was an admiral in the
Imperial Japanese NavyThe Imperial Japanese Navy , literally Navy of the Empire of Greater Japan 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...
during the
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Niimi was born in what is now
Asakita Ward, Hiroshima cityAsakita-ku is one of the eight wards of the city of Hiroshima, located in the North of Asa-gun and the South of Takata-gun: now-defunct districts ....
.
Hiroshima prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima, formerly divided into Bingo and Aki provinces, has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded history...
, as the second son to a farming and
soy sauceSoy sauce , soya sauce or is produced by fermenting soybeans with the molds Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus soyae along with roasted grain, water, and salt. Soy sauce was invented in China, where it has been used as a condiment for close to 2,500 years...
producing family. He was a graduate of the 36th class of the
Imperial Japanese Naval AcademyThe 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 1908, ranking 15th out of 191 cadets. As a
midshipmanA midshipman is an officer cadet, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies.The word derives from the area aboard a ship, amidships, where these officers were berthed...
, he served on the cruisers
Asowas an armoured cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy, acquired as a prize of war during the Russo-Japanese War from the Imperial Russian Navy, where it was originally known as the .-Background:...
and
Izumowas an armored cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Although very similar to the s and , its differences are significant enough to classify it as the lead ship in the separate , which also included its sister ship, the...
.
He attended
naval artilleryNaval artillery or naval rifles refers to warship-mounted guns used in naval warfare for attacking enemy vessels, bombarding targets on shore , or for anti-structural demolition. Conversely, the term may be used as a descriptor about the naval rifles used in land batteries for anti-shipping area...
and
torpedoThe modern torpedo is a self-propelled explosive projectile weapon, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater toward a target, and designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target...
school in 1910, and was then assigned back to the
Aso, followed by the
destroyerIn 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, short-range but powerful attackers .Before World War II, destroyers were light vessels without the endurance...
Yayoi.
As a
lieutenantLieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service, emergency medical services or police officer rank....
from 1914, he served on
Katoriwas the lead ship of the Katori class of three light cruisers which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It is named after the noted Shinto shrine Katori Shrine in Chiba prefecture, Japan.-Background:...
,
battlecruiserBattlecruisers were large warships in the first half of the 20th century that were first introduced by the Royal Navy. The battlecruiser was developed as the successor to the armoured cruisers, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleships...
Ibukiwas the lead ship in the 2-vessel Ibuki class of armoured cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Ibuki was named after Mount Ibuki located between Gifu prefecture and Shiga prefecture in Honshū...
, battleship
KawachiThe was the lead ship of the two-ship Kawachi-class of semi-dreadnought battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was built at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal and launched in 1910...
and destroyer
UmikazeUmikaze was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Sea Breeze".On 1 February 1944, Umikaze was torpedoed and sunk by off the southern entrance to Truk Atoll .-Commanding Officers:...
.
was an admiral in the
Imperial Japanese NavyThe Imperial Japanese Navy , literally Navy of the Empire of Greater Japan 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...
during the
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Niimi was born in what is now
Asakita Ward, Hiroshima cityAsakita-ku is one of the eight wards of the city of Hiroshima, located in the North of Asa-gun and the South of Takata-gun: now-defunct districts ....
.
Hiroshima prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima, formerly divided into Bingo and Aki provinces, has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded history...
, as the second son to a farming and
soy sauceSoy sauce , soya sauce or is produced by fermenting soybeans with the molds Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus soyae along with roasted grain, water, and salt. Soy sauce was invented in China, where it has been used as a condiment for close to 2,500 years...
producing family. He was a graduate of the 36th class of the
Imperial Japanese Naval AcademyThe 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 1908, ranking 15th out of 191 cadets. As a
midshipmanA midshipman is an officer cadet, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies.The word derives from the area aboard a ship, amidships, where these officers were berthed...
, he served on the cruisers
Asowas an armoured cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy, acquired as a prize of war during the Russo-Japanese War from the Imperial Russian Navy, where it was originally known as the .-Background:...
and
Izumowas an armored cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Although very similar to the s and , its differences are significant enough to classify it as the lead ship in the separate , which also included its sister ship, the...
.
He attended
naval artilleryNaval artillery or naval rifles refers to warship-mounted guns used in naval warfare for attacking enemy vessels, bombarding targets on shore , or for anti-structural demolition. Conversely, the term may be used as a descriptor about the naval rifles used in land batteries for anti-shipping area...
and
torpedoThe modern torpedo is a self-propelled explosive projectile weapon, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater toward a target, and designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target...
school in 1910, and was then assigned back to the
Aso, followed by the
destroyerIn 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, short-range but powerful attackers .Before World War II, destroyers were light vessels without the endurance...
Yayoi.
As a
lieutenantLieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service, emergency medical services or police officer rank....
from 1914, he served on
Katoriwas the lead ship of the Katori class of three light cruisers which served with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It is named after the noted Shinto shrine Katori Shrine in Chiba prefecture, Japan.-Background:...
,
battlecruiserBattlecruisers were large warships in the first half of the 20th century that were first introduced by the Royal Navy. The battlecruiser was developed as the successor to the armoured cruisers, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleships...
Ibukiwas the lead ship in the 2-vessel Ibuki class of armoured cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Ibuki was named after Mount Ibuki located between Gifu prefecture and Shiga prefecture in Honshū...
, battleship
KawachiThe was the lead ship of the two-ship Kawachi-class of semi-dreadnought battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was built at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal and launched in 1910...
and destroyer
UmikazeUmikaze was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "Sea Breeze".On 1 February 1944, Umikaze was torpedoed and sunk by off the southern entrance to Truk Atoll .-Commanding Officers:...
. He attended the
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 1917, specializing in naval artillery. In 1919 he became chief gunnery officer on the battleship
Ise, was the lead ship of the two-vessel Ise-class battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which saw combat service during the Pacific War. Ise was named after Ise Province, one of the traditional provinces of Japan, now part of Mie Prefecture....
. He was promoted to
lieutenant commanderLieutenant Commander
is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a Lieutenant and subordinate to a Commander...
in 1920, and was send to the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
as a naval attaché from 1923-1925, during which time he was further promoted to
commanderCommander is a military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service...
. In 1922, he wrote a report to the
Navy General StaffThe 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:...
on the importance of protecting merchant shipping in times of war.
On his return to Japan, he was assigned as
executive officerAn executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative Law:...
on
Kumawas a Kuma-class light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy, named after the Kuma River in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan.-Background:Kuma was the lead ship of the five vessels in the Kuma-class of light cruisers and was intended for use both as a long-range, high speed scout ship, and also as a...
in 1926. He was promoted to captain in 1929. On April 1, 1931, he was given his first command: the cruiser
Oiwas one of five Kuma-class light cruisers, which served in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was named after the Oi River in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan.-Background:...
. He subsequently served as captain of the
Yakumowas a 1st class armored cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy, designed and built by the Stettiner Vulcan AG shipyards in Stettin, Germany. The Yakumo was named from a stanza of the Waka by Susanoo in the Japanese mythology.-Background:...
and
MayaMaya was one of four Takao-class heavy cruisers, designed to be an improvement over the previous Myōkō-class design. These ships were fast, powerful and heavily armed, with enough firepower to hold their own against any cruiser in any other navy in the world...
.
Niimi was promoted to
rear admiralRear 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" and/or "Flag ranks"...
on November 15, 1935. In 1937, he accompanied
Prince Chichibu, also known as Prince Yasuhito, was the second son of Emperor Taishō and a younger brother of the Emperor Shōwa. As a member of the Japanese imperial family, he was the patron of several sporting, medical, and international exchange organizations...
to
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for the Coronation Ceremonies of King George VI, afterwards visiting
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
,
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
and the United States. After serving as chief of staff of the
Kure Naval Districtwas the second of four main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included the Inland Sea of Japan and the Pacific coasts of southern Honshū from Wakayama to Yamaguchi prefectures, eastern and northern Kyūshū and Shikoku....
and of the
IJN 2nd FleetThe was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy.-History:First established on 28 December 1903, the IJN 2nd Fleet was created by the Imperial General Headquarters as a mobile strike force of cruisers and destroyers to pursue the Imperial Russian Navy’s Vladivostok-based cruiser squadron while the...
, he was further promoted to
vice admiralVice Admiral is a naval rank equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. A Vice Admiral is typically senior to a Rear Admiral and junior to an Admiral. In many navies, Vice Admiral is a three star rank.-Rank Insignia:...
and Commandant of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy on November 15, 1939.
On April 4, 1941, he assumed command of the 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet, and was responsible for the naval component of the
invasion of Hong KongThe Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. It began on 8 December 1941 and ended on Christmas Day with Hong Kong, then a Crown colony, surrendering to Empire of Japan.-Background:...
, where his duties primarily involved the blockade of Hong Kong harbor with small patrol craft and a couple of light cruisers. He nominally shared the position of
Head of Japanese Occupation Forces in Hong KongThe Governor of Hong Kong was the head of Government, ex-officio Commander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral of Hong Kong during British rule between 1841 and 1997....
with General
Takashi Sakaiwas a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, known for his role in the Battle of Hong Kong in late 1941.-Biography:Sakai was born in Kamo District, Hiroshima, now part of Hiroshima city...
, but his authority was limited to offshore areas.
On July 14, 1942, he became Commander in Chief of the
Maizuru Naval Districtwas one of four main administrative districts of the pre-war Imperial Japanese Navy. Its territory included the entire Sea of Japan coastline from northern Kyūshū to western Hokkaidō.-History:...
. He retired from active service in March 1943.
Niimi survived the war and lived on to the age of 106 years old.