Sasaki Tōichi
Sasaki Tōichi | |
|---|---|
 1935 portrait of Sasaki | |
| Born | 27 January 1886 |
| Died | 30 May 1955 (aged 69) |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Years active | 1902–1945 |
| Organisation(s) | Imperial Japanese Army Concordia Association |
Lieutenant General Sasaki Tōichi (佐々木 到一, 27 January 1886 – 30 May 1955) was a soldier in the Imperial Japanese Army. He was known as an expert on Chinese affairs, had close relationships with leading figures in the Kuomintang's National Revolutionary Army, and expressed understanding of their cause during the 1920s. He is also said to have been involved in the creation of the Zhongshan suit. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he was directly involved in perpetrating the Nanjing Massacre.
Early life
Sasaki Tōichi was born in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, on 27 January 1886, but grew up in Hiroshima. He was the eldest son of soldier Sasaki Tōru (佐々木 透). He attended the Kaikosha-affiliated Seibi Primary School and Hiroshima Prefectural First Middle School, and then entered the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1902. He graduated in November 1905, and in June 1906, entered service as an infantry second lieutenant in the 11th Infantry Regiment of the Imperial Japanese Army, and was later trasnfered to the 71st Infantry Regiment.
In March 1911, the 71st Regiment was deployed to Manchuria, and this was the first time Sasaki set foot in a foreign country. After failing to gain admission to the Army War College in December of that year, Sasaki decided to remain in Manchuria to learn Mongolian and Chinese, and thus tranfered to the Manchruia Independent Garrison Unit, which was charged with guarding the South Manchuria Railway.