Results of Mukden
Impact on Itagaki Seishiro
Itagaki shown here at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East.
Itagaki, like Ishiwara, continued on a path of military prominence. After Mukden, Itagaki became Vice-chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army ('36-'37), Minister of War ('38-'39), and a member of the Supreme War Council ('43). However, unlike Ishiwara, Itagaki was tried in front of the International Military Tribunals of the Far East.
The following are the charges and convictions given to Itagaki:
| Count 1 | were leaders, organizers, instigators, or accomplices in the formulation or execution of a common plan or conspiracy to wage wars of aggression and wars in violation of international law. | Guilty |
| Count 27 | waging unprovoked aggressive war in China | Guilty |
| Count 29 | waging aggressive war against the United States | Guilty |
| Count 31 | waging aggressive war against the British Commonwealth | Guilty |
| Count 32 | waging aggressive war against the Netherlands | Guilty |
| Count 35 | waging aggressive war against U.S.S.R. in Siberia | Guilty |
| Count 36 | waging aggressive war against U.S.S.R. in Mongolia | Guilty |
| Count 54 | ordered, authorized and permitted inhumane treatment of prisoners of war and others. | Guilty |
For the preceding convictions, Itagaki was sentenced to death. Itagaki
was killed at the age of 64 with a wife, three sons, and two daughters.
Upon his death he requested no burial services, but the buddhist priest
in charge of overseeing the execution arranged two buddhist ceremonies
at different temples. In reflection, the priest wrote:
"I have found, at last that in this world of deceit the way of the Buddha is the one truth.
I am going, following those saints who look over our people over eternal."
Impact on Kanji Ishiwara
Ishiwara continued on a path of greatness obtaining such honorary positions as Commander of the Kwantung army in both Maizuru and Kyoto. He also held the position of Vice Chief of Staff of the Kwantung in Manchuria. After retiring in 1941, Ishiwara continued to voice his opinions on the political reform of Japan. It was not until after the IMTFE hearings, and a long bout of pneumonia that Ishiwara died on August 18, 1949.
Unlike Itagaki, Ishiwara was not tried for war crimes even though he very well could have been. Upon inspection he could have been found guilty for the plan to secure Japanese domination over Manchuria and to wage war for that purpose. However Iokibe Makoto, a historian, believes that it may have been Ishiwara's opposition to Tojo, the China War, and the attack on Pearl Harbor that kept him from being called before the Tribunal.
This exhibit was researched and designed by Michael Jenkins.
This exhibit and museum were created during an introductory seminar on the Asia-Pacific War, taught at Wake Forest University during the spring semester 2002.
The material and opinions are those of their respective authors and do not represent the views of the University or the Department of History.
The information and pictures above were provided from these sources.