Kinoaki Matsuo

Who is Kinoaki Matsuo?

Kinoaki Matsuo was a Foreign Affairs Officer and Navy Admiralty Liaison, Black Dragon Society member, writer, and Japanese Navy strategizer.

In 1940 Kinoaki Matsuo published a book on how Japan planned to win a war with the United States.

The war would not formally begin for another thirteen months. The Three Power Alliance And The United States-Japanese War, written by Matsuo while he was serving as a liaison between the Japanese Foreign Office and the Admiralty, openly discussed the impending hostilities. He wrote, "...the United States will be obliged to exercise prudence and self- restraint toward Japan at least until 1945. As soon as the great armament expansion is completed,the United States will probably avail herself of the opportunity to declare war upon Japan... then the chances of American victory will be far greater than Japan's". He stated, "Japan is naturally blessed by double defensive walls linked inside and outside by a chain of islands. The inside link consists of the Pescadores Islands, Formosa, all islands to the west and south, the Ogasawara Islands, and the Chishima Islands, all of which have already been strongly armed for defense. The outside link extends many thousands of nautical miles embracing the Marshalls, Carolines, Marianas and Pelew islands, which are scattered like stars across the routes of the United States Navy either perpendicularly or horizontally. The total number of these islands is more than one thousand. It will be impossible for the United States fleet to reach its destination..." Mr. Matsuo continued.