Lt. General Masatane Kanda
Imperial Japanese Army

Background
Masatane Kanda 神田 正種 was born April 24, 1890 in Aichi Prefecture in Japan. He joined the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) and attended the Imperial Japanese Army Academy class of 1911 and graduated 23rd in his class. Afterwards, assigned to the Kwantung Army in Harbin. Next, graduated the Army Staff College class of 1934 then was the Japanese military attaché in Turkey. In 1936 returned to Japan and became a an instructor at the Army War College then assigned to the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff as a military intelligence annalist.

Wartime History
In 1937 at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War commanded the 45th Infantry Regiment, then returned to a staff position at the Inspectorate General of Military Training. In 1941 promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and became the commander of the 6th Division in China.

Later, assigned to the 17th Army, second-in-command under Lt. General Harukichi Hyakutake on Bougainville. Cut off from reinforcements and resupply, his remaining soldiers were forced to live off the land by growing crops and engaging in protracted warfare on Bougainville for the remainder of the Pacific War. During February 1945, Hyakutake suffered a stroke and was relieved of his command by Kanda and remained in southern Bougainville until Japan officially surrendered on September 2, 1945.

On September 8, 1945 the Japanese surrender delegation including Kanda and Vice Admiral Baron Tomoshige Samejima plus their senior staff were transported from Kahili (Buin) aboard HMAS Diamantina (K377) to Torokina where they surrender Japanese forces under their command in southern Bougainville and offshore islands. Their surrender is accepted by Australian Army Lt General Stanley G. Savige, commander 2 Corps.

Postwar
Kanda was tried and convicted of war crimes sentenced to 14 years. He began his sentence in 1948 and served four years then was released in 1952. He died January 15, 1983 at age 92.

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