was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army. He held important commands in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, and during World War II in the Burma Campaign and defense of the Japanese homeland late in the war. He was also the elder brother of General Torashirō Kawabe. Biography Early career A native of Toyama prefecture, Kawabe graduated from the 19th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1907 and the 27th class of the Army Staff College in 1915. From 1927 to 1929, he served as an instructor at the War College. He was then assigned as a military attaché to Switzerland from 1918 to 1921 and to Berlin, Germany from 1929 to 1932. Promoted to infantry colonel in 1932, he served in a number of staff assignments on his return to Japan, before being assigned command of the IJA 6th Infantry Regiment from 1932 to 1933. Kawabe went on to be Commandant of the Infantry School from 1933 to 1934, and was Chief of 1st Section within the Inspectorate General of Military Training from 1934 to 1936. He was promoted to major general in 1936. Second Sino-Japanese War At the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War Kawabe was sent to China to take command of the Permanent China Brigade, had been involved in the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. As the war expanded he was made Deputy Chief of Staff of the North China Area Army from 26 August 1937 until 14 April 1938 when he became Chief of Staff Central China Expeditionary Army from 15 February 1938 to 31 January 1939. Kawabe was promoted to lieutenant general in March 1939. During his time in China, he was involved in the Battle of Xuzhou, Northern and Eastern Honan, Battle of Wuhan, Canton Operation, Battle of Nanchang, Battle of Suixian-Zaoyang, Battle of Changsha (1939), and the 1939-40 Winter Offensive. From 12 September 1939 to 14 October 1940 Kawabe was recalled to Japan, and held the powerful post of Inspector-General of Military Training. However, he returned to China as commander in chief of the IJA 12th Division in March 1940, serving under the Kwantung Army. Promoted to commander in chief of the IJA 3rd Army in March 1941, he subsequently was Chief of Staff of the China Expeditionary Army from 17 August 1942 to 18 March 1943. Pacific War In March 1943, Kawabe was transferred to the