In response to the Allied landings on Guadalcanal , the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters assigned the Imperial Japanese Army 's ( IJA ) 17th Army , a corps-sized command based at Rabaul and under the command of Lieutenant General Harukichi Hyakutake , the task of retaking Guadalcanal .
In response to the Allied landings on Guadalcanal , the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters assigned the Imperial Japanese Army 's ( IJA ) 17th Army at Rabaul and under the command of Lieutenant General Harukichi Hyakutake , was ordered to retake Guadalcanal .