Takeo Hirose
Encyclopedia
, was an officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy
. His selfless sacrifice during the Russo-Japanese War
elevated him to the status of a deified national hero.
Born in what is now Taketa, Ōita
, his father Shigetake was a judge, while his elder brother Katsuhiko was a rear admiral
. He studied at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy
in Etajima
, graduating in 1889. He served aboard the ironclad warship
Fusō during the First Sino-Japanese War
and saw action at the Battle of Yalu River
on September 17, 1894. From 1897 to 1899 he was sent to study in Russia and stayed on as the resident military attaché in St. Petersburg until 1902. During his time as attaché he went on a tour of Germany, France
and Great Britain
. He was promoted to lieutenant commander
in 1900.
When Japan
went to war against Russia in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, Hirose served aboard the battleship
Asahi
as torpedo officer. However, during the Battle of Port Arthur
he became the commander of the Fukuimaru which was used as a blockship
during the second attempt to blockade the harbor. On March 27, while searching for his missing subordinate he was fatally shot.
Because of his heroism, he was posthumously promoted to commander, and deified as a "military god" (軍神 gunshin), and a Shinto shrine was built in his honor in Taketa, Oita
. A statue of him was also erected outside the Manseibashi Railway Station.
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
. His selfless sacrifice during 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...
elevated him to the status of a deified national hero.
Born in what is now Taketa, Ōita
Taketa, Oita
is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 16,807 and a density of 83.69 persons per km². The total area is 200.83 km²....
, his father Shigetake was a judge, while his elder brother Katsuhiko was a rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
. He studied at 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 Etajima
Etajima
Etajima is an island in Hiroshima Bay located in southwestern Hiroshima Prefecture.From the city of Hiroshima the island is about 7km out at sea. The island is about 6km from the city of Kure. It is connected to Kure by two bridges....
, graduating in 1889. He served aboard the ironclad warship
Ironclad warship
An ironclad was a steam-propelled warship in the early part of the second half of the 19th century, protected by iron or steel armor plates. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shells. The first ironclad battleship, La Gloire,...
Fusō during the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
and saw action at the Battle of Yalu River
Battle of Yalu River (1894)
The Battle of the Yalu River , also called simply 'The Battle of Yalu' took place on September 17, 1894. It involved the Japanese and the Chinese navies, and was the largest naval engagement of the First Sino-Japanese War...
on September 17, 1894. From 1897 to 1899 he was sent to study in Russia and stayed on as the resident military attaché in St. Petersburg until 1902. During his time as attaché he went on a tour of Germany, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He was promoted to lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in 1900.
When Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
went to war against Russia in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, Hirose served aboard the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
Asahi
Japanese battleship Asahi
|-External links:***...
as torpedo officer. However, during the Battle of Port Arthur
Battle of Port Arthur
The Battle of Port Arthur was the starting battle of the Russo-Japanese War...
he became the commander of the Fukuimaru which was used as a blockship
Blockship
A blockship is a ship deliberately sunk to prevent a river, channel, or canal from being used.It may either be sunk by a navy defending the waterway to prevent the ingress of attacking enemy forces, as in the case of HMS Hood at Portland Harbour; or it may be brought by enemy raiders and used to...
during the second attempt to blockade the harbor. On March 27, while searching for his missing subordinate he was fatally shot.
Because of his heroism, he was posthumously promoted to commander, and deified as a "military god" (軍神 gunshin), and a Shinto shrine was built in his honor in Taketa, Oita
Taketa, Oita
is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 16,807 and a density of 83.69 persons per km². The total area is 200.83 km²....
. A statue of him was also erected outside the Manseibashi Railway Station.