Kuga Noboru

[Peter H]

Seeking information or a photo of Captain Kuga Noboru.

According to Herbert Bix,on the Shanghai fighting of 1932:

At Shanghai, both during and after the fighting, Japanese officers and enlisted men alike exemplified the pathological effects of the post-1905 battlefield doctrine of never surrendering. Captured by the Chinese in February 1932, Captain Kuga Noboru was returned to Japan in a prisoner exchange; he committed suicide to atone for his capture. Praised for his martial spirit by Army Minister Araki, Kuga was later enshrined at Yasukuni. From this time on, officers who survived were openly pressured to commit suicide. A plethora of books, movies, and stage dramas glorified the "human bombs" and "human bullets" who gave their lives on the Shanghai front. These tales heightened the popularity of the army at home, while also reinforcing its mystique abroad.

Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan,page 252.

[Lt.Amuro]

空閑　昇　少佐　Major Kuga,Noboru
born in 1887
22th graduate of Military Academy
When he went to the 1st Shanghai incident, he was a commander of a Battalion of 7th infantry regiment.

In the battle of Shanghai he was shot and fainted. His subordinates thought that he was dead, and left him behind. He was captured. The commander who captured him was his pupil. He returned in a prisoner exchange. He was ashamed of having been captured. He went to the point that he was captured, and committed suicide. He was born in Saga prefecture. Saga is the prefecture where HAGAKURE was born. People praised that he had put the BUSHIDO theory into practice. (HAGAKURE is the text of BUSHIDO)

[Peter H]

Thanks Lt.Amuro

Regards,
Peter

[Kim Sung]

Japanese made a song in commemoration of him. 'Oh, Major Kuga!'

[Peter H]

Time Magazine,April 11,1932:

Typical of Japanese militant fanaticism, from which the Imperial House now stands aloof, was the conduct at Shanghai last week of Major Noburu Kuga, a battalion commander in the heroic Japanese 9th Division, famed for valor in the Shanghai fight . On March 16 Major Kuga who had been captured by the Chinese, was released in an exchange of prisoners. Promptly he faced a Japanese courtmartial such as always investigates when a Japanese warrior has been taken prisoner and released. To the Court's satisfaction it was proved that Major Kuga on Feb. 20 led a gallant assault on the no less gallant Chinese 19th Route Army, advancing with such vigor that his small Japanese detachment found itself presently engulfed by Chinese and was soon almost wiped out. Major Kuga, knocked senseless by the explosion of a hand grenade, did not even know his enemies had captured him until he woke up in a Chinese hospital. The Japanese courtmartial, when these facts had been established, complimented Major Kuga and dismissed him with all honor—but his hero's brain throbbed with the madding, ignominious fact that he had been "captured." Major Kuga wished to commit harakiri—to disembowel himself with his sword—but his own sword had been broken in the battle, an aggravation of his shame. Brooding and white-lipped Major Kuga walked last week to the exact spot on Shanghai's battlefield where the hand grenade had knocked him unconscious. There, putting his service pistol to his head, he fired one well-aimed shot. "The suicide of Major Kuga." said the Japanese military spokesman at Shanghai, "has aroused the greatest sympathy and admiration in Japanese military and civilian circles here."

[Peter H]

Kuga was handed over to the Japanese consul at Nanking.It appears another captured Japanese officer,a Captain,was also with him.This Captain also later committed suicide,before his court martial for ordering an "unauthorised withdrawal".

Does anyone know the name of this other officer?