- Hayao Kinugasa
Hayao Kinugasa ] ) had formerly served in the
Imperial Japanese Army and was one of the few ex-Imperial Army officers who joined up with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. In the course of his career, he had served in the JSDF's Joint Staff Council and has been the 1st commander of the 1st Airborne Brigade before retiring to private life.History
Born on
February 2 ,1915 in theHyōgo Prefecture , he attended the army's military academy in Narashino in 1936 before graduating in 1941. In 1942, Hayao was an instructor in theImperial Japanese Army Academy . He was then promoted to Major in 1943 and was later assigned to theImperial Japanese Army 'sImperial General Headquarters from 1944 to 1945.After the dissolution of the
Imperial Japanese Army with the rest of the Imperial Military, Hayao joined up with the National Police Reserve in 1951. In 1954, he was instrumental in the eventual formation of the 1st Airborne Brigade and continued to enhance the brigade until 1955. In 1957, he was made captain of this brigade and was eventually made the unit's first commanding officer in 1958. Later, Hayao was assigned to the JSDF's Ground Staff office from 1959-1960. He was then appointed as an instructor in the JGSDF's Aviation School and was an infantry commander of the JGSDF's 3rd Infantry Division [ [http://www.dsimil.com/library/jdf.mj.arc2.htm 師団長（陸将).] ja icon] in the JGSDF's Middle Army. In 1969, he was made Vice Chief of Staff before appointed as the 9th Chief of Staff [ [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ft1t-ocai/jgk/Jgk/Data/Pictorial/Ga95/g9507_008.html 「脱帽・白旗・けどちょっとだけ反論」に関して.] ja icon] after his predecessor resigned due toYukio Mishima 's actions after invading the former Defense Agency in 1970. In 1971, Hayao was appointed as the 9th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff [ [http://www.geocities.co.jp/WallStreet/2687/jsdf/jinji-jso.html 歴代 統合幕僚長／統合幕僚会議議長.] ja icon] [ [http://www.geocities.co.jp/WallStreet/2687/jsdf/jgsdf09.html 衣笠 駿雄.] ja icon] before retiring to private life in 1973.Private Life
In 1985, Hayao was awarded the
Order of the Sacred Treasures for his services in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. After living years of obscurity in Japanese society, he eventually died on February 11, 2007 [http://www.blogri.jp/day/?date=2%8C%8E11%93%FA 記念日・年中行事.] ja icon] of heart failure. He was 91 years old. [ [http://www.kufs.ac.jp/toshokan/naku2007.htm 2007年に亡くなった各界で功績を残した人々.] ja icon] [ [https://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/national/okuyami/print.aspx?id=20070213000275 衣笠駿雄氏死去／元防衛庁統合幕僚会議議長.] ja icon]References
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