Hisao Tani Biography . Tani was a native of Okayama Prefecture . He graduated from the 15th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1903 and from the 24th class of the Army War College . He saw service as a second lieutenant in the Imperial Guard ' s infantry regiment during the Russo – Japanese War . Subsequently , he was posted to Great Britain as a military attaché from 1915 – 18 , during which time he was an official observer for the Japanese government on the combat situation on the Western Front in World War I . After his return to Japan , from 1922 – 24 , he was attached to 6th Regiment / IJA 3rd Division . In 1924 Tani became an instructor at the Army War College , and his texts on strategy and tactics during the Russo – Japanese War became required reading . From 1929 – 32 Tani was assigned to various posts in the Imperial General Staff , and in 1932 when was made Chairman of Military Investigation . In 1933 he took command of the 2nd Imperial Guards Brigade , and in 1934 , Commandant of the Tokyo Bay Fortress , and in 1935 Command of the 9th Depot Division . From 1935 – 37 Tani was commanding officer of the 6th Division ( Imperial Japanese Army ) , which was assigned to the China Expeditionary Army in December 1937 under the overall command of General Matsui Iwane . The 6th Division fought in North China during the Peiking – Hankow Railway Operation . Shipped south with the Japanese 10th Army , it took part in the end of the Battle of Shanghai , and the Battle of Nanking . Returning to Japan at the end of 1937 , Tani became Commander in Chief of the Central Defence Army until 1939 when he went into reserve and retired . In 1945 , towards the end of World War II , Tani was recalled to active service and given command of the IJA 59th Army and Chugoku Army District . Trial and Execution . After the end of World War II , the Chinese government demanded that Tani be extradited to China to stand trial for war crimes at the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal . Some historians portrayed the prosecution at the trial as incoherent and incompetent , and pointed out its alleged errors , such as the prosecution repeatedly blaming Tani for actions of the IJA 16th Division ( which he did not command ) , instead of the IJA 6th Division , confusing events between the Battle of Shanghai and the Battle of Nanjing , and accusing Tani of atrocities on dates after which he had already been transferred back to Japan . Nevertheless , as the commander of the IJA 16th Division , General Kesago Nakajima had died in 1945 , and General Matsui Iwane would be executed by the Americans after the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal , Tani was the highest surviving commander in Chinese custody , and his association in Chinese minds with the Battle of Nanjing and its aftermath meant that a guilty verdict was certain . Tani was convicted of instigating , inspiring and encouraging the men under his command to stage general massacres of prisoners of war and non - combatants and to perpetrate such crimes as rape , plunder and wanton destruction of property , during the Battle of Shanghai , Battle of Nanking and early in its occupation , the Rape of Nanking , and he was consequently executed on 26 April 1947 .