Itsuo Mabuchi (馬淵逸雄; August 31, 1896 – September 17, 1973) was born as the son of Eikichi Mabuchi, a samurai and head of the household in the former Itakura Domain. After attending the Nagoya Army Cadet School and the Central Cadet School, he graduated from the Army Academy (30th class) in May 1918. In December of the same year, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the 34th Infantry Regiment. In November 1929, he graduated from the Army War College (41st class).
After serving as a company commander of the 34th Infantry Regiment, attached to the Imperial Guard Division Headquarters, staff officer of the 7th Division, attached to the Army Ministry Secretariat, the Military Affairs Bureau, and attached to the Shanghai Expeditionary Army Headquarters, he was promoted to infantry lieutenant colonel in November 1937. In March 1939, he was assigned to the Central China Expeditionary Army Headquarters (Chief of the Press Department), and promoted to infantry colonel in August 1939. After serving as a staff officer of the China Expeditionary Army (Chief of the Press Department), he was appointed Chief of the Army Press Department in December 1940.
Colonel Mabuchi Itsue with Hino Ashihei (left) on the Xuzhou front during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Hino Ashihei won the Akutagawa Prize that same year and became a member of the Army Press Service.
During his time as head of the news department, he guided intellectuals such as Ashihei Hino to the war front and enriched the reporting by wartime writers for the domestic audience. He also controlled information, including the manipulation of public opinion in the enemy concession area in Shanghai and the founding of a pro-Japanese newspaper.
In October 1941, he was appointed commander of the 78th Infantry Regiment under the 20th Division and was stationed on the Korean Peninsula when the Pacific War began. In December 1942, he became chief of staff of the 5th Division , and in August 1943 , he was promoted to major general. In February 1945, he was appointed commander of the 27th Independent Mixed Brigade under the 16th Army , and was involved in the defense of Bandung on Java until the end of the war. He was demobilized in May 1947. On November 28 of the same year, he was provisionally banned from holding public office.
