Tadamichi Kuribayashi
| Tadamichi Kuribayashi | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 7 July 1891 Nagano Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | c. 26 March 1945 (age 53) Iwo Jima, Japan |
| Allegiance |
 Empire of Japan
|
| Service/branch |
 Imperial Japanese Army
|
| Years of service | 1911 – 1945 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit |
1st Cavalry Brigade 2nd Guards Division 109th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II - Battle of Hong Kong - Battle of Iwo Jima |
| Awards | Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (1967; posthumous) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Star (2nd class) Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (3rd class) |
General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (栗林 忠道 Kuribayashi Tadamichi?, 7 July 1891 in Nagano Prefecture, Japan – c. 26 March 1945 on Iwo Jima, Japan) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, part-time writer, haiku poet, diplomat, and General (Taisho) of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. He is best known for being overall commander of the Japanese garrison during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Even before the battle, General Kuribayashi insisted upon sharing the hardships of his men. He also refused to permit banzai charges, which he regarded as an unnecessary waste of his men's lives. Although the United States Marine Corps had expected to capture Iwo Jima in five days, Kuribayashi and his men held out 36 days. While it is believed that he was killed in action in the final assault, Kuribayashi's body was never identified by the United States military.
The 2006 movie Letters from Iwo Jima brought General Kuribayashi's story to an international audience for the first time. Kuribayashi was portrayed by Japanese actor Ken Watanabe. The film received wide acclaim and four Academy Award nominations.
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