Kanji Ishiwara: Timeline of His Life

1889 (Meiji 22) Jan 18  

Born in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. 

1902 (Meiji 35)

Enrolls in Japan Military Preparatory School in Sendai. at the age of 13.

1912 (Meiji 45)

Leaves Chuncheon for Aomori (by rotation). 

1913 (Taisho 2)

Appointed Lieutenant of the Infantry Regiment. 

1919 (Taisho 8)    

30 years old. Appointed Captain of the Infantry Regiment, as well as Company Commander. Marries Teiko Kokubu. Converts to Nichiren Buddhism. Becomes a member of Kokuchukai School.

1920 (Taisho 9)

Assigned to the Imperial Japan troops headquarter in central China at Hankow (part of Wuhan). 

1921 (Taisho 10)

Becomes an instructor of military operations at the Army Staff College. 

1922 (Taisho 11)               

Selected to study military operations and strategy in Germany. Moves to Berlin. 

1924 (Taisho 13)

Appointed Major of  the Infantry Regiment. 

1925 (Taisho 14)

On his way back from Germany to Japan, he gives a lecture on his Theory of the Apocalyptic War at Harbin, China. Becomes an instructor of military operations at the Army Staff College, again.

1928 (Showa 3)

Appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Infantry Regiment. Assigned to Port Arthur (part of Dalian) in China, as a staff officer of the Kwantung Army.

1931 (Showa 6) Sept

The Mukden Incident (or the Manchurian Incident). 

1932 (Showa 7) Aug

Appointed Colonel of the Infantry Regiment. Assigned to the Army Arsenal in Tokyo.

1932 (Showa 7) Oct

Selected as a member of suite of the Imperial Japan representatives for the extraordinary general meeting of the League of Nations. Stays in Geneva until May 1933.  

1933 (Showa 8)

Appointed Commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment in Sendai. 

1935 (Showa 10)

Appointed Manager of Military Operations of the General Staff Office.

1936 (Showa 11)

Concurrently appointed Martial Law Staff Officer at the February 26 Incident in Tokyo (from 27th February to 7th March). Appointed Head Manager (Supervisor) of Military Operations of the General Staff Office.

1937 (Showa 12) Mar

Appointed Major General of the Army. Also appointed General Manager of Military Operations (Chief of Operations) of the General Staff Office.

1937 (Showa 12) Sept

Appointed Vice Chief of Staff of  the Kwantung Army in Xinjing (Changchun).

1940 (Showa 15) Sept

Publishes the first edition of Theory of the Apocalyptic World War (Ritsumeikan University Press). 

1941 (Showa 16)        

Retires (Becomes a member of the Army Reserve). Writes History of War: Overview, which is later banned by the government. Advocates the East Asian League, against oppression of the military clique in Japan.

1942 (Showa 17) Sept

Moves to his hometown, Tsuruoka in Yamagata Pref.

1942 (Showa 17) Dec

Masahiko Amakasu arranges a meeting with Prime Minister Tojo in Tokyo. Ishiwara urges Prime Minister Tojo to resign his post.

1943 (Showa 18) Jan

Gives a lecture on China to Prince Mikasa, upon his departure to China (to assume the General Staff position). 

1943 (Showa 18) Aug

Meets Shumei Okawa. Hopes for the Cabinet led by a member of the Imperial Family.

1945 (Showa 22) Oct

Gives a lecture on Construction of New Japan in Kyoto. 

1946 (Showa 21) Jan

GHQ/SCAP of the Allied occupation forces orders the East Asian League (68 regional organizations, about 200,000 members) to dissolve.

1946 (Showa 21) Jan - Aug 

Has been hospitalized in Tokyo University Hospital, and then in Tokyo Teishin Hospital. 

1946 (Showa 21) Aug - Oct 

Temporarily stays in Oizumi village in Tsuruoka. 

1946 (Showa 21) Oct 12  

Settled in Nishiyama of Takase village (Yuza, today). 

1946 (Showa 21) Dec 

Writes Our World View. 

1947 (Showa 22) May 1 - May 2  

Attends the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Sakata special court as a witness.  

1948 (Showa 23) Nov

His interview is recorded onto 16 mm film. 

1949 (Showa 24) Jun  

Writes My Humble Opinion about an Introduction to Nichiren Buddhism. Based on that, his friends finishes Introduction to Nichiren Buddhism. 

1949 (Showa 24) Jul  

Sends a letter the Future of New Japan (translated into English) to General MacArthur.

1949 (Showa 24) Aug 15  

Dies at the age of 60 and 7 months.