Imperial Japanese Army

The Imperial Japanese Army (??????? Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945. It was controlled from the Imperial General Headquarters and the Ministry of War of Japan.

Strength

• 1870, consisted of 12,000 men.
• 1885, consisted of seven divisions including the Imperial Guard Division.
• In the early 1900's, the IJA consisted of 12 divisions and numerous other units. These contained the following:
• 380,000 active duty and 1st Reserve personnel - former Class A and B(1) conscripts after 2 year active tour with 17 and 1/2 year commitment
• 50,000 Second line Reserve - Same as above but former Class B(2) conscripts
• 220,000 National Army
• 1st National Army - 37 to 40 year old men from end of 1st Reserve to 40 years old.
• 2nd National Army - untrained 20 year olds and over 40 year old trained reserves.
• 4,250,000 males available for service and mobilization.
• 1934 - army increased to 17 Divisions
• 1940 - 376,000 active with 2 million reserves in 31 divisions
• 2 Divisions in Japan (Imperial Guard plus one other)
• 2 Divisions in Korea
• 27 Divisions in China and Manchuria
• In late 1941 - 460,000 active in 41 divisions
• 2 divisions in Japan and Korea
• 12 divisions in Manchuria
• 27 divisions in China
• 1945 - 145 Divisions (includes 3 Imperial Guard), plus numerous individual units, with over 5 million men (includes Imperial Japanese Army Air Service).
• Japan Defense Army in 1945 had 55 divisions with 2 million men.

Arsenals

Additionally Japanese Army managed various Arsenals

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• Japanese Army Sagami Arsenal - with Mitsubishi, developed and manufactured tanks
• Japanese Army Sasebo Arsenal - with Mitsubishi, manufactured tanks
• Japanese Army Heijo Arsenal - with Nambu, manufactured hand and long infantry weapons
• Japanese Army Mukden Arsenal - with Nambu, manufactured infantry weapons
• Japanese Army Tachikawa Arsenal - dedicated to develop and manufacture aircrafts for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service