako


Notes

  1. No Misplaced Pages page has been created for General Kanaya Hanzo, the 18th Chief of Staff of the Imperial Japanese Army. Consequently, clicking on his name connects to the page for the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office which contains a comprehensive list of all its chiefs from 1878 to 1945.

References

  1. Ammenthorp, The Generals of World War II.
  2. ^ Toshiya, Iko (2019). "Japanese War Crimes and War Crimes Trials in China". Genocide and Mass Violence in Asia. De Gruyter Oldenbourg. pp. 147–148. ISBN 9783110645293.
  3. Yuki Tanaka, Poison Gas, the Story Japan Would Like to Forget, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, October 1988, p. 16-17
  4. Herbert Bix, Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan, 2001, p.361.
  5. Yoshiaki Yoshimi and S. Matsuno, Dokugasusen Kankei shiryo II, Kaisetsu, Jugonen senso gokuhi shiryoshu 1997, p.27–29.
  6. Boyd, Carl (28 November 2008). "The Berlin-Tokyo Axis and Japanese Military Initiative". Modern Asian Studies. 15 (2): 319. ISSN 0026-749X. JSTOR 312095.
  7. 刑部芳則 (2017). 明治時代の勲章外交儀礼 (PDF) (in Japanese). 明治聖徳記念学会紀要. p. 160.

Books

External links

Military offices
Preceded byKanaya Hanzo Chief of Army General Staff
1931–1940 		Succeeded byHajime Sugiyama
Categories: