Rihachirō Banzai

Rihachirō Banzai (坂西 利八郎, Banzai Rihachirō, February 5, 1871 - May 30, 1950) was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army and advisor to the government of the Republic of China, who later served as a politician in the House of Peers.

Career

Banzai Rihachirō was born in Wakayama Prefecture, the eldest son of Artillery Captain Banzai Ryoichi. After graduating from the Army Youth School, he attended the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, from which he graduated in July 1891. In March 1892, Banzai was commissioned as an artillery lieutenant in the 6th Field Artillery Regiment. From February 1895 to March 1896, he served in the First Sino-Japanese War. He attended the Army Artillery School, graduating in November 1896, and then going on to the Army War College, from which he graduated from in December 1900, as the fourteenth in his class.

Banzai was assigned to the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office, and was sent on a mission to the Qing Empire and an investigation mission to Manchuria. For a time, he served as an advisor to Chinese president Yuan Shikai. He returned to Japan in May 1908. He went on an official visit to Europe as a military attaché along with the 12th Field Artillery Regiment, the regiment leader of the 9th Field Artillery Regiment, and the IJA General Staff (residing in Beijing). He was promoted to the rank of major general in August 1917.

In 1921, Banzai was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. In 1923, he was assigned as a military advisor to President of the Republic of China Li Yuanhong. In September 1934, he became an advisor to the Beijing Government. In April 1927, he retired from active service and entered the reserves. He served as a member of the House of Peers from April 18, 1927, to May 14, 1946.

Family

Banzai Rihachirō was the adoptive father of Ichirō Banzai, a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army. His brother Matahachi Banzai was an officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and his other brother Heihachi Banzai was a major general in the army.

Court ranks

• Senior Eighth Rank, July 6, 1892
• Senior Sixth Rank, December 27, 1907
• Junior Third Rank, May 16, 1927

Orders (Empire of Japan)

• Order of the Golden Kite (4th rank),
• Order of the Rising Sun (4th rank),
• Meiji 37-8 Military Medal of Honor, April 1, 1906
• Order of the Sacred Treasure (3rd rank), May 16, 1914
• Order of the Sacred Treasure (2nd rank), September 29, 1918
• 2600th Anniversary Celebration of the Japanese Empire Honorary Medal, November 10, 1940

Orders (Qing Empire)

• Order of the Double Dragon (2nd rank), July 2, 1908