Japanese General. He was a graduate of the 25th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1913. After Muto graduated from the Army Staff College in 1920, he was assigned as a military attache to Germany in which he served until 1926. After his return to Japan, he served in various staff positions with the Imperial Army. Muto, then the chief of the military intelligence section of the Kwangtung Army, was believed to have been one of the planners behind the Marco Polo Bridge Incident that sparked the 2nd Sino-Japanese War. After the war with China started, he was promoted to Vice Chief of Staff of the Japanese Central China Area Army. It was in this position where he was later charged with leading troops during the Nanjing Massacre. In 1939 he was recalled back to Japan and served on the Military Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of War. Muto was promoted to lieutenant general prior to the start of the Pacific War. During World War II, he was given command of troops in Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies. In 1944 Muto was appointed chief of staff of the Japanese 14th Area Army under General Tomoyuki Yamashita. In the Philippines Muto was accused of waging a campaign of "slaughter, torture, and other atrocities against the Filipino civilian population, prisoners of war and civilian internees". After Japan's surrender, he was arrested, tried, and found guilty of committing atrocities both in China and the Philippines. Muto was executed by hanging on December 23, 1948. After his execution, his body was cremated and most of the ashes were scattered either in Tokyo Bay or the Pacific Ocean.
Japanese General. He was a graduate of the 25th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1913. After Muto graduated from the Army Staff College in 1920, he was assigned as a military attache to Germany in which he served until 1926. After his return to Japan, he served in various staff positions with the Imperial Army. Muto, then the chief of the military intelligence section of the Kwangtung Army, was believed to have been one of the planners behind the Marco Polo Bridge Incident that sparked the 2nd Sino-Japanese War. After the war with China started, he was promoted to Vice Chief of Staff of the Japanese Central China Area Army. It was in this position where he was later charged with leading troops during the Nanjing Massacre. In 1939 he was recalled back to Japan and served on the Military Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of War. Muto was promoted to lieutenant general prior to the start of the Pacific War. During World War II, he was given command of troops in Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies. In 1944 Muto was appointed chief of staff of the Japanese 14th Area Army under General Tomoyuki Yamashita. In the Philippines Muto was accused of waging a campaign of "slaughter, torture, and other atrocities against the Filipino civilian population, prisoners of war and civilian internees". After Japan's surrender, he was arrested, tried, and found guilty of committing atrocities both in China and the Philippines. Muto was executed by hanging on December 23, 1948. After his execution, his body was cremated and most of the ashes were scattered either in Tokyo Bay or the Pacific Ocean.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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