Yoshijirō Umezu

It is all very well to be cautious, but if we are too cautious we will miss our opportunity.

Yoshijirō Umezu (January 4, 1882 – January 8, 1949) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. In July 1944, Umezu became the final Chief the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff and a member of the Supreme War Council. Along with War Minister Korechika Anami and Soemu Toyoda, Chief of Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, Umezu opposed surrender in August 1945; After the war, he was tried as a war criminal at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Umezu died from rectal cancer in prison in 1949.

Quotes

• Germ warfare against the United States would escalate to war against all humanity.
  • Quoted in "The Second Attack on Pearl Harbor" - Page 201 - by Steve Horn - History - 2005.

• With luck we will be able to repulse the invaders before they land. At any rate, I can say that we will be able to destroy the major part of an invading force. That is, we will be able to inflict extremely heavy damage on the enemy.
  • Quoted in "The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire" - by John Toland - History - 2003.

• The certain way to victory...lies in making everything on Imperial soil contribute to the war effort...combining the total material and spiritual strength of the nation...
  • Quoted in "Suicide Squads: Axis and Allied Special Attack Weapons of World War II" - Page 267 - by Richard O'Neill - History - 1981.

• It is all very well to be cautious, but if we are too cautious we will miss our opportunity.
  • Quoted in "The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire" - Page 754 - by John Toland - History - 2003.

• It is not possible to foretell the reaction of certain elements in the Army and Navy.
  • Quoted in "The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb" - Page 107 - by Dennis Wainstock - History - 1996.

• I can say with confidence that we will be able to destroy the major part of an invading force.
  • Quoted in "A-Bombs Left Top Councils Of Japan Split" - Washington Post article - July 17, 1995.