Korechika Anami

Born 1886; died Aug. 15, 1945, in Tokyo. Japanese general.

Anami graduated from a military school in 1906 and later from a military academy in Tokyo. From 1930 to 1934 he commanded the Second Guards Division. From 1935 he was aide-de-camp to the emperor and secretary of the Supreme Military Council, and during 1936–37 he held responsible positions in the war ministry. He commanded an infantry division in China during 1938–39. From 1939 to 1941 he was deputy minister of war. Between 1941 and 1944 he commanded the Eleventh Army and the Northern Front in China. In April 1945, Anami became minister of war in the Suzuki government. After the unsuccessful attempt to carry out a state coup on the night of Aug. 15, 1945, for the purpose of establishing a government with a “firm hand” and continuing the war, Anami killed himself by committing hara-kiri.