Marquess Toshinari Maeda (前田利為侯爵, Maeda Toshinari Kōshaku; 5 June 1885 – 5 September 1942), was a Japanese nobleman who was the 16th head of the Maeda family. He was a general and the first commander of the Japanese forces in northern Borneo (Sarawak, Brunei, Labuan, and North Borneo) in World War II.
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Biography
Maeda Toshinari was born the fifth son of the former daimyō of Nanokaichi Domain in Kozuke province (modern Tomioka city, Gunma Prefecture), Maeda Toshiaki. He was adopted as heir to the main branch of the Maeda clan in 1900. He became marquis and the 16th head of the Maeda clan on 13 June 1900. His childhood name was Shigeru (茂).
As was common with sons of the kazoku aristocracy, he served for a session in the House of Peers in the Japanese Diet in 1910, while pursuing his military education. He graduated from the 23rd class of the Army War College in 1911. He was an outstanding student, and was awarded the Emperor's Sword on graduation. In 1913, he traveled to Germany for further studies, and from there went on to Great Britain.
On 7 August 1923, he became a battalion commander in the 4th Regiment of the Imperial Guard of Japan.
From 26 July 1927 to 1 August 1930 he served as military attaché to Great Britain. On his return in 1930, he was made regimental commander of the 2nd Regiment of the Imperial Guard. In 1935, he was made a member of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. From 1936-1937, he was superintendent of the Army War College, and on 2 August 1937, he was promoted to lieutenant general, commanding the IJA 8th Division. On 31 January 1939, he retired from active duty and was placed on the reserve list.