Masao Watanabe
| Masao Watanabe | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 10, 1880 Osaka prefecture, Japan |
| Died | October 11, 1950 (aged 70) |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Service/branch |
 Imperial Japanese Army
|
| Years of service | 1909 -1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | IJA 56th Division, IJA 32nd Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Order of the Sacred Treasures (1st class) Order of the Rising Sun (1st class) |
Masao Watanabe (渡辺 正夫 Watanabe Masao?, 10 October 1888 – 11 October 1950) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.
Watanabe was the son of a former samurai retainer of the Kishiwada domain. His father was an elementary school teacher. Watanabe was a graduate of the 21st class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1909, and of the 31st class of the Army Staff College in 1919, with a specialty in artillery.
From 1928 - 1933, Watanabe was an instructor of the Army Field Artillery School. He was assigned a commander of the IJA 10th Field Artillery Regiment from 1933–1936, after which he became Chief of Staff of the IJA 14th Division.
Before the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Watanabe was promoted to major general and was Chief of Staff of the Central Defense Army in Japan. He was reassigned to an administrative role when he became head of the Army Armaments Factory from 1938-1940. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1939.
With the Pacific War, Watanabe was again given a field command as commander in chief of the IJA 56th Division from 1940-1942. He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasures, 1st class, in 1940.
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