Shigetarō Yoshimatsu
吉松茂太郎
Born(1859-02-06)February 6, 1859
Nakamura, Tosa, Tokugawa
DiedJanuary 5, 1935(1935-01-05) (aged 75)
Location unknown
Allegiance Japan
Branch Imperial Japanese Navy
Years of service1880 – 1929
Rank Admiral
Commands heldTokiwa
Battles/warsFirst Sino-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
Alma materImperial Japanese Naval Academy

Shigetarō Yoshimatsu (吉松茂太郎, Yoshimatsu Shigetarō, February 6, 1859 January 5, 1935) (sometimes spelled Motaro) was a Japanese Admiral during the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War. He was known for commanding the Tokiwa during the Battle of Tsushima.

Early Naval Career

Born as the eldest son of Maya Yoshimatsu, a feudal retainer of the Tosa-Nakamura Clan who later became a judge. He was well-versed in Chinese poetry because his father ran a school for Chinese studies in his home. After going through the domain school Chidokan and Kaisei School, he graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy's 7th Class on 1880 and became a second lieutenant candidate, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1883. In 1885 , he went on a business trip to the United Kingdom as a member of the cruise committee of the armored cruiser Naniwa and returned to Japan the following year as a member of the Naniwa crew. In 1888, he went to study in France, where he boarded a French warship for field research, and went on a business trip to the United Kingdom as a military construction supervisor and returned to Japan in 1893.[1][2]

Service in Active Wars

In 1893, he served as crew leader of the gunboat Oshima, and in the following year, crew leader of the cruiser Yoshino and served in the First Sino-Japanese War. After that, he successively served as a Staff Officer in the Standing Fleet, a Kure Naval District Staff Officer, a Naval War College Instructor, the 1st Chief of Naval General Staff, the Chief of Staff of the Standing Fleet and the Sasebo Naval District, and Captain of the Naniwa. In 1901, he became the captain of the Takasago, and the following year, he was dispatched to the United Kingdom with Asama to participate in the Coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra as well as reviewing the fleet. In 1904, he became captain of Tokiwa and participated in the Russo-Japanese War within the Battle off Ulsan and the Battle of Tsushima.[1][2]

Later Years

In 1905, he became Rear Admiral of the Navy and Chief of Staff of Sasebo Naval District and Kure Naval District as well as Commander of the 1st Fleet and in 1907, he was appointed Commander of the Training Fleet. After that, he successively served as principal of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, principal of the Naval War College, commander of the Takeshiki Guard District, commander of the 2nd Fleet, commander of the Naval Education Headquarters, commander of the Kure Naval District, and commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet. In 1918, he was promoted to Admiral and became military councilor but retired by 1929.

Court Ranks

  • December 25, 1883: Senior 8th Rank[3]
  • December 16, 1891: Senior 7th Rank[4]
  • April 15, 1895: Junior 6th Rank[5]
  • March 8, 1898: Senior 6th Rank[6]
  • November 2, 1899: Junior 5th Rank[7]
  • December 10, 1909: Junior 4th Rank[8]
  • December 10, 1911: Senior 4th Rank[9]
  • January 30, 1915: Junior 3rd Rank[10]
  • February 12, 1918: Senior 3rd Rank[11]
  • August 20, 1920: Junior 2nd Rank[12]

Awards

Foreign Awards

References

  1. 1 2 "吉松茂太郎とは - コトバンク". Kotobank (in Japanese). Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "吉松茂太郎 ~三度の連合艦隊司令官~". bujinkensyokai. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  3. "Official Gazette" No. 183 "Appointment" February 12, 1884.
  4. "Official Gazette" No. 2541 "Appointment and Appointment" December 17, 1891.
  5. "Official Gazette" No. 3535 "Appointment and Appointment" April 16, 1895.
  6. "Official Gazette" No. 4402 "Appointment and Appointment" March 9, 1898.
  7. "Official Gazette" No. 4904 "Appointment and Appointment" November 4, 1899.
  8. "Official Gazette" No. 7941 "Appointment and Appointment" December 11, 1909.
  9. "Official Gazette" No. 8552 "Appointment and Appointment" December 21, 1911.
  10. "Official Gazette" No. 748 "Appointment and Appointment" February 1, 1915.
  11. "Official Gazette" No. 1657 "Appointment and Appointment" February 13, 1918.
  12. "Official Gazette" No. 2417 "Appointment and Appointment" August 21, 1920.
  13. 1 2 "Official Gazette" No. 3676 "Appointment and Appointment" September 28, 1895.
  14. "Official Gazette" No. 3838, appendix "Appointment" April 18, 1896.
  15. 1 2 "Official Gazette" No. 7005, Appendix "Appointment and Appointment" November 2, 1906.
  16. 1 2 3 "Official Gazette" No. 1310, appendix "Appointment" December 13, 1916.
  17. "Official Gazette" No. 2612 "Appointment and Appointment" April 19, 1921.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Official Gazette" No. 5848 "Appointment and Appointment" December 29, 1902
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