Translation Requests

[Roman1981]

Hello! Need your help on translation of the article (main points) in the newspaper and writings in the ceremony of funeral. Just recently have obtained the general's photo album, but do not know who was that general.

Thank you.

Roman.

article on the occasion of this death:

funeral:

[Akira Takizawa]

He is Hisao Hozoji. He died by air accident.

Taki

[Roman1981]

Thank you Taki for your help! I found an article in the newspaper on the occasion of his air accident:

TOKYO, Feb. 27. An army communique today announced that six men were killed in an airplane crash near Kyoto. The men were Lieut.-Gen. Hisao Hozoji, Major-Gen. Misao Okada and four other members of the Kwantung army (Japan's Manchoukuo garrison)..

[hisashi]

Hozoji, born in 1889, was an artillery officer, spending many years in research and teaching post. In 1934 he changed his way to aviation officer. On his death (posthumous promotion from MajGen) he was the principal of an aviation school in Manchuria. The newspaper states his virtue as a military man quoting his letters to his families, not very informative.

[VJK]

Here is a brief bio of Lt. General Hozoji.

Kind regards,

VJK

[Roman1981]

Thank you Hisashi and Valdis for your precious contribution! Much appreciated.

Roman.

[ijnfleetadmiral]

This is the name of an IJN officer from Eta Jima Class 65...any idea what it says? I've run it through Google translator and it was no help. TIA for any info!

干知波亮起

[VJK]

Hi,

Is this correct, please?

西部都督部 - Governor General Western Department

Best regards,

VJK

[Wellgunde]

I'm not sure but the following seems a close approximation (I think this is early Meiji usage):
西部都 - (seibuto) - western district
督部 - (tokubu) - headquarters, command staff
The commander himself would I think be seibuto shireikan.
Corrections//comments welcome.

[Akira Takizawa]

It is 西部(Western district) 都督部(Governor-general Department). 都督部 is the IJA organization of the late Meiji era (1896-1904). It made mobilization and defense plans of the district and was in charge of army education. The head of 都督部 was 都督(Totoku), which is translated Governor-general in English. 都督 was General or Lt. General. There were three 都督部 - Western, Central and Eastern districts.

Taki

[Wellgunde]

Thank you, Taki

[VJK]

Thank you both for your assistance, it is much appreciated.

Kind regards,

VJK

[Wellgunde]

VJK and Taki: I wonder if "Governor General" is the best translation into English for this term. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor-General for a discussion of the functions of this office. In British usage, the position of governor general is not always held by a general officer and the job entails primarily civil functions of governance. The military functions are largely ceremonial. The Queen appoints governors general to represent her in areas outside the United Kingdom which have sworn allegiance to her, for example, Canada and Australia. the Japanese office appears to a completely military assignment and much different in character from the Japanese governors general of Formosa and Korea..

[Akira Takizawa]

I also think that it is not good translation. But, 都督 is usually translated Governor-general in English. 都督 is a historical term beginning from Chinese official rank of ancient times. It was a military governor of the province. So, it is near Governor-general. In Japan, 都督 was assigned in Kwantung leased territory. It had the same function as governors general of Formosa and Korea. So, it can be called Governor-general.
The military district commander in question is also 都督 in Japanese. Should I call it as a different name in English? It is a difficult problem, I think.

[hisashi]

Totoku was originally a title for regional military commander of a province in old Chinise system, which had not been used in Meiji era. If Adjutant General of California National Guard led all the US armed force in California, he would be a totoku in original meaning.

Totoku in 西部都督部 was a regional military office, at first responsible for both war administrative/training (under the ministry) and war planning (under the general staff). It had no function on civilian life except indirect effect from defense plan.

Governor in Hongkong and Governor general in Canada was both 総督 soutoku in Japanese. In 1942-4945 Japan named soutoku in Hongkong, though they were army generals. Hongkong sotoku had his chief-in-staff. Later the commander of 23rd army received an additinal appointment as sotoku.

西部都督部 was a short-lived organization (1896-1904) and in 1900 its task was limited to defense plan and inspection. At first it was to be converted to aerial command in hostility, but eventually it was not located in the order of battle.

Totoku was not well-defined Japanese word, almost forgotten for several centuries, as sotoku was not. Occupation organization in Kwantung Leased Territory (1905-) was at first sotoku-fu. It directly reported to the emperor, so the ministry of foreign affairs was in trouble because facing claims from American/European governments for their fair chance to business. They changed the organization into Kanto Totoku-Bu so that they were 'supervised by the minister of foreign affair (外務大臣ノ監督ヲ承ケ)' along with direction of the army.

(decree on) Kanto Totoku-Bu administration(1906)
http://www.geocities.jp/nakanolib/rei/rm39-196.htm

But still totoku must be a general or lieutenant general of the army by the rule above. The creation of Kwantung army was on efforts of the government to name any civilian as the head of Kwantung Leased Territory. In 1919 finally Kwantung army and Kantocho (関東庁) were split from Kanto Totoku-Bu. Kantocho was an administrative organization, and the first director, Hayashi Gonsuke was a diplomat.