Oikawa served as chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff from August 1944 until May 1945. His replacement aimed to improve liaison with the Army. Soemu Toyoda was from Oita, and shared regional origins with figures in the Army leadership were expected to make interservice relations easier. The hoped-for improvement did not materialise. Oikawa remained in the senior advisory circle as a naval councillor.
Notable Point · 7:47-8:42
Why Toyoda replaced Oikawa in May 1945
Oikawa's replacement by Soemu Toyoda was intended to improve personal links between Japan's naval and Army leadership during the final months of the war.