World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseKenkichi Ueda was born in 1875 and attended Kitano High School in Osaka, Japan and then Tokyo Commerce University in Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from the Japanese Army Academy in Nov 1898. In Jun 1899, he was promoted to the rank of sub-lieutenant in the cavalry. Between Nov 1906 and Dec 1909, he studied at the Army Staff College. In 1918, he served as a staff officer in the Siberian Expeditionary Army. In 1919, he was promoted to the rank of colonel. In 1923, he was promoted to the rank of major general. In Aug 1928, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. Between 1929 and 1930, he was the commanding officer of the Japanese China Garrison Army. Between 1930 and 1932, he was the commanding officer of the 9th Division stationed in the puppet nation of Manchukuo in northeastern China. In this role, he saw action in the First Battle of Shanghai in early 1932. On 29 Apr 1932, Korean nationalist Yoon Bong-Gil detonating a bomb at Hongkou Park (now Lu Xun Park) in Shanghai, China where a number of Japanese officers and officials were gathering; Ueda lost his left leg in that attack. After recovery, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army General Staff between 1933 and 1934. In 1934, he was made the commander in chief of the Japanese Chosen Army in Korea. In Nov 1934, he was promoted to the rank of general. Between 1936 and 1939, he was the commander in chief of the Kwantung Army in northeastern China and was the ambassador to Manchukuo. As a supporter of the northward expansion for Japan at a time when the southward expansion faction was growing strength, he was removed from his position on 7 Sep 1939 and was forced into the reserves in Dec 1939. He played no further roles in WW2. After the war, he served in a leadership role for a veteran organization. He passed away in 1962.

Kenkichi Ueda Interactive Map

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Kenkichi Ueda Timeline