Military Academy - Rikugunshikangakko

The school was established in 1874 (Meiji 7) as a training school for active officers of the former Japanese Army. It was preceded by a military academy established in 1868. In 1887, the officer candidate system was introduced, and officer candidates selected by exam joined their respective units, then entered the military academy. After graduation, they returned to their original units as trainee officers, and were commissioned as officers after a resolution was passed by the officers' council of their units. In 1917 (Taisho 6), officer education for selected non-commissioned officers began. In 1920, the preparatory school system and regular school system were adopted, and in 1937 (Showa 12), the former became the Army Preparatory School and the latter the Army Regular School. The following year, the Army Aviation School was established with the aim of training aviation officers. As can be seen from the officer candidate system, the army's officer training system, centered on the military academy, had a strong closed character, and produced a group of officers supported by a unique sense of elitism and comradeship.

[Yoshida Yutaka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

旧日本陸軍の現役将校養成学校。1874年（明治7）設立。その前身は1868年設立の兵学校である。1887年には士官候補生制度を導入、試験により選抜された士官候補生は各部隊に入隊したのち、士官学校に入学、卒業後、見習士官として原隊に戻り、その部隊における将校会議の議決を経て将校に任官されることとなった。1917年（大正6）からは選抜された下士官に対する将校教育を開始。20年には予科制・本科制を採用し、さらに37年（昭和12）には前者が陸軍予科士官学校、後者が陸軍本科士官学校となった。その後、翌年には航空兵科将校の養成を目的として陸軍航空士官学校を新設した。士官候補生制度にみられるように、士官学校を中心とした陸軍の将校養成制度は閉鎖的な性格が強く、独特のエリート意識と同志的意識に支えられた将校集団を生み出していった。

［吉田　裕］

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