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Masanobu Tsuji

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Military Personnel

The Resume

    (October 11, 1901-1968)
    Born in Ishikawa, Japan
    Japanese militarist and tactician
    Strategist for the Imperial Japanese Army
    One of the main perpetrators of Japanese atrocities throughout World War II
    Developed the detailed plans for the successful Japanese invasion of Malaya at the start of WWII
    Helped plan and lead the final Japanese offensive during the Guadalcanal Campaign
    Escaped prosecution for war crimes at the end of the war, hiding out first in Thailand and later China
    Elected to Japan's House of Representatives from his native Ishikawa Prefecture, in 1952; switched to the House of Councilors in 1959
    After ten years in the Diet, embarked on a mission in Laos, in 1961, where he disappeared; was legally declared dead on July 20, 1968
    Authored the memoir, 'Japan's Greatest Victory, Britain's Worst Defeat' (1952)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was known to exaggerate his actions on the battlefield.
    He was known for being both aggressive and insubordinate, even by Bushido standards.
    His brash leadership style incited the various border clashes with the Soviet Union throughout 1939.
    He was known for encouraging the brutal mistreatment of his prisoners, when he wasn't seeking to have them all outright killed.
    He was an early and strong advocate of war with the United States and Britain.
    He was accused of planning the assassination of Prime Minister Konoye, in the event that he made peace with the Allies.
    He was accused of perpetrating acts of cannibalism near the end of the war.
    He was ordered by Masaharu Homma to transfer captured POWs peacefully after the fall of Bataan, but he ignored him.
    He directly implemented the Bataan Death March, which cost the lives of some 11,000 Filipino and American POWs (April, 1942).
    He escaped being tried for war crimes by reportedly faking his own suicide and donning a fake monk's garb to flee Bangkok for China.
    When the secular government in China began to weaken, he smuggled himself back into Japan - continuing to rely on a number of disguises such as that of a coal miner - where he resided until all Japanese war criminals were pardoned in 1950.
    He had the gall to turn a profit off of his cruelty - publishing a bloated, self-praising memoir which not only became a best-seller but which also eventually translated into a successful political career.
    Apologists for the Japanese complain that he damaged the 'good name' of the Imperial Army with his impetuousness and iron-fisted nature (just one bad apple!)

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was the master of disguise.
    His comrades called him 'The God of Operations.'
    He served as an advisor to Chiang Kai-shek during his years in China.
    He lends credence to Homma's defense that he couldn't entirely control the cruelty his men perpetrated on prisoners (still a crock of BS, but just a little less so...)
    His supporters honored him with a statue of him in the center of Kaga City, Japan.
    He is dead.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 28 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 34 Votes: 61.76% Annoying