Iwao Matsuda (松田 巌, Matsuda Iwao, 23 February 1895 – 26 March 1979) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, commanding Japanese ground forces in the Southwest Pacific during the closing months of World War II.

In October 1941, Matsuda was appointed chief-of-staff of the IJA 23rd Division, at that time a border patrol unit in Manchukuo.

He was promoted to major general in August 1942, and in September was assigned command of the IJA 14th Infantry Brigade.

However, his forces were scattered over a wide area, and were overrun by the United States Marine Corps in the Battle of Cape Gloucester at the end of January 1944.

Matsuda was appointed Commanding Officer of 65th Infantry Brigade in August 1943 until the end of War.