Who was this person?
A Meiji-era naval officer. He took part in the Port Arthur blockade in the Russo-Japanese War and lost his life while searching for a comrade. Remembered as a war hero, he is also known from statues and stories.
| Name | Hirose Takeo (広瀬武夫) |
|---|---|
| Born–died | 1868 – 1904 |
| Period | Meiji period |
| Birthplace | Bungo Province |
| Main achievements |
|
He was born the second son of an Oka-domain samurai family in Taketa in Bungo, now Taketa City in Ōita. From childhood he studied Chinese learning and martial arts and is said to have been sincere and competitive. He later chose the navy and devoted his life to defending the country.
Via Kōgyokusha he entered the Naval Academy at Etajima. While there he encouraged judo, trained his body and received officer-candidate education. Strict training at the Naval Academy became the base of his later sea service.
He sailed on ocean cruises aboard ships such as the Hiei and was commissioned ensign. Learning practical sea duty, he also saw foreign ports and fleets. As a young officer he gradually widened his international outlook.
He served in the First Sino-Japanese War and was promoted lieutenant the next year. Combat experience deepened his sense of duty as a naval officer. After the war he continued fleet service, building skill for future battles at sea.
He studied in Russia, learning the language and conditions there. Mixing also with aristocratic society, he deepened knowledge of key Far Eastern sites such as Port Arthur. Knowing a future enemy's culture affected his judgment as an officer.
Promoted to lieutenant commander, he took on fleet duty and staff-like work. As tension with Russia rose, he prepared as a front-line commander. He is said to have been trusted for a character that cared for subordinates.
When the Russo-Japanese War began he joined the Port Arthur blockade. The dangerous mission was to sink old ships and block the harbor mouth to hinder the Russian fleet. Hirose faced it ready to give his life.
In the second blockade attempt, while searching for a missing subordinate he was hit by enemy fire and died at thirty-five. His body was recovered by the Russians and is said to have been treated with respect. He was remembered as a symbol of the Port Arthur blockade.
He was promptly promoted to commander after death. The navy praised his action, and many tales of a loyal brave spread at home. Some tellings mix fact and embellishment, but his end while trying to save a subordinate became widely known.
Though short, his path from the Naval Academy to Port Arthur became a cross-section of the Meiji navy. Commemoration continued in his hometown Taketa, and he is remembered as an officer who risked his life in the blockade.
A. A Meiji-era naval officer. He took part in the Port Arthur blockade in the Russo-Japanese War and lost his life while searching for a comrade. Remembered as a war hero, he is also known from statues and stories.
A. Period: Meiji period. Born in 1868, died in 1904.
A. Hirose Takeo was born in Bungo Province.
A. During the Port Arthur blockade he was shot while searching for a subordinate, and the story of that self-sacrifice spread widely. He was also commemorated in statues and songs.
See also: Wikipedia (ja) / Wikipedia (en) / Wikipedia (fr) / Wikipedia (zh) / Wikidata
Follow this life (autoplay)Yokoyama TaikanAkiyama SaneyukiKitamura TokokuTokutomi RokaShiga KiyoshiKunikida DoppoKōtoku ShūsuiYoshioka Yayoi
People of the Meiji period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.