Hiromichi Yahara
Encyclopedia
Colonel Hiromichi Yahara (1902–1981) was the senior staff officer in charge of operations of the 32nd Japanese Army at Okinawa during the American invasion of that island during World War II
.
, Japan
, would be delayed, thereby allowing Kyushu defenders more time to better prepare their defenses.
Once the Okinawa invasion started, Yahara recommended holding back Japanese forces for as long as possible and using them primarily in a defensive posture, rather than an aggressive one. However, Chief of Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General
Isamu Cho
, soon became frustrated by the relative inaction of the battlefield, and recommended “banzai” charges at the Americans.
Yahara disagreed with this recommendation, but went along with it. But when it was clear that Cho’s samurai
-charge methods were not working, but, rather, causing huge numbers of casualties among the Japanese infantry, along with loss of territory, Cho relented and allowed Yahara to continue to make tactical and operational decisions.
Yahara’s methods, since he did not have the firepower to fight the Americans directly in battle and knew that he could not possibly win, was to fight from caves as long as possible, and then, once the caves were lost, to “retreat and defend” -- time after time—until there was no longer any room to retreat to.
, ordered Yahara to escape from the Mabuni caves after they had committed ritualistic suicide. This he did, disguised as a Japanese English teacher. This disguise worked well for him on the island, but eventually he was recognized by the U.S. military and made a prisoner-of-war with privileges due his rank.
ese in 1973, was an account of his first-hand experience directing Japanese operations on Okinawa during the invasion.
He died in 1981.
Won appointment to the Military Academy.
1902 – Born
1923 – Graduated from Military Academy. Assigned to 54th Infantry Regiment.
1925 – Assigned to 63rd Infantry Regiment.
1926 – Entered Army War College.
1929 – Graduated from War College. Returned to the 63rd Regiment.
1930 – Assigned to Personnel Department of the War Ministry.
1933 – Sent to the United States
as an exchange officer. Traveled Wilmington, Delaware
, Boston, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C.
Attached to the 8th Infantry Regiment for six months at Fort Moultrie.
1935 – Returned to Personnel Department, War Ministry.
1937 – Appointed as instructor (strategy
and tactics
) at the Army War College. Spent three months in China
as staff officer with the 2nd Army (N. China Expeditionary Force).
1938 – Returned to Army War College as instructor.
1940 – September: assigned as Japanese agent to Siam, Burma, Malaya
. November–December: reported to General Staff as expert on southeast Asia
.
1941 – July: to Bangkok
as Assistant Military Attaché
. November 15: received secret orders to staff of 15th Army (Saigon). Remained at Bangkok and participated in the negotiations for the peaceful occupation of Siam. Then participated in the Burma operation with the 15th Army.
Became ill and returned to Japan
. Again assigned to the War College as instructor.
1944 – 16 March: Assigned to Okinawa as advisor from Imperial Staff. 32nd Army Headquarters soon formed (March 22, 1944) and assigned as Senior Staff Officer.
1945 – July 15: captured by American military at the Yakibu Civilian Compound.
(Source: U.S. Tenth Army
Interrogation Report #28, dated 6 August 1945.)
1981 – Died.
(Source: U.S. Tenth Army Interrogation Report #28, dated 6 August 1945.)
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...
.
Defense of Okinawa
Yahara, who had taught strategy at the Army War College, was assigned to Okinawa prior to the anticipated American invasion to organize its pre-invasion strategy. His recommended strategy for fighting the American invaders was to continue to tie up the American military as long as possible in a war of attrition (jikyusen), so that the rumored American invasion of KyūshūKyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, 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...
, would be delayed, thereby allowing Kyushu defenders more time to better prepare their defenses.
Once the Okinawa invasion started, Yahara recommended holding back Japanese forces for as long as possible and using them primarily in a defensive posture, rather than an aggressive one. However, Chief of Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Isamu Cho
Isamu Cho
- Notes :...
, soon became frustrated by the relative inaction of the battlefield, and recommended “banzai” charges at the Americans.
Yahara disagreed with this recommendation, but went along with it. But when it was clear that Cho’s samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
-charge methods were not working, but, rather, causing huge numbers of casualties among the Japanese infantry, along with loss of territory, Cho relented and allowed Yahara to continue to make tactical and operational decisions.
Yahara’s methods, since he did not have the firepower to fight the Americans directly in battle and knew that he could not possibly win, was to fight from caves as long as possible, and then, once the caves were lost, to “retreat and defend” -- time after time—until there was no longer any room to retreat to.
Yahara escapes
Lieutenant General Cho and Lieutenant General Mitsuru UshijimaMitsuru Ushijima
- Notes :...
, ordered Yahara to escape from the Mabuni caves after they had committed ritualistic suicide. This he did, disguised as a Japanese English teacher. This disguise worked well for him on the island, but eventually he was recognized by the U.S. military and made a prisoner-of-war with privileges due his rank.
Okinawa Kessen
After the war Yahara wrote his account of the battle. His Okinawa Kessen (Battle for Okinawa), first published in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese in 1973, was an account of his first-hand experience directing Japanese operations on Okinawa during the invasion.
He died in 1981.
Yahara chronology
Son of a small country landowner in Tottori prefecture (Japan).Won appointment to the Military Academy.
1902 – Born
1923 – Graduated from Military Academy. Assigned to 54th Infantry Regiment.
1925 – Assigned to 63rd Infantry Regiment.
1926 – Entered Army War College.
1929 – Graduated from War College. Returned to the 63rd Regiment.
1930 – Assigned to Personnel Department of the War Ministry.
1933 – Sent to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as an exchange officer. Traveled Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, Boston, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Attached to the 8th Infantry Regiment for six months at Fort Moultrie.
1935 – Returned to Personnel Department, War Ministry.
1937 – Appointed as instructor (strategy
Strategy
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked...
and tactics
Military tactics
Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...
) at the Army War College. Spent three months in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
as staff officer with the 2nd Army (N. China Expeditionary Force).
1938 – Returned to Army War College as instructor.
1940 – September: assigned as Japanese agent to Siam, Burma, Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
. November–December: reported to General Staff as expert on southeast Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
1941 – July: to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
as Assistant Military Attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
. November 15: received secret orders to staff of 15th Army (Saigon). Remained at Bangkok and participated in the negotiations for the peaceful occupation of Siam. Then participated in the Burma operation with the 15th Army.
Became ill and returned to 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...
. Again assigned to the War College as instructor.
1944 – 16 March: Assigned to Okinawa as advisor from Imperial Staff. 32nd Army Headquarters soon formed (March 22, 1944) and assigned as Senior Staff Officer.
1945 – July 15: captured by American military at the Yakibu Civilian Compound.
(Source: U.S. Tenth Army
U.S. Tenth Army
The Tenth United States Army was the last army level command established in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. It was commanded by Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. until he was killed by enemy artillery fire on Okinawa on 18 June 1945...
Interrogation Report #28, dated 6 August 1945.)
1981 – Died.
Interrogator comments
“Quiet and unassuming, yet possessed of a keen mind and a fine discernment, Colonel Yahara is, from all reports, an eminently capable officer, described by some POWs as the “brains” of the 32d Army.”(Source: U.S. Tenth Army Interrogation Report #28, dated 6 August 1945.)
Yahara biographer
For more information on Yahara, see Yahara biographer Takeshi Inagaki's book:- Higu no Sakusen ... Itan no Sambo Yahara Hiromichi (Shinchosha, 1984)
See also
- Battle of OkinawaBattle of OkinawaThe Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
- Isamu ChoIsamu Cho- Notes :...
- Mitsuru UshijimaMitsuru Ushijima- Notes :...