Akira Mutō

Akira Muto (1883 – 23 December 1948) was a Japanese army commander. He joined the Japanese Army and in 1913 he joined the General High Staff. He also served under Fumimaro Kondoye as head of the Military Affairs Bureau. He was promoted to major general. Muto worked as a military adviser to Hideki Tojo, serving as the Philippines Expeditionary Force's leader.

In June 1943, Muto became commander of the 2nd Imperial Guards Division in Sumatra. He was transferred to the Philippines in October where he was appointed chief of staff to General Tomoyuki Yamashita. At the Philippines he brutally murdered thousands of Philippine civilians, although records of such murders have remained obscure.

After the Second World War, Muto was arrested and charged with war crimes. He was eventually convicted and executed by hanging on December 23, 1948.

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