. ▁J oint ▁Chief s ▁of ▁Staff ▁had ▁precip itated ▁the ▁change . ▁ ▁Japanese ▁command ▁structure ▁The ▁Imperial ▁Japanese ▁Army ▁Unit ▁cont rolling ▁all ▁army ▁land ▁and ▁air ▁units ▁in ▁South ▁East ▁Asia ▁and ▁the ▁South ▁West ▁Pacific ▁was ▁the ▁Southern ▁Ex ped ition ary ▁Army ▁head qu arter ed ▁in ▁Sa ig on , ▁Ind och ina . ▁It ▁was ▁commanded ▁by ▁General ▁Count ▁His a ichi ▁Ter au chi , ▁who ▁commanded ▁it ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁The ▁Japanese ▁also ▁deployed ▁the ▁South ▁Se as ▁Force , ▁a ▁combined ▁force ▁of ▁Army ▁and ▁Special ▁Naval ▁Land ing ▁Force ▁personnel . ▁The ▁Southern ▁Army ' s ▁major ▁field ▁commands ▁were ▁the ▁ 1 4 th ▁Army , ▁the ▁ 1 5 th ▁Army , ▁the ▁ 1 6 th ▁Army ▁and ▁the ▁ 2 5 th ▁Army . ▁These ▁consisted ▁of ▁ 1 1 ▁inf antry ▁divisions , ▁six ▁independent ▁inf antry ▁brig ades , ▁and ▁six ▁tank ▁reg iments , ▁plus ▁art illery ▁and ▁support ▁troops . ▁The ▁Japanese ▁extens ively ▁used ▁b icy cle ▁inf antry , ▁which ▁allowed ▁them ▁quick ▁movement ▁over ▁vast ▁distances . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁ ▁British ▁Indian ▁Army ▁ ▁Indian ▁National ▁Army ▁ ▁Bur ma ▁National ▁Army ▁ ▁Th ai ▁Ph ay ap ▁Army ▁ ▁Korean ▁Liber ation ▁Army ▁ ▁Military ▁history ▁of ▁Britain ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II # The ▁Far ▁East ▁ ▁Pacific ▁War ▁ ▁Pacific ▁Theater ▁of ▁Oper ations ▁ ▁Second ▁S ino