The Ministry of War of Japan was established in the late 19th century, alongside many other Ministries, as part of the creation of the first modern Japanese government. Japan modernized its military might into a force trained in modern (Western) technology, tactics, and discipline in a very short time, allowing it to win the Russo-Japanese War and Sino-Japanese War. It was the administrative, supply and mobilization agency of the Imperial Japanese Army (the Imperial Japanese Navy had its own Navy Ministry). It was headed by the War Minister, who was a member of the Cabinet and provided communications between the Army and Imperial Diet. Militarization began anew in the 1930s, leading up to Japan's involvement in World War II, during which the War Ministry held much political influence.

The Ministry was abolished in December of 1945 with the end of the war and the beginning of the American Occupation of Japan.

Organization

• The Secretariat (Daijan Kambi)
• Personnel Bureau (Jinji Kyoku)
• Military Affairs Bureau (Gummu Kyoku)
• Military Administration Bureau (Heimu Kyoku)
  • Provost Marshal General
    • Kempeitai - the Military Police
• Economic Mobilization Bureau (Seibi Kyoku)
• Ordnance Bureau (Ileiki Kyoku)
• Intendence Bureau (Keiri Kyoku)
• Medical Bureau (Imu Kyoku)
• Judicial Bureau (Homu Kyoku)

Ministers of War of Japan, 1900-1945

The War Minister had to be an active duty General or Lieutenant-General who was directly responsible to the Emperor. For most of World War II, Tojo Hideki served as War Minister. The Minister was assisted by a Parliamentary Vice-Minister, a Parliamentary Councillor, and the Vice Minister of War who served as Deputy the the War Minister and as the Chief of Staff to him.

• Katsura Taró; Oct 1900 - Dec 1900
• Kodema Gentaró ; Dec 1900 - Mar 1902
• Terauchi Masatake; Mar 1902 - Aug 1911
• Ishimoto Shinroku ; Aug 1911 - Apr 1912
• Uehara Yúsaku ; Apr 1912 - Dec 1912
• Kigoshi Yasutsuna ; Dec 1912 - Jun 1913
• Kusunose Yukihiko ; Jun 1913 - Apr 1914
• Oka Ichinosuke (Army); Apr 1914 - Mar 1916
• Oshima Ken'ichi (Army); Mar 1916 - Oct 1916
• Yasuhiro Rokuró (Navy); Apr 1914 - Aug 1915
• Kató Tomosaburó (Navy); Aug 1915 - Oct 1916
• Oshima Ken'ichi ; Oct 1916 - Sep 1918
• Tanaka Giichi; Sep 1918 - Jun 1921
• Yamanashi Hanzó ; Jun 1921 - Sep 1923
• Tanaka Giichi; Sept 1923 - Jan 1924
• Ugaki Kazushige; Jan 1924 - Apr 1927
• Shirakawa Yoshinori ; Apr 1927 - Jul 1929
• Ugaki Kazushige; Jul 1929 - Jun 1930
• Abe Nobuyuki; Jun 1930 - Dec 1930
• Ugaki Kazushige; Dec 1930 - Apr 1931
• Minami Jiró ; Apr 1931 - Dec 1931
• Araki Sadao; Dec 1931 - Jan 1934
• Hayashi Senjúró; Jan 1934 - Sep 1935
• Kawashima Yoshiyuki ; Sep 1935 - Mar 1936
• Terauchi Hisaichi; Mar 1936 - Feb 1937
• Nakamura Kótaró ; - Feb 1937
• Sugiyama Gen ; Feb 1937 - Jun 1938
• Itagaki Seishiró; Jun 1938 - Aug 1939
• Hata Shunroku ; Aug 1939 - Jul 1940
• Tójó Hideki; Jul 1940 - Jul 1944
• Sugiyama Gen ; Jul 1944 - Apr 1945
• Anami Korechika; Apr 1945 - Aug 1945
• Higashikuni Naruhiko; Aug 1945
• Shimomura Sadamu ; Aug 1945 - Dec 1945

References

• "Foreign Office Files for Japan and the Far East". Adam Matthew Publications. Accessed 2 March 2005.