Koshirō Oikawa

Koshirō Oikawa (及川 古志郎, Oikawa Koshirō, 16 February 1883 May 9, 1958) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and Naval Minister during World War II.

Koshirō Oikawa
及川 古志郎
Japanese Admiral Koshirō Oikawa
Minister of the Navy
Empire of Japan
In office
5 September 1940  18 October 1941
MonarchShōwa
Prime MinisterFumimaro Konoe
Preceded byYoshida Zengo
Succeeded byShimada Shigetarō
Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
In office
2 August 1944  29 May 1945
Prime Minister
Preceded byShimada Shigetarō
Succeeded bySoemu Toyoda
Personal details
Born(1883-02-16)16 February 1883
Morioka, Iwate, Japan
Died9 May 1958(1958-05-09) (aged 75)[1]
Military service
Allegiance Empire of Japan
Branch/service Imperial Japanese Navy
Years of service1903–1945
Rank Admiral
Commands
Battles/wars

Biography

Oikawa was born into a wealthy family in rural Koshi County, Niigata Prefecture, but was raised in Morioka city, Iwate prefecture in northern Japan.

He was a graduate of the 31st class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, ranking 76th out of 188 cadets. As a midshipman, he served on the cruisers Itsukushima and Izumo. During the Russo-Japanese War, still as a midshipman, he served on the Chiyoda during the Battle of Tsushima.

As a lieutenant, Oikawa served on the cruiser Katori, and the battleship Mikasa. He was given his first command, the destroyer Asashio on 28 April 1911. He subsequently served on the Yugiri, before attending the Naval Staff College in 1914.

On graduation, Oikawa was promoted to lieutenant commander, and was appointed aide-de-camp to Crown Prince Hirohito in 1915–1922.

After his promotion to captain on 1 December 1923, Oikawa was assigned the cruiser Kinu, followed by the Tama the following year. He then served in a number of staff positions until his promotion to rear admiral on 10 December 1928. In 1930, Oikawa was appointed to the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, and in 1932 became Director of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy. He was promoted to vice admiral on 15 November 1933. Oikawa strongly supported the London Naval Treaty while a member of the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, and was thus a member of the Treaty Faction within the navy.

Oikawa was subsequently appointed Commander in Chief of the IJN 3rd Fleet (1935), Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau (1936), China Area Fleet (1938) and Yokosuka Naval District (1940). He was promoted to full admiral on 15 November 1939.

Oikawa was appointed as Minister of the Navy in the second and third cabinets of Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe between 5 September 1940 and 18 October 1941. While Navy Minister, he strove to maintain ties with the United States, and instructed his naval attachés in Washington DC to work together with the Japanese ambassador to prevent war from breaking out. Likewise, he strongly opposed suggestions that Japan should declare war on the Soviet Union in early 1941.[2]

He continued to serve as Naval Councilor to near the end of World War II and was Chief of the Navy General Staff in late 1944. He resigned in protest in May 1945 over Emperor Hirohito's refusal to consider peace proposals at a time when the war was clearly already lost.[3] Oikawa retired from active duty on 5 September 1945.

References

Books

  • Bix, Herbert P. (2001). Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan. Harper Perennial. ISBN 0-06-093130-2.
  • Fuller, Richard (1992). Shokan: Hirohito's Samurai. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-151-4.
  • Spector, Ronald (1985). Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan. Vintage. ISBN 0-394-74101-3.

Notes

  1. Nishida, Imperial Japanese Navy
  2. Fuller, Shokan: Hirohito's Samurai
  3. Bix, Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan
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