▁N ish im ura ▁was ▁a ▁native ▁of ▁Fu ku oka ▁pre fect ure . ▁ ▁Early ▁military ▁career ▁N ish im ura ▁was ▁a ▁gradu ate ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 2 nd ▁class ▁of ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Japanese ▁Army ▁Academy ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 0 , ▁and ▁subsequently ▁attended ▁Army ▁Engineering ▁School . ▁He ▁graduated ▁from ▁the ▁ 3 2 nd ▁class ▁of ▁the ▁Army ▁Staff ▁College ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 0 . ▁He ▁served ▁most ▁of ▁his ▁career ▁in ▁various ▁staff ▁and ▁administrative ▁posts ▁within ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Japanese ▁Army ▁General ▁Staff . ▁ ▁N ish im ura ▁served ▁as ▁pres iding ▁judge ▁at ▁the ▁court - mart ial ▁of ▁army ▁officers ▁responsible ▁for ▁the ▁assass ination ▁of ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁In uka i ▁T su y oshi ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 2 . ▁The ▁defend ants ▁all ▁received ▁light ▁sentences . ▁For ▁this ▁he ▁was ▁apparently ▁reward ed ▁later ▁with ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Gu ards ▁Division , ▁a ▁pr estig ious ▁post . ▁ ▁From ▁ 1 9 3 6 – 1 9 3 8 , ▁N ish im ura ▁was ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁ 9 th ▁Infantry ▁Regiment , ▁and ▁from ▁ 1 9 3 8 – 1 9 3 9 ▁commanded ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁He avy ▁Field ▁Art illery ▁Brigade . ▁He ▁became ▁Chief ▁of ▁Staff ▁of ▁the ▁Eastern ▁Def ense ▁Army ▁from ▁ 1 9 3 9 – 1 9 4 0 . ▁ ▁Prom oted ▁to ▁Major ▁General ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 0