Through his thorough analysis of the facts, Hori demonstrated his outstanding talent in predicting American offensive moves in the Pacific Theater. However, operational planners in IGHQ always neglected Hori's assessments of the war situation. Sent to the Philippines in October 1944 as a staff officer of the Fourteenth Area Army, Hori assisted General Yamashita Tomoyuki. Hori returned to Tokyo in early 1945 on the staff of the Intelligence Section of the IGHQ. Hori accurately predicted the scheduled dates and locations of Allied plans to invade the Japanese home islands. Since June 1945, Hori had even detected the unusual activities of some U.S. air units in the Mariana Islands. These subsequently turned out to be training activities in preparation for the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Because he was able to predict the American moves, Hori became known in IGHQ as "MacArthur's staff officer." Hori ended the war as a major.
In postwar Japan, Hori served in the Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) from 1954 to 1957. An intelligence specialist, his posts included military attaché to West Germany and head of the Intelligence Section of the Combined General Staff. He retired in 1967 as a major general. Thereafter, Hori taught German in a university and also served as head administrator of his native village of Nishiyoshino. Hori died in Nara on 5 June 1995. Tohmatsu Haruo
Further Reading
Hori, Eizo. Daihonei sambo no johosenki [War memoirs of an IGHQ intelligence officer]. Tokyo: Bungeishunju, 1989.
