Japanese Sixteenth Area Army

Japanese Sixteenth Area Army
Invasion Map for Operation Downfall
Active	February 1, 1945 - August 15, 1945
Country	Empire of Japan
Branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Field Army
Garrison/HQ	Chikushino city, Fukuoka Prefecture
Nickname(s)	睦 (Boku = “harmonious”)
Engagements	Operation Downfall

The Japanese Sixteenth Area Army (第16方面軍, Dai jyūroku hōmen gun^?) was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the closing stages of World War II.

The Japanese 16th Area Army was formed on February 1, 1945 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 Kyūshū during Operation Downfall (or Operation Ketsugō (決号作戦, Ketsugō sakusen^?) in Japanese terminology). It was transferred to the newly formed Japanese Second General Army on April 8, 1945. The Japanese 16th Area Army was headquartered in what is now part of Chikushino city, Fukuoka Prefecture. The 16th Area Army leadership also held equivalent posts in the Western District Army, and had the honor of receiving their appointments personally from Emperor Hirohito rather than the Imperial General Headquarters. By the time of the Japanese surrender, the 16th Area Army had 916,828 personnel on Kyushu either in position or in various stages of deployment.