Koshiro Oikawa
Encyclopedia
was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy
and Naval Minister
during World War II
.
, 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 and ||ship|Japanese cruiser|Izumo||2}}. During the Russo-Japanese War
, still as a midshipman
, he served on the during the Battle of Tsushima
.
As a lieutenant
, Oikawa served on the cruiser , and the battleship . He was given his first command, the destroyer
on 28 April 1911. He subsequently served on the , 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
from 1915-1922.
After his promotion to captain on 1 December 1923, Oikawa was assigned the cruiser , followed by the 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.
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. Oikawa retired from active duty on 5 September 1945.
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...
and Naval Minister
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:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Oikawa was born into a wealthy family in rural Koshi CountyKoshi District, Niigata
Koshi was a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 2,035 and a density of 51.09 persons per km². The total area is 39.83 km².-Merger and dissolution:...
, Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, but was raised in Morioka city
Morioka, Iwate
is the capital city of Iwate Prefecture, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 300,740 and a population density of 588.11 persons per km². The total area is 489.15 km²....
, Iwate prefecture
Iwate Prefecture
is the second largest prefecture of Japan after Hokkaido. It is located in the Tōhoku region of Honshū island and contains the island's easternmost point. The capital is Morioka. Iwate has the lowest population density of any prefecture outside Hokkaido...
in northern Japan.
He was a graduate of 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...
, ranking 76th out of 188 cadets. As a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
, he served on the cruisers and ||ship|Japanese cruiser|Izumo||2}}. 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...
, still as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
, he served on the during the 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...
.
As a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, Oikawa served on the cruiser , and the battleship . He was given his first command, the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
on 28 April 1911. He subsequently served on the , before attending the Naval 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....
in 1914.
On graduation, Oikawa 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...
, and was appointed aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Hirohito
Hirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
from 1915-1922.
After his promotion to captain on 1 December 1923, Oikawa was assigned the cruiser , followed by the the following year. He then served in a number of staff positions until his promotion to 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"...
on 10 December 1928. In 1930, Oikawa was appointed to the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
The was the highest organ within the Imperial Japanese Navy. In charge of planning and operations, it was headed by an Admiral headquartered in Tokyo.-History:...
, and in 1932 became Director of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy. He was promoted to vice admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
on 15 November 1933. Oikawa strongly supported the London Naval Treaty
London Naval Treaty
The London Naval Treaty was an agreement between the United Kingdom, the Empire of Japan, France, Italy and the United States, signed on April 22, 1930, which regulated submarine warfare and limited naval shipbuilding. Ratifications were exchanged in London on October 27, 1930, and the treaty went...
while a member of the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, and was thus a member of the Treaty Faction
Treaty Faction
The was an unofficial and informal political faction within the Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1920s-1930s of officers supporting the Washington Naval Treaty.-Background:...
within the navy.
Oikawa was subsequently appointed Commander in Chief of the IJN 3rd Fleet
IJN 3rd Fleet
The was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which was created on six separate occasions.-Russo-Japanese War:First established on 28 December 1903, the IJN 3rd Fleet was created by the Imperial General Headquarters as an administrative unit to manage various vessels considered too obsolete for...
(1935), Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau
Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau
The Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of the Navy of Japan was responsible for the development and training of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service...
(1936), China Area Fleet (1938) and Yokosuka Naval District
Yokosuka Naval District
was the first of four main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included Tokyo Bay and the Pacific coasts of central and northern Honshū from the Kii Peninsula to Shimokita Peninsula.-History:...
(1940). He was promoted to full admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
on 15 November 1939.
Oikawa was appointed as 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:...
in the second and third cabinets of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Fumimaro Konoe
Fumimaro Konoe
Prince was a politician in the Empire of Japan who served as the 34th, 38th and 39th Prime Minister of Japan and founder/leader of the Taisei Yokusankai.- Early life :...
between 5 September 1940 and 18 October 1941. While Navy Minister, he strove to maintain ties with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 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
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in early 1941.
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. Oikawa retired from active duty on 5 September 1945.