Eiji Kimizuka
Eiji Kimizuka | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | July 16, 1952 Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Died | December 28, 2015 (aged 63) |
| Allegiance |  Japan |
| Service |  Japan Ground Self-Defense Force |
| Years of service | 1976–2013 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | North Eastern Army |
| Awards | Order of the Sacred Treasure, Second Class (2015) Legion of Merit, Officer’s Degree (2008) Meritorious Service Medal |
| Other work | Komatsu Limited |
Eiji Kimizuka (君塚栄治, Kimizuka Eiji, July 16, 1952 – December 28, 2015) was the 32nd Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the de facto army of Japan. He was promoted to four-star General and assumed the position on August 5, 2011.[1][2][3]
Career
[edit]Kimizuka was born and raised in Kanagawa Prefecture. He attended the National Defense Academy of Japan, graduating in 1976 into the Ground Self-Defense Force. Kimizuka was initially trained in field artillery, and served in a number of artillery command roles at the company-grade and field-grade levels. Throughout his career, he has attended a number of military schools including Japanese Ranger School, Japanese Airborne School, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College.[4]
Promoted to colonel in 1995, Kimizuka served as the commander of the 10th Artillery Regiment at JGSDF Camp Toyokawa. In 1999, he became chief of Defense Planning Division, Ground Staff Office.[4]
Promoted to major general in 2001, Kimizuka served as the vice chief of staff, Western Army in Kumamoto Prefecture. In 2003, he became commander of the 1st Combined Brigade at JGSDF Camp Naha. In 2006, he became chief of staff of the Central Army at JGSDF Camp Itami.[4]
Promoted to lieutenant general in 2007, Kimizuka served as the commander of the 8th Division. Later, in 2009, he became the commander of the North Eastern Army, headquartered in Sendai.[5] After the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Kimizuka led Joint Task Force - Tohoku, a massive 100,000-soldier relief effort coordinated with American forces in Operation Tomodachi.[6] He died on December 28, 2015, of lung cancer.[3]
Awards
[edit]
- Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star (2nd class) (2015)[7]
- Legion of Merit, Officer’s Degree (2008)[8]
- Meritorious Service Medal
2nd Defensive Memorial Cordon with 1 gold Cherry Blossom
10th Defensive Memorial Cordon
11th Defensive Memorial Cordon with 1 Silver Cherry Blossom
15th Defensive Memorial Cordon with 1 silver cherry blossom
19th Defensive Memorial Cordon
20 Defensive Memorial Cordon with 1 silver Cherry Blossom
21st Defensive Memorial Cordon
26th Defensive Memorial Cordon with 1 gold Cherry Blossom
32nd Defensive Memorial Cordon
33rd Defensive Memorial Cordon
41st Defensive Memorial Cordon with 1 gold Cherry Blossom
References
[edit]- ^ "Japan Chief of Staff Gen Eiji Kimizuka visits India". Archived from the original on 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
- ^ "陸上自衛隊：陸上幕僚長より". Mod.go.jp. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
- ^ a b Eldridge, Robert D. (2015-12-29). "Eiji Kimizuka, former GSDF Chief of Staff, dies at 63". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
- ^ a b c Japan Defense Almanac (防衛年鑑) ISBN 9784938468316(2010年版・543頁)
- ^ "General Eiji Kimizuka, Commander of the Joint Disaster Response Taskforce | Japan Security Watch". Jsw.newpacificinstitute.org. 2011-06-29. Archived from the original on 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
- ^ "Head of SDF Earthquake Response New Head of GSDF | Japan Security Watch". Jsw.newpacificinstitute.org. 2011-07-28. Archived from the original on 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
- ^ Kanpō (Official Gazette) No. 6708 (February 4, 2016) Page 10 "Investiture and Rewardment"
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Chiefs of the Ground Staff, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | ||
|---|---|---|
| Superintendent-General, National Police Reserve (1950-1952) | .svg) | |
| Chief of the 1st Staff, National Safety Agency (1952-1954) | ||
| Chiefs of Staff, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (1954-) | ||