The official AHF Japan at War quiz thread

[AVV]

Quite right.
Photo from Wikipedia.
Over to you once again!

Best regards, Aleks

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Who was the longest-living IJN flag officer of WWII?

[AVV]

Hello!
Mikawa Gunichi (1888-1981)?

Best regards, Aleks

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Close, but no.

[AVV]

Then, may be, Marumo Kuninori (1891-1985)?

Best regards, Aleks

[Mostlyharmless]

It could also be Ichise Shinichi (1890-1994).

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Again, close, but no...shall I just give the answer?

[Mostlyharmless]

After searching I think that Niimi Masaichi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaichi_Niimi ex. Governor of Hong Kong was probably the longest lived.

[ijnfleetadmiral]

We have a winner! Yes, Niimi Masaichi was the longest-lived IJN flag officer. He died in 1993 at the incredible age of 106.

[Mostlyharmless]

We have a winner! Yes, Niimi Masaichi was the longest-lived IJN flag officer. He died in 1993 at the incredible age of 106.

Clearly as Ichise, who governed Ambon, made 103, governing a former Western possession was good for your health. The only problem was the possible hostility of the colonialists after 1945.

For a question, on 28th November 1938, a Lt. General of the Imperial Army gave a speech which brought to a head a dispute between himself and another Lt. General. Probably as a result both generals had to give up their positions. Who were the generals and what was their dispute?

[Mostlyharmless]

It is actually surprisingly hard to find the answer with Google unless you put in the speaker's name which means you know the answer already. Thus I will suggest some places to look.

Much of the background seems to originate from Hata Ikuhiko. “Deterrent diplomacy : Japan, Germany, and the USSR, 1935-1940 : selected translations from Taiheiyåo Sensåo e no michi, kaisen gaikåo shi” edited by James Morley has an article by Hata on pages 129-178. This seems to be the origin of the details in books such as “Balancing Risks: Great Power Intervention in The Periphery” by Jeffrey W. Taliaferro, pages 189-90. Butow's biography “Tojo and the Coming of the War” has a discussion on pages 117-118.

[Wellgunde]

It has been a while since anyone has posted a question so please allow me the liberty of jumping in.

Which work of Japanese Military history by an American author was placed by IJA veterans in the Yaskuni Shrine as a memorial to their fallen comrades?

Wellgunde

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Was it The Rising Sun, by John Toland?

[Wellgunde]

It was Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939 by Alvin Coox.

[ijnfleetadmiral]

I'll get this thread going again with a real toughie:

Who was Chief Engineer of battleship Yamashiro when she was sunk at the Battle of Surigao Strait?