was a major-general in the

Japanese Imperial Army The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA; , ''Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun'', "Army of the Greater Japanese Empire") was the principal ground force of the Empire of Japan from 1871 to 1945. It played a central role in Japan’s rapid modernization during th ...

in the

Second Sino-Japanese War The Second Sino-Japanese War was fought between the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic of China and the Empire of Japan between 1937 and 1945, following a period of war localized to Manchuria that started in 1931. It is considered part ...

Biography

A native of

Yamagata prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. It has a population of 1,005,926 (1 February 2025) and an area of 9,325 Square kilometre, km2 (3,600 Square mile, sq mi). Its neighbours are Akita Prefectu ...

, Gotō was a graduate of the 19th class of the

Imperial Japanese Army Academy The was the principal officer's training school for the Imperial Japanese Army. The programme consisted of a junior course for graduates of local army cadet schools and for those who had completed four years of middle school, and a senior course f ...

in 1907. From 1934 to 1935 Gotō was commander of the Sendai Regimental District, then was commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment of 15th Infantry Brigade, IJA 2nd Division until 1937. At the start of the

, Gotō commanded the Tsushima Fortress until 1938, when he was promoted to major general and appointed commander of the 132nd Infantry Brigade of the IJA 104th Division. Gotō was involved in the 21st Army

Canton Operation The Canton Operation (; pinyin: Guǎngzhōu Zhànyì) was part of a campaign by Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War to blockade China to prevent it from communicating with the outside world and importing needed arms and materials. Control ...

in southern

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. He commanded the 21st Army forces in the landings of the

Swatow Operation The Swatow Operation (June 21–27, 1939; ) was part of a campaign by Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War to blockade China in order to prevent it from communicating with the outside world and importing needed arms and materials. Control of ...

in June 1939. His division fought to defend the Canton region during the Chinese 1939-40 Winter Offensive. In 1940 Gotō was recalled to Japan, and attached to the 4th Depot Division. He went into the reserves and retired the same year. In 1941, Gotō was recalled and placed in command of the Yokohama Regimental District until 1942. In 1945 he was made commander of the Kofu Regimental District and Kofu Area Command in

Yamanashi prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Yamanashi Prefecture has a population of 787,592 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,465 km2 (1,724 sq mi). Yamanashi Prefecture borders Saitama Prefecture to the n ...

Sources

Books

* *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Goto, Juro 1887 births 1984 deaths People from Yamagata Prefecture Imperial Japanese Army generals of World War II