General Honjo Shigeru: Architect of Manchuria’s Invasion and a Controversial Legacy

This biographical report, prepared by the U.S. Department of State, examines the multifaceted career of General Baron Honjo Shigeru, a pivotal figure in Japan's military and political spheres during the early 20th century. Born in May 1876 in Hyogo Prefecture, Honjo rose to prominence as Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army during the 1931 Mukden Incident, a defining moment that fueled Japan's imperial ambitions in East Asia. His subsequent roles, including advisor to the Imperial Rule Assistance Association and member of the Privy Council, underscore his significant influence. Tragically, following Japan's surrender in World War II, Honjo committed suicide on November 30, 1945, at his office in the Aoyama Staff College in Tokyo, approximately 24 hours after his arrest by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers for suspected war crimes. This report details Honjo's military achievements, political affiliations, and the controversial legacy that led the China Weekly Review to label him a "ring-leader" of Japan's militaristic policies since 1937, providing a comprehensive analysis of his impact on modern Japanese history.

Name
Honjo Shigeru, General, Baron
Address
Tokyo, Nakano-ku, 8 Uenohara-cho, 1941 [1]
Major Positions:
Members of the Privy Council, May 1945
Advisor to East Asia Development General Headquarters of IRAA, September 1944
President of Military Protection Board, April 1938 to May 1945
Commander-in-Chief of Kwantung Army, 1931-1933
Family History: 
Born May 1876 in Hyogo-kon; oldest son of Honjo Tsunoyomon; married Umo, younger sister of Kajima Hidoo.[2]
Career: 
Graduated from Military Academy, 1897[1]
Sub-Lieutenant in the infantry, 1897[2]
Studied in Europe[2][3]
Captain attached to Twentieth Infantry Regiment, took par in Russo-Japanese War, 1904-05[2]
Graduated from Military Staff College, 1906[1]
Member of the General Staff, 1909[2][3]
Promoted Major, 1909[2]
Instructor at Military Staff College[2]
Promoted Colonel, 1918[2]
Section Chief of the General Staff, 1918[2]
Commander of the Eleventh Infantry Regiment and attached to Japanese Expeditionary Forces in Siberia, 1919[2][3]
Advisor to Chang Tso-lin of Manchuria, 1921-1923[1-3]
Promoted to Major-General, 1922[2]
Commanding General of the Fourth Brigade, 1924[2]
Military Attache to Peking, 1925[2]
Promoted Lieutenant General, 1927[2]
Commanding General of a division attached to the First Army, 1928[2] 
Commanding General of the Kwantung Army, 8 August 1932[4]
Relieved of post as Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army, 8 August 1932[2]
Member of Supreme War Council[1]
Appointed Chief Aide-de-Camp to Emperor, April 1933[1][2][10]
Resigned as Chief Aide-de-Camp to Emperor, March 1936[3]
President of the Military Protection Board of Welfare Ministry, April 1938[2]
Was present at a dinner given by Black Dragon Society, 28 October 1943[5]
Present at a dinner given by Joseph Lanz Spann, head of Nazi party in Tokyo, 4 February 1944
Being considered for President of Imperial Rule Political Society to succeed Abe Nobuyuki, August 1944[2]
Named Advisor to East Asia Development General Headquarters of Imperial Rule Assistance Association (IRAA), succeeding Mizuno Rontaro, September 1944[5]
Attended meeting of Japan-Germany-Italy Friendship Society, January 1945[5]
Appointed to Privy Council; and relieved of post of President of Military Protection Board, May 1945[5]
Member of the Council of Defense of the Fatherland League (Gokoku Renmei), June 1945[5]
Comments: 
Honjo was a classmate of Masaki Jinzaburo,[3] Araki Sadao, Abe Nobuyuki,[2][3] and Matsui Iwane at the Military Academy[3]
He succeeded Lt. General Hishikari Takashi in September 1931 as Commanding General of the Kwantung Garrison[2] and figured prominently in the Mukden Affair of 18 September 1931.[6] The Japanese Cabinet on 19 September 1931 decided to localize the conflict in Manchuria as much as possible, but, according to Fleisher, its instructions could not be passed on to General Hondo as Hayashi, Consul-General at Mukden, could not get through to him.[11] Honjo directed the military campaign during the Manchurian incident,[7] and took an active part in the operations and intrigues that followed.[4] He was rewarded by being made Chief Aide-do-Camp to the Emperor in April 1933.[1] He was succeeded as Commander-in-Chief of this Kwantung Army by General Muto Nobuyoshi in August 1932.[2] 
There is some conflict in dates over the above mentioned events. Some sources state he was Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army until 1935, and then Chief Aide-de Camp.[1][3] Also, the date of his appointment to the Supreme War Council is unavailable and may be either before, during, or after the post of Chief Aide-do-Camp. The Japan Weekly Chronicle states in 1934 that he was a Director of the Kokuhonsha.[8] 
He resigned from the army in March of1936, as an aftermath of the Young Officers' Revolt. This was one of several personnel shifts in the Army, sixteen generals being retired at that time.[9] He was succeeded by Lieutenant General Usami Okiie as Chief Aide-de-Camp to the Emperor in March 1936.[3]
In May 1945 he was succeeded by Nakamura Kotaro as President of Military Protection Board of the Welfare Ministry. 
The China Weekly Review reports him as being called the "ring-leader of the Japanese war-lords, who were responsible for the setting off of the Far Eastern conflagration" since 1937.[6]

He holds the following decorations: Junior Grade of the Second Court Rank, the Grant Cordon of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, and the order of the Golden Kite, First Class.[5]

Sources 

1. Whos Who Material 
   
2. OSS, Source X
   
3. OSS, Source S
   
4. 4. Tokyo Record, Tolischue
   
5. Enemy Broadcasts
   
6. China Weekly Review, 8 June 1940
   
7. OSS, BR W #657
   
8. Japan Weekly Chronicle, 12 April 1934
   
9. Japan in China, T.A. Bisson
   
10. Osaka Mainichi
    
11. Volcano Isle, Wilfrid Fleisher