Born into a samurai family in Kajiya-chō, Kagoshima, Satsuma.
As a youth he took part in the Anglo-Satsuma War.
Aboard a Satsuma warship, he fought in naval battles of the Boshin War.
He went to Britain and studied navigation and more for seven years.
He fought in the Sino-Japanese War as captain of the cruiser Naniwa.
Preparing for war with Russia, he was made commander of the Combined Fleet.
At the Battle of Tsushima he all but annihilated Russia's Baltic Fleet, winning world renown.
He was made fleet admiral, the navy's highest honour.
He headed the education of the crown prince, the future Emperor Shōwa.
He died in Tokyo and was given a state funeral.
Ōyama IwaoAkiyama SaneyukiYamamoto GonbeeKatō Tomosaburō
Inoue KowashiNiijima YaeNakae ChōminMori ArinoriKatsura TarōErwin BälzNogi MaresukeTakaki Kanehiro
People of the Meiji period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.