Masatake Nakajima /中島正武; October 4 , 1870 (September 10, 1870) - February 23, 1931/ was born in Odakasaka Village, Tosa County, Kochi Prefecture (present-day Kochi City ) as the son of Masaatsu Nakajima. After attending Kainan Middle School and the Army Cadet School, he graduated from the Army Academy (1st class) in July 1890 as 20th of 103 students in the infantry department. In March of the following year, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the 3rd Infantry Regiment. He served in the First Sino-Japanese War. He graduated from the Army War College (13th class) in December 1899.
After serving as a company commander of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, serving at the General Staff, he served as a staff officer in the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Imperial General Headquarters during the Russo-Japanese War. He also served as a staff officer in the 1st Division, a staff officer in the Tokyo Garrison General Department, commander of the 68th Infantry Regiment, military attaché at the Russian Embassy, and section chief in the General Staff, before being promoted to major general in January 1915.
He was attached to the General Staff and served in the Russian Army as an observer during World War I. In 1916, he served as an attendant on Prince Kan'in Kotohito's visit to the Russia in 1916. After serving as commander of the 30th Infantry Brigade, chief of the Second Department of the General Staff, chief of the Harbin Special Agency, and staff officer of the Urashima Expeditionary Army, he was promoted to lieutenant general in January 1919. He served as chief of the Second Department of the General Staff, chief of the General Affairs Department, commander of the 2nd Division , and commander of the Imperial Guard Division. In August 1923, he was placed on standby, and the following month he was transferred to the reserve forces. He later served as superintendent of Imperial Household Affairs for Prince Kayo and president of the Japan-Russia Association.
He died in 1931 at his home in Yoyogi, Tokyo. He was buried in Aoyama Cemetery.
After serving as a company commander of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, serving at the General Staff, he served as a staff officer in the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Imperial General Headquarters during the Russo-Japanese War. He also served as a staff officer in the 1st Division, a staff officer in the Tokyo Garrison General Department, commander of the 68th Infantry Regiment, military attaché at the Russian Embassy, and section chief in the General Staff, before being promoted to major general in January 1915.
He was attached to the General Staff and served in the Russian Army as an observer during World War I. In 1916, he served as an attendant on Prince Kan'in Kotohito's visit to the Russia in 1916. After serving as commander of the 30th Infantry Brigade, chief of the Second Department of the General Staff, chief of the Harbin Special Agency, and staff officer of the Urashima Expeditionary Army, he was promoted to lieutenant general in January 1919. He served as chief of the Second Department of the General Staff, chief of the General Affairs Department, commander of the 2nd Division , and commander of the Imperial Guard Division. In August 1923, he was placed on standby, and the following month he was transferred to the reserve forces. He later served as superintendent of Imperial Household Affairs for Prince Kayo and president of the Japan-Russia Association.
He died in 1931 at his home in Yoyogi, Tokyo. He was buried in Aoyama Cemetery.