Masaomi Yasuoka

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Masaomi Yasuoka (July 21, 1886 – April 12, 1948) was a Japanese lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Born in Kagoshima, he trained at military schools and rose through staff roles to command units, including the IJA 49th Infantry Regiment and later the IJA 1st Independent Mixed Brigade. In 1939 he led the Yasuoka Detachment in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, where Japan was defeated; he was relieved of command and the detachment was dissolved, then he went into reserve and retired in 1941.

In July 1942 he became governor of Surabaya in Japanese-occupied Java. He learned some Javanese, visited schools and government offices, and tried to place Indonesians in government roles, while releasing many Dutch officials so Indonesians could be trained to take their places. He remained governor until Japan’s surrender in 1945.

After the war he was captured by Dutch authorities, tried for war crimes, and hanged on April 12, 1948.