Hajime Matsushita
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
naval officer and educator.
, Matsushita graduated from the 31st class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
in 1903. He was assigned to serve on the cruiser during the early stages of the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904-1905, and was on the cruiser during the decisive Battle of Tsushima
. After the end of the war, he served on the cruiser from November 1905 to October 1906. After graduation from the Naval Artillery School, he returned to Yakumo as a lieutenant. He then served as gunnery officer aboard the , followed by the battleship . He was subsequently Chief of staff to the IJN 1st Fleet
. In May 1914, he graduated from the 12th class of the Navy Staff College
as a lieutenant commander. After a posting as gunnery officer on the cruiser , he was sent to London
in October 1917 as a military attache
. Matsushita was promoted to commander while in London, and after his return in December 1919, was assigned to the staff of the IJN 4th Fleet
.
In January 1921, Matsushita served as chief secretary to Minister of the Navy
Admiral Katō Tomosaburō
. In December 1922, he was promoted to captain, and given his first command, that of the cruiser . After a posting to the Naval Personnel Bureau, he returned to sea as captain of the battleship in December 1925. Matsushita was promoted to rear admiral in December 1927.
As Commandant of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in the early-1930s, Matsuhita is credited with devising the Gosei
or "Five Reflections". These words became traditional precepts of cadets at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy. Every evening cadets were expected to meditate
on these inter-related questions. The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) continues to use of the Gosei as a self-reflective exercise. Matsushita was promoted to vice admiral in December 1932. He subsequently served as Commander in Chief of the Training Fleet from October 1933, Commander of the Maizuru Naval District
from November 1934, and Commander of the Sasebo Naval District
from March 1936 before retiring in March 1937.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
naval officer and educator.
Career
A native of Fukuoka PrefectureFukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
, Matsushita graduated from the 31st class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
The was a school established to train officers for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It originally located in Nagasaki, moved to Yokohama in 1866, and was relocated to Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1869. It moved to Etajima, Hiroshima in 1888...
in 1903. He was assigned to serve on the cruiser during the early stages of the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1904-1905, and was on the cruiser during the decisive Battle of Tsushima
Battle of Tsushima
The Battle of Tsushima , commonly known as the “Sea of Japan Naval Battle” in Japan and the “Battle of Tsushima Strait”, was the major naval battle fought between Russia and Japan during the Russo-Japanese War...
. After the end of the war, he served on the cruiser from November 1905 to October 1906. After graduation from the Naval Artillery School, he returned to Yakumo as a lieutenant. He then served as gunnery officer aboard the , followed by the battleship . He was subsequently Chief of staff to the IJN 1st Fleet
IJN 1st Fleet
The was the main battleship fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy.-History:First established on 28 December 1903, the IJN 1st Fleet was created during the Russo-Japanese War when the Imperial General Headquarters divided the Readiness Fleet into a mobile strike force of cruisers and destroyers to...
. In May 1914, he graduated from the 12th class of the Navy Staff College
Naval War College (Japan)
The was the staff college of the Imperial Japanese Navy, responsible for training officers for command positions either on warships, or in staff roles....
as a lieutenant commander. After a posting as gunnery officer on the cruiser , he was sent to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in October 1917 as a military attache
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
. Matsushita was promoted to commander while in London, and after his return in December 1919, was assigned to the staff of the IJN 4th Fleet
IJN 4th Fleet
The was a fleet designation of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Fourth Fleet designation was used during three separate periods. The initial designation was for a group of ships that were assigned to work together during the Russo-Japanese conflict and the period of its immediate aftermath...
.
In January 1921, Matsushita served as chief secretary to Minister of the Navy
Ministry of the Navy of Japan
The was a cabinet-level ministry in the Empire of Japan charged with the administrative affairs of the Imperial Japanese Navy . It existed from 1872 to 1945.-History:...
Admiral Katō Tomosaburō
Kato Tomosaburo
Viscount was a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy, cabinet minister, and Prime Minister of Japan from 12 June 1922 to 24 August 1923.-Biography:...
. In December 1922, he was promoted to captain, and given his first command, that of the cruiser . After a posting to the Naval Personnel Bureau, he returned to sea as captain of the battleship in December 1925. Matsushita was promoted to rear admiral in December 1927.
As Commandant of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in the early-1930s, Matsuhita is credited with devising the Gosei
Gosei (meditation)
are traditional subjects for daily meditation at Japan's Naval Academy.-Five Reflections:These reflections were originally devised by Vice Admiral Hajime Matsushita, who was the Chief of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy...
or "Five Reflections". These words became traditional precepts of cadets at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy. Every evening cadets were expected to meditate
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
on these inter-related questions. The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) continues to use of the Gosei as a self-reflective exercise. Matsushita was promoted to vice admiral in December 1932. He subsequently served as Commander in Chief of the Training Fleet from October 1933, Commander of the Maizuru Naval District
Maizuru Naval District
was one of four main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included the entire Sea of Japan coastline from northern Kyūshū to western Hokkaidō.-History:...
from November 1934, and Commander of the Sasebo Naval District
Sasebo Naval District
was the third of five main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included the western and southern coastline of Kyūshū, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and Korea, as well as patrols in the East China Sea and the Pacific...
from March 1936 before retiring in March 1937.