Kazushige Ugaki | |
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As War Minister (1924)
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Native name | 宇垣 一成 |
Born | August 9, 1868 Okayama, Bizen Province, Japan |
Died | April 30, 1956 Izunokuni, Shizuoka, Japan |
(aged 87)
Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
Service/branch | Imperial Japanese Army |
Years of service | 1891–1931 |
Rank | General |
Commands held | IJA 10th Division |
Awards | Order of the Golden Kite (3rd class) |
Other work |
Kazushige Ugaki (宇垣 一成 Ugaki Kazushige?, 9 August 1868 – 30 April 1956) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, the 5th principal of Takushoku University, and twice Governor-General of Korea.
Ugaki was born to a samurai family in Seto-town, Bizen Province (currently Okayama Prefecture). He graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1891, and the Army Staff College in 1900.
Ugaki was sent as military attaché to Germany from 1902–1904 and again from 1906-1907. In 1910, he was promoted to colonel and in 1915 was promoted to major general, at which time he was made Commandant of the Army Staff College from 1919–1921 and commander of the IJA 10th Division from 1921-1922. In 1923, Ugaki became Vice Minister of the Army.
From 1924-1927, Ugaki served as Minister of War in the Kiyoura, Katō Takaaki and First Wakatsuki Cabinets. While Minister of War, Ugaki strove to protect the superior position of the Imperial Japanese Army in Japanese politics, fearing a loss of influence to the Imperial Japanese Navy, should the United States be judged "Hypothetical National Enemy No. 1". Ugaki's plans called for an Army of 50 divisions.