27 Facts About Akiyama Saneyuki

Akiyama Saneyuki was a Japanese navy officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Meiji era.

Akiyama Saneyuki was a planner of Battle of Tsushima in the Russo-Japanese War.

General Akiyama Yoshifuru was his elder brother and politician Hisako Oishi was his granddaughter.

Akiyama Saneyuki was born in Matsuyama Domain, Iyo Province, as a son of a poor samurai.

Later the two young men went to Tokyo to study literature and Akiyama Saneyuki began to prepare for entry into the Literature Department of Tokyo Imperial University.

However, Akiyama Saneyuki was forced to abandon his study of letters as his elder brother Yoshifuru ordered him to go to Naval Academy in Tsukiji, Tokyo instead, largely due to the economically severe condition of the Akiyama Saneyuki family.

Akiyama Saneyuki was an outstanding student, graduating on 17 July 1890 as a midshipman at the top of the 17th class, out of 88 cadets.

Akiyama Saneyuki served his midshipman tour on the Hiei and cruiser Takachiho.

Akiyama Saneyuki subsequently served on the Matsushima, Yoshino, Tsukushi, Izumi and Yaeyama.

Akiyama Saneyuki then contacted the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, but his pleas to be allowed to attend the Naval War College were refused.

Akiyama Saneyuki was able to watch American forces capture Santiago de Cuba in June 1898, and the blockade of Havana harbor in July.

Akiyama Saneyuki submitted a lengthy report back to Japan on his observations, and noting problems in the blockade and landing operations.

On completion of his studies in the United States, Akiyama Saneyuki traveled to England from 27 December 1899 to 20 May 1900.

On his return to Japan, Akiyama Saneyuki was promoted to lieutenant commander on 1 October 1901 and assigned to various staff posts, and was the senior strategy instructor at Japan's Naval War College from July 1902-November 1903.

Akiyama Saneyuki initiated a curriculum reform using hypothetical situations to simulate the formulation of orders and development of realistic contingency plans.

Akiyama Saneyuki focused on Russia as the primary threat to Japan in his lectures.

Akiyama Saneyuki was 34 years old, and was lecturing to officers who were of the same age, or in some cases his senior.

Akiyama Saneyuki played a central role in the planning for the Battle of Port Arthur, the Battle of the Yellow Sea, the planning for the arrival of the Russian Baltic Fleet and its subsequent destruction in the Battle of Tsushima.

Akiyama Saneyuki devised the tactic of changing the direction of the fleet while in front of the enemy.

Akiyama Saneyuki had borrowed this tactic from an old book of the late twelfth century, Old Piratical Tactics of the Nojima School, which described the tactics used by Japanese pirates.

Akiyama Saneyuki was captain of the Otowa, Hashidate, Izumo, and battlecruiser Ibuki.

Akiyama Saneyuki was promoted to rear admiral on 1 December 1913.

Akiyama Saneyuki remained one of the few senior officers completely untouched by suspicion or corruption, and was nominated by Yashiro Rokuro as Director-General of the Navy in an effort to restore public confidence.

Akiyama Saneyuki served on the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff until his retirement on 1 December 1917.

Akiyama Saneyuki returned to Japan via the United States to assume command of the IJN 2nd Fleet in October 1917, but by this time he was already very ill, and was forced to retire in late 1917 with the rank of vice admiral.

Akiyama Saneyuki died of peritonitis in 1918 at the young age of 49, His grave is at Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo.

The Akiyama Saneyuki birthplace in Matsuyama is a tourist attraction.