---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prince Asaka had joined the army only…"
description: "\"Prince Asaka had joined the army only about ten days before its entry into Nanking and in view of the short time he was connected with this army I do n..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/iwane-matsui-51265_army_prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-ab_2670154.png"
---

#  Prince Asaka had joined the army only about ten days…

![“Prince Asaka had joined the army only about ten days before its entry into Nanking and in view of the short time he was connected with this army I do not think he can be held responsible. I would say that the Division Commanders are the responsible parties.” quote by Iwane Matsui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/iwane-matsui-51265_army_prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-ab_2670154.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/iwane-matsui-51265_army_prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-ab_2670154.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/iwane-matsui-51265_army_prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-ab_2670154.png)

> “Prince Asaka had joined the army only about ten days before its entry into Nanking and in view of the short time he was connected with this army I do not think he can be held responsible. I would say that the Division Commanders are the responsible parties.”

[Iwane Matsui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwane-matsui/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Short‑term military involvement does not absolve responsibility; higher commanders bear accountability.

**In simple terms:** Brief service ≠ no responsibility.

Key Takeaway

Hold leaders accountable.

Themes

responsibility military ethics justice

Mood

serious historical

Type

legal ethical

When to use this quote

- military tribunals
- policy
- education
- public discourse

Key Concepts

law history leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- How should responsibility be assigned?
- What safeguards prevent abuse?

A Different Perspective

Complex chains of command can blur blame.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Asaka Joined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asaka-joined-2496967/) [Commanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/) [Commanders Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders-responsible-2496966/) [Connected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connected/) [Division](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/division/) [Entry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entry/) [Held Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/held-responsible-240861/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Prince Asaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prince-asaka-2496968/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Responsible Parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible-parties-2496969/) [Short time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-time/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/)

## Related quotes

> [“The only way to guarantee smart decisions, Ike believed, was to bring all the responsible parties together and have them fight it out. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-only-way-to-guarantee-smart-decisions-ike-believed-was-to-bring/)

[Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/)

> [If we attempt to block the development of new technology, we effectively have ensured that the most responsible parties will not develop them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-merkle/if-we-attempt-to-block-the-development-of-new-technology-we/)

[Ralph Merkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-merkle/)

> [“There wasn't a single cell in our bodies that was the same as the day we were born, and yet we were still held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-dubois/there-wasn-t-a-single-cell-in-our-bodies-that-was-the-same-as-the-day/)

[Jennifer duBois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-dubois/)

> [It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/it-is-not-only-for-what-we-do-that-we-are-held-responsible-but-also/)

[Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/)

> [“All her life, Claire had had a problem figuring out where other people ended and she began. All her life, she’d taken on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elin-hilderbrand/all-her-life-claire-had-had-a-problem-figuring-out-where-other-people/)

[Elin Hilderbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elin-hilderbrand/)

> [When a riot happens in a city or a town or a village, the man in charge of the place is held responsible, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/when-a-riot-happens-in-a-city-or-a-town-or-a-village-the-man-in/)

[Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/)

> [The only expenditure, and all its outworkings, for which God can be held to be responsible is that which He directs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/the-only-expenditure-and-all-its-outworkings-for-which-god-can-be/)

[Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/)

> [“I shouldn't be held responsible for my acts, since I was a political idiot, an artist who could not distinguish between reality and dreams”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-shouldn-t-be-held-responsible-for-my-acts-since-i-was-a-political/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [It is high time SoCalGas is held responsible for its actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-brockovich/it-is-high-time-socalgas-is-held-responsible-for-its-actions/)

[Erin Brockovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-brockovich/)

> [I refuse to be held responsible for being irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-refuse-to-be-held-responsible-for-being-irresponsible/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [Knowledge is power, and for each level of knowledge, you are held responsible for how you use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/knowledge-is-power-and-for-each-level-of-knowledge-you-are-held/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [“Maybe there was no right or wrong, no black or white, only a thousand shades of gray when it came to pain and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/maybe-there-was-no-right-or-wrong-no-black-or-white-only-a-thousand/)

[Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/)

> [Not only will you be held accountable for the things you do, but you will be held responsible for the very thoughts you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-g-maeser/not-only-will-you-be-held-accountable-for-the-things-you-do-but-you/)

[Karl G. Maeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-g-maeser/)

> [“We are responsible for the problem and we must be held responsible for the solution. It will indeed be a sad indictment on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-connell/we-are-responsible-for-the-problem-and-we-must-be-held-responsible/)

[Brian Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-connell/)

> [“I detested their blind, thoughtless, automatic acquiescence to it all, their simpleminded patriotism, their prideful ignorance, their love-it-or-leave-it platitudes, how they were sending me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/i-detested-their-blind-thoughtless-automatic-acquiescence-to-it-all/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

## More by Iwane Matsui

> [The Japanese army is now prepared to use every means within its power to subdue its opponents. The objectives of the Japanese Expeditionary Forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/the-japanese-army-is-now-prepared-to-use-every-means-within-its-power/)

[Iwane Matsui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwane-matsui/)

> [I am confident that the day is not far distant when the light of peace shine again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/i-am-confident-that-the-day-is-not-far-distant-when-the-light-of/)

[Iwane Matsui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwane-matsui/)

> [Orderly discipline and morale within an army was the responsibility of the Division Commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/orderly-discipline-and-morale-within-an-army-was-the-responsibility/)

[Iwane Matsui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwane-matsui/)

> [Now I am master of Shanghai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/now-i-am-master-of-shanghai/)

[Iwane Matsui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwane-matsui/)

> [There's no solution except to break the power of Chiang Kai-shek by capturing Nanking. That is what I must do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/there-s-no-solution-except-to-break-the-power-of-chiang-kai-shek-by/)

[Iwane Matsui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwane-matsui/)

> [Japan will not abandon the fight for the Philippines even if Tokyo should be reduced to ashes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/japan-will-not-abandon-the-fight-for-the-philippines-even-if-tokyo/)

[Iwane Matsui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwane-matsui/)

[Explore all 7 Iwane Matsui quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwane-matsui/)

## More Army quotes

> [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

> [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/)

[Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/)

> [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/)

[Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/)

> [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/)

[James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

> [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/)

[Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/)

> [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/)

[William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/)

> [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/)

[Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/)

> [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/)

[William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/)

> [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/)

[Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/)

[Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Prince Asaka had joined the army only about ten days before its entry into Nanking and in view of the short time he was connected with this army I do not think he can be held responsible. I would say that the Division Commanders are the responsible parties.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Iwane Matsui"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-about-ten-days-before-its-entry/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Army"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-about-ten-days-before-its-entry/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/iwane-matsui-51265_army_prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-ab_2670154.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/iwane-matsui-51265_army_prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-ab_2670154.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/iwane-matsui-51265_army_prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-ab_2670154.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Prince Asaka had joined the army only about ten days before its entry into Nanking and in view of the short…” — Iwane Matsui",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Iwane Matsui",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwane-matsui/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Prince Asaka had joined the army...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-about-ten-days-before-its-entry/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwane-matsui/prince-asaka-had-joined-the-army-only-about-ten-days-before-its-entry/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
