Imperial Japanese Army

<p>The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA; 大日本帝国陸軍, <i>Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun</i>, "Army of the Greater Japanese Empire") was the principal ground force of the <a href="/facts/Empire_of_Japan/gMpNKg2W">Empire of Japan</a> from 1871 to 1945. It played a central role in Japan’s rapid modernization during the <a href="/facts/Meiji_period/Ajr5VCQ5">Meiji period</a>, fought in numerous conflicts including the <a href="/facts/First_Sino-Japanese_War/rYlcDT7Y">First Sino-Japanese War</a>, the <a href="/facts/Russo-Japanese_War/YWIxIkE2">Russo-Japanese War</a>, <a href="/facts/World_War_I/vITTUanQ">World War I</a>, the <a href="/facts/Second_Sino-Japanese_War/QgPmgfHa">Second Sino-Japanese War</a>, and <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>, and became a dominant force in Japanese politics. Initially formed from domain armies after the <a href="/facts/Meiji_Restoration/DLkCDHk4">Meiji Restoration</a>, it evolved into a powerful modern military influenced by French and German models. The IJA was responsible for several overseas military campaigns, including the invasion of <a href="/facts/Manchuria/XTv2sK1o">Manchuria</a>, involvement in the <a href="/facts/Boxer_Rebellion/eMnpKNVl">Boxer Rebellion</a>, and fighting across the Asia-Pacific during the <a href="/facts/Pacific_War/yNu6op98">Pacific War</a>. Notorious for committing widespread <a href="/facts/Japanese_war_crimes/D74fCWEj">war crimes</a>, the army was dissolved after Japan's surrender in 1945, and its functions were succeeded by the <a href="/facts/Japan_Ground_Self-Defense_Force/zB6zcphP">Japan Ground Self-Defense Force</a>.
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Imperial Japanese Army open-in-new

Imperial Japanese Army