Imperial Japanese Army

The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) was the ground-based military force of Japan from 1868 until the end of World War II in 1945. It played a key role in Japan's imperial expansion, participating in conflicts like the Sino-Japanese War and World War II. The IJA was known for its discipline and tactics, but also for its aggressive expansionism and wartime atrocities. After Japan’s defeat in 1945, the IJA was disbanded, and Japan's military was restructured under pacifist principles. The remnants of its legacy still influence Japan’s Defense Forces today.