14 Facts About Takarabe Takeshi

Takarabe Takeshi was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as Navy Minister in the 1920s.

Takarabe Takeshi graduated at the top out of 80 cadets from the 15th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy.

When Takarabe was courting the daughter of Admiral Yamamoto Gonnohyoe, his close friend Takeo Hirose approached the admiral and requested that he refuse to allow his daughter to marry Takarabe.

Takarabe Takeshi served his midshipman tour on the corvette Kongo, and cruiser Takachiho.

From June 1897 to April 1899 Takarabe Takeshi was sent to Great Britain for studies.

Takarabe Takeshi served in various postings within the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff thereafter, becoming a commander in September 1903.

Takarabe Takeshi served as chief of staff of the IJN 1st fleet in 1909, and became Vice Minister of the Navy on his promotion to rear admiral in December 1909.

Takarabe Takeshi was commander of the Ryojun Guard District in 1916, and commander in chief of the Maizuru Naval District in 1918, and commander in chief of the Sasebo Naval District in 1919.

Takarabe Takeshi became commander in chief of the Yokosuka Naval District from July 1922.

From 15 May 1923 to 7 January 1924, Takarabe Takeshi served as Naval Minister in the cabinets of Prime Minister Kato Tomosaburo and Prime Minister Yamamoto Gonnohyoe.

Takarabe Takeshi was Navy Minister again from 11 June 1924 to 20 April 1927 in the cabinet of Prime Minister Kato Takaaki and first cabinet of Prime Minister Wakatsuki Reijiro, and once more from 2 July 1929 to 18 November 1929 in the cabinet of Prime Minister Hamaguchi Osachi.

Takarabe Takeshi was considered a political moderate, and was a leading member of the Treaty Faction within the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Takarabe Takeshi strongly opposed the growing militarization of Japan, and sought to maintain diplomatic ties with Great Britain in hopes of reviving the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.

Takarabe Takeshi went into the reserves in 1932, and retired in 1937.