▁Japan ▁proper , ▁Korea ▁and ▁Taiwan ▁during ▁the ▁Pacific ▁War . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁General ▁Def ense ▁Command ▁was ▁established ▁on ▁July ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁under ▁the ▁direct ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁Emperor ▁via ▁the ▁Imperial ▁General ▁Head quarters . ▁For ▁administrative , ▁rec ruit ing ▁and ▁account ing ▁purposes , ▁Japan ▁was ▁divided ▁into ▁six ▁army ▁districts , ▁each ▁with ▁a ▁g arrison ▁force ▁equivalent ▁to ▁an ▁army ▁corps : ▁ ▁Eastern ▁District ▁Army ▁– ▁H Q ▁in ▁Tokyo ▁and ▁responsible ▁for ▁the ▁Kant ō ▁region ▁and ▁northern ▁H ons h ū ▁Western ▁District ▁Army ▁– ▁H Q ▁in ▁Fu ku oka ▁and ▁responsible ▁for ▁south western ▁H ons h ū , ▁Sh ik oku ▁and ▁the ▁Ry uky u ▁Islands . ▁Northern ▁District ▁Army ▁– ▁H Q ▁in ▁S app oro ▁and ▁responsible ▁for ▁H ok ka id ō ▁and ▁Kar af uto . ▁Central ▁District ▁Army ▁– ▁H Q ▁in ▁Os aka ▁and ▁responsible ▁for ▁central ▁H ons h ū . ▁Ch osen ▁Army ▁– ▁H Q ▁in ▁Ke ijo ▁and ▁responsible ▁for ▁Korea ▁Taiwan ▁Army ▁– ▁H Q ▁in ▁Tai h oku ▁and ▁responsible ▁for ▁Taiwan . ▁ ▁The ▁General ▁Def ense ▁Command ▁was ▁also ▁responsible ▁for ▁anti - air craft ▁def enses , ▁and ▁for ▁organ izing ▁civil ▁defense ▁training . ▁ ▁On ▁April ▁ 8 , ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁in ▁prepar ation ▁for ▁Operation ▁Down fall ▁( or ▁ ▁in ▁Japanese ▁termin ology ), ▁the ▁General ▁Def ense ▁Command ▁was