Tsutomu Akinaga (秋永力, Akinaga Tsutomu, 20 November 1894 – 26 December 1978) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, commanding the Japanese ground forces on Bougainville of 1945 in the closing months of the war.[1]
As the war situation in southwest Asia began to deteriorate for Japan, Akinaga was appointed chief of staff of the IJA 17th Army, with its headquarters on Bougainville in the Solomon Islands in September 1943. He was promoted to lieutenant general March 1945, and in April became commander of the IJA 6th Division,[2] leading them in operations against Australian forces as they advanced south towards Buin at the south end of Bougainville, with notable battles occurring at Slater's Knoll and along the Hongorai River.[3]
After surrendering, Akinaga was returned home to Japan. He died on 26 December 1978.
Tanaka, Kengoro (1980). Operations of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces in the Papua New Guinea Theater During World War II. Tokyo: Japan Papua New Guinea Goodwill Society.