Japanese Fifth Area Army

Japanese Fifth Area Army
Border between Japanese Karafuto and Soviet Sakhalin
Active	March 16, 1944 - August 15, 1945
Country	Empire of Japan
Branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Field Army
Garrison/HQ	Sapporo
Nickname(s)	達(Tatsu = “attain”)
Engagements	Soviet invasion of Manchuria

The Japanese Fifth Area Army (第5方面軍, Dai-go hōmen gun^?) was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the closing stages of World War II. It saw combat against the Soviet Union in Japan’s northern territories.

The Japanese 5th Area Army was formed on March 16, 1944 under the General Defense Command as part of the last desperate defense effort by the Empire of Japan to deter possible landings of Allied forces in Hokkaidō, Karafuto/South Sakhalin and the Chishima Islands/Kuriles during Operation Downfall (or Operation Ketsugō (決号作戦, Ketsugō sakusen^?) in Japanese terminology). It remained directly under the Imperial General Headquarters and was headquartered in Sapporo. The 5th Area Army leadership also held equivalent posts in the Northern District Army, and had the honor of receiving their appointments personally from Emperor Hirohito rather than the Imperial General Headquarters.