Tomitaro Horii

Tomitarō Horii
Rikugun Shōshō Tomitarō Horii
Born	(1890-11-07)November 7, 1890 Hyōgo prefecture, Japan
Died	November 23, 1942(1942-11-23) (aged 52) New Guinea
Allegiance	Empire of Japan
Service/branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service	1911–42
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	55th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Second Sino-Japanese War World War II

Tomitarō Horii (堀井 富太郎, Horii Tomitarō^?, November 7, 1890 – November 23, 1942) was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. After graduating from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1911, Horii served in China before undertaking a variety of regimental appointments. Following Japan's entry into World War II, he commanded a division during the capture of Guam before commanding the Japanese force tasked with capturing Port Moresby. While attempting to canoe down the Kumusi River to reach Japanese forces fighting around Buna–Gona in November 1942, Horii drowned. His canoe was swept out to sea and capsized.

Born in Hyōgo Prefecture, Horii became an infantry officer following his graduation from the 23rd class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1911. He was later assigned to the headquarters of the Shanghai Expeditionary Army, and in early 1932 during the prelude to the Second Sino-Japanese War, was involved in the January 28 Incident.

From 1935 to 1937, Horii was attached to the IJA 12th Infantry Regiment, having previously attended Waseda University. He became commander of the IJA 78th Infantry Regiment in 1938, after his promotion to colonel the previous year. In March 1940, Horii was promoted to major general. The following year Horii was appointed commander of the Nankai-Detachment (Nankai-Shitai（南海支隊）) of the IJA 55th Division, part of the South Seas Force. Horii led this organization in the Japanese invasion and subsequent capture of Guam during December 8–10, 1941; following this engagement, Horii served briefly as the Japanese military Governor of Guam.