Xiong Akikusa Head of the Japanese Military Mission in Harbin Date of Birth: 08.04.1894 Country: Japan

1. Early Life and Military Career
2. Russian Language Expertise and Involvement in Manchuria
3. Intelligence and Diplomatic Service
4. Return to Manchuria and Capture
5. Imprisonment and Death

Early Life and Military Career

Tokisada Akiyama was born in a rural area of Japan in 1899. His family later moved to Tokyo, where he attended military academy and graduated as a lieutenant in 1914. He played a role in the Japanese military intervention in Russia as a translator for the 3rd Japanese Division based in Vladivostok and Chita. By 1918, he had become a first lieutenant and in 1924, a captain.

Russian Language Expertise and Involvement in Manchuria

In 1926, Akiyama enrolled in the Russian department of the Tokyo School of Foreign Languages. He was assigned as an assistant to the head of the Japanese Military Mission in Harbin from 1933 to 1936, during which time he was instrumental in establishing the Bureau of Russian Emigrant Affairs in Manchuria (BREM). Akiyama also served as an advisor to the Russian Fascist Party during this period.

Intelligence and Diplomatic Service

In 1936, Akiyama was transferred to the Japanese General Staff as an assistant to the head of the Russian section of the 2nd Department. He subsequently became head of the secretariat of the Ministry of War. In 1938, he organized specialized training courses for Japanese intelligence officers in Nakano, Tokyo. After graduating 20 officers in 1940, Akiyama was sent as a counselor to the Japanese embassy in Berlin. He also visited Italy, Hungary, and Romania to study the German occupation administration.

Return to Manchuria and Capture

Upon returning to Tokyo in September 1942, Akiyama submitted a detailed report to the General Staff titled "Study of Administration in Occupied Areas." He was then assigned to Manzhouguo, where he served in the border guards on the Ussuri River from December 1942. He was promoted to major general in 1943 and headed the Japanese Military Mission in Harbin in early 1945. After the Soviet Army entered Manchuria on August 15, 1945, Akiyama surrendered and was taken prisoner.

Imprisonment and Death

Akiyama was transported to Moscow and placed in the Lubyanka prison on October 14, 1945. He was interrogated by Soviet Minister of State Security V.S. Abakumov, but the content of their conversation remains unknown. In May 1947, he was moved to Lefortovo prison. On December 30, 1948, Akiyama was sentenced by a Special Conference to 25 years in prison under Articles 58-6 and 58-11 of the RSFSR Criminal Code. He died in Vladimir Central Prison on March 22, 1949, and was buried in Vladimir.